Where to Start when installing a CPU?

[pny]

I have just bought a X6800 (to replace my E6400) i was wondering were to start when installing etc..

Thanks PNY

[Aristocrat]

erm, ok....perhaps a bit of a silly upgrade to make at this time, but that is your choice.

You need to turn the computer off, unplug it from the wall, and then open the case. (I'm giving a tutorial here, so I always say the simple stuff as well, just in case).

Once the case is opened. Ground yourself. Use an anti-static wrist band or whatever, but just to be safe, ground yourself (touch something metal at the least to release static electricity...also, it is a good idea to not do the cpu change on carpet).

Once grounded, unlug the heatsink fan from your motherboard or fan controller.

Very carefully remove the heatsink, this will require you to release the tension that is holding it, usually via a lever, or 2.

Then, again being careful, lift the heatsink and fan off your old cpu and out it somewhere out of the way.

Now, where your old cpu is sitting, it will have a thin lever at the side of it, holiding it in place, very carefully open it (carefully because the lever is part of the motherboard and if you break it the motherboard is useless).

Now remove the cpu, this can be tricky sometimes but it should come out with a little bit of force if necessary.

Then you basically do the reverse with your new cpu.

You put the cpu in the socket. Lower the lever at the side to lock it in place.

Apply some thermal compound (I recommened Artic Silver 5), usually just putting a small dollop in the center of the cpu, and perhaps a small amount in the center of your NEW heatsink. (If you are using the old heatsink you must clean it with some rubbing alcohol).

Then carefully lower the heatsink over the cpu and get it into position.

Now comes the fun part. You have to lock the heatsink in place, which means pushing the lever/s at the side of it down and into position. My advice, if it feels like it is going to break...IT IS, then stop pushing it, resettle things a bit, and have another go in a different position. (I broke a heatsink clip not long ago....trusty superglue saved me....but it took a lot of super glue to do it....).

While you are attaching the heatsink, you are free to wiggle it around a little bit, this helps spread the thermal compound on the cpu, but do not put too much pressure on it or you may damage the cpu (I have yet to do this and as said I broke the damn heatsink...but then again, I wasn't messing around with a $1000 cpu either).

Once it is all together, plug the heatsink fan back in (you will probaly have to attach the fan to the top of the heatsink as well), close the case, and load into your computer BIOS (press delete or whatever when it starts). Go to the hardware monitoring section (It may not be called that) and watch your cpu temp, if it gets too high, turn the computer off and reseat the heatsink....I am not sure what temp is "too high" with that cpu, but anything over 60 in BIOS should definitely concern you.

You will probaly have to reinstall windows, sorry, but the cpu is a major hardware change and windows doesn't respond well to this. You may possibly get away with a repair install, but I prefer a clean install.

[Incinerate_IV]

No, you don't have to reinstall Windows after upgrading CPU, since CPU don't require any drivers.

Also make sure to clean off the old thermal paste/pad off of your old CPU and heatsink before applying the new thermal compounds. Use Isopropyl Alcohol (90%+ works best, the higher the better) and lent free cloth (pretty much normal glasses cloth) to clean it. Both of which are available at your local drug store. Also make sure to NOT touch the new heatsink/CPU with your fingers, since the oil from your finger can reduce the thermal conduction between the CPU and the heatsink. This is why you have to use Isopropyl alcohol and lent free cloth.