So you’re upgrading CPU’s, assuming you’ve done you’re homework and found the correct CPU socket type for your motherboard or found an exact replacement lets dive. Turn off your PC, remove power cable & remove the side door. With no power cable plugged in hold down the power button to drain any leftover charge off the MOBO.
After this remove the cooler, there are typically 4 screws around the CPU/Cooler. If you have an AIO liquid cooling unit you may want to detach your radiator from your towers case. Once these 4 screws are removed, remove the CPU cooling block. If you’re going to want to reuse this fan or resell this fan clean the block with rubbing alcohol higher % the better 92-97% suggested.
After the cooling is removed I like to clean the processor now before removing it but you can after if you’d prefer. There is a latch that secures the CPU in place, unlatch and swing open its ‘door’. Once the CPU is exposed and unfastened, remove it by pulling STRAIGHT outwards. CPU/MOBO’s have a male/female system of pins and sockets. To make sure too not damage either, then do NOT pull corner from corner!
Once the old CPU is removed, place the new CPU into the socket. There is typically an arrow to indicate placement orientation. Swing the door and latch the CPU to fasten it into it’s socket.
Next is the dreaded thermal paste… This is easy to mess up because its a goldilocks between too little and too much. The goal is to put enough down when we press the cooler on the thermal paste will spread out across the CPU, without overflowing over the sides. If you put down too much it’ll squeeze out the sides and won’t properly transfer heat. If you put down too little it won’t cover the entire CPU and won’t properly transfer heat evenly. If you have extra thermal paste you can practice by placing the cooling unit and immediately removing it to check how your spread is. Some kits come with a silicon tools to help spread the paste to all corners of the CPU. Put a droplet of thermal paste in the center of the CPU the size of a nickel coin ($0.05).
Re-attach you cooling system and tighten down the 4 screws around the CPU. Tighten like a tire rotating from screw to screw not fully tightening till others are tightened. Make sure the cooling fan is still plugged into your MOBO.
Most MOBO’s are preset to AUTO overclock your CPU, but if you’d like to config specific voltages please enter your BIOS upon launch. Otherwise boot windows, head to you settings, then type about in the search then click ‘About this PC’. You should see you’re new CPU listed here!
