Can you replace cpu

Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article parts. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Article Summary. Part 1. Understand how processors and motherboards work. Your computer's motherboard is essentially one large circuit board which provides the base into which you'll plug your computer's other components, including the processor. Since processors' sizes and connectors vary depending on the model, you will need to ensure that your selected processor works with your current motherboard.

Know your computer's limitations. While you can upgrade virtually all Windows desktop processors and motherboards, upgrading a laptop's processor is often impossible; even if your laptop model supports changing the processor, doing so is a tricky process that is more likely to harm your computer than help it. Find your computer's motherboard model. While you can use Command Prompt to find your motherboard's basic information, using a free service called Speccy will allow you to see vital information about your motherboard e.

Determine the type of processor socket used by your motherboard. If you're using Speccy to find your motherboard's information, you'll click the CPU tab and look at the "Package" heading to determine the socket. You can click the Motherboard tab and then review the "Chipset" heading to see your processor's chipset, though the service you'll use to check processor compatibility usually determines this for you.

If you decided not to use Speccy, you can enter your motherboard's name and model number, followed by "socket" and "chipset", into a search engine and search through the results.

Alternately, you can almost always find the socket type listed on the motherboard around the cpu socket. Find processors which match your motherboard. Click the Choose Socket drop-down box, then select your motherboard's socket number. Click the Choose Chipset drop-down box, then click chipset number usually, there is only one number here.

Find a new motherboard to match your processor if necessary. Click the Choose Processor Series drop-down box, then select your processor's name. Click the Choose Model drop-down box, then click your processor's model. Buy your processor. Now that you know which processors will work with your computer's motherboard, you can select the one best-suited to your price range, computational needs, and region.

Always shop around to find the best deal. You may be able to find the same processor for significantly less online than in a store.

If you're buying a new motherboard as well, make sure you compare different website and store prices before ordering it. Part 2. Turn off and unplug your computer. Before you move or open up your computer, make sure that it is both turned off and unplugged from any power sources. Place your computer on its side. Doing so will give you access to the PC's side panel. Remove the side panel. Some cases will require you to unscrew the side panel, while other cases only need you to unclamp or slide off the side panel.

Ground yourself. This will prevent accidental static electricity discharge. Since static can completely ruin sensitive computer components such as the motherboard, you'll want to make sure you remain grounded throughout the entire installation process. Locate the motherboard. The motherboard resembles a circuit board with various wires attached to it.

In most cases, you'll find the motherboard resting on the bottom of the tower. Good question. There are two more variables to consider here: the main motherboard power cable and the CPU power cable. Motherboard power cables come in 20 pin and 24 pin varieties.

Most modern power supplies have a cable that terminates in a 20 pin connector, but features an additional 4 pin connector to accommodate the 24 pin slots. Depending on the design of your CPU and its power requirements, these can come in 4 pin and 8 pin designs.

Some high-performance sockets need separate 8 pin and 4 pin cables for a total of Follow the steps below. If your home is particularly static-prone, you might want to use an anti-static bracelet. A cup or bowl is also handy for holding loose screws. First, unplug all the power and data cables from your PC and move it to your workspace. Remove the screws holding the left-side access panel from the case—these are on the back of the machine, screwed into the edge.

You can then slide the access panel off and set it aside. If your case is a small or unusual design, consult the manual for precise instructions. Set the PC on its side, with the motherboard facing up. You should be able to look down at the motherboard with all its various ports and connections. The CPU cooler is the large gadget with a big piece of metal the heat sink and one or more fans attached to it.

For our Intel stock cooler, this is relatively simple: we just turn the thumbscrews at all four corners, and then lift it off. More complex water-cooled systems might also require advanced techniques. Before you lift the cooler away, check the power cable attached to the fan. Gently pull it out, and you can then remove the entire cooler.

The gelatinous stuff on top of it is the thermal paste that allows heat to efficiently transfer to the cooler. On our Intel LGA socket, we release the lever and lift the plate. At this point the only thing holding the CPU in is gravity. Carefully grasp it with your finger and lift it out. Set it aside. Now take a look at the CPU socket on the motherboard. You may need to install a backplate on the opposite side of the motherboard.

Now remove the new CPU from its packaging. Insert it into the open CPU socket on the motherboard. It should slide or sit in place easily, without you putting any pressure on it. Pull it out and try again. If not, then squeeze about a pea-sized drop of thermal paste onto the center of the CPU from the paste tube. It spreads out evenly when you lock the cooler into place. Now re-install the cooler. Again, the method for doing so will vary based on the cooler design.

Replace the access panel and screw it in on the back of the frame. Now return it to its normal spot and power it on for a test.

This is the more complex operation. Also note that replacing your motherboard, especially with a different model, generally requires you to re-install your operating system and restore it. Really, you should consider this more building a new computer and reusing old parts than simply upgrading your computer. A handy trick is to keep your phone handy and take lots of pictures: snap a photo or two with each cable and component you remove.

You can refer to them later if you get confused. First remove the power rail from the top or side of the GPU. Then remove the screw holding it in place on the back of the case. You may also have a simple fan instead. The heatsink's function is to collect and dissipate heat generated by the CPU.

The fan's function is to provide cool air inside your PC. As such, you'll have to remove either one before you can access the CPU itself. Exactly how you accomplish this task will depend on what kind of heatsink or fan you have, but you'll probably have to unscrew whatever's keeping it in place first.

Just use common sense here: Unscrew whatever needs to be unscrewed, and don't pull too hard if something doesn't come loose at first. If you have any trouble removing it, find the model number and look it up online. Someone may have tips on how to remove it safely.

Technically, the world wouldn't end if you leave old thermal paste on your heatsink or fan. But since you're about to apply a new coat anyway, it's better to get rid of the old stuff and start fresh.

You don't want a layer of thermal paste on top of another layer of thermal paste, since this would reduce its conductivity and render the heatsink less effective. Luckily, old thermal paste is very easy to remove. Just use some rubbing alcohol and a paper towel. If you get a few drops of alcohol elsewhere in your computer, it's not going to do any harm; just make sure you don't get any stray bits of paper towel in there.

Under the heatsink or fan, you'll see the old processor in its housing. There should be a small metal lever somewhere to lift the housing off. Word to the wise: You may have to gently press the lever down and to the side first. As with other steps in this process, if you find yourself pulling hard on a component, you're probably missing a very easy, gentle way to remove it.

Once you've raised the housing, all you have to do is lift the processor out. There's nothing else securing it. In what is, by far, the simplest part of the whole process, gently place your new processor down where your old one used to be.

For this purpose, there are small solder balls under the CPU while the motherboard has small solder pads on it. However, you have to make sure that both the older and the newer processor also have the same socket on the motherboard. The easiest way to figure out the surface mounting type of your laptop CPU is to head over to the its technical specs.

The BGA indicates the surface mounting type i. Hence, this CPU is not upgradeable. Hence, this is upgradeable. Surface mounting type is just one part of the equation.