Processor: How to change the CPU

You can achieve a significant performance boost if you change the CPU of your PC. This practical tip tells you what you should consider when replacing your processor.

Change processor: The right choice

In addition to the graphics card, the processor is probably the most expensive if you put together a PC. Therefore, you should make sure to choose the right processor.

• Every processor needs a suitable socket (or socket). These sockets are not compatible with each other, so you need a processor for the socket that is installed on your mainboard.
• You should also pay attention to the properties when choosing the processor. A higher clock rate and multiple processor cores are recommended. Intel CPUs with multi-threading and turbo mode are also useful, since they consume less power with more power.

Change processor: Be careful when changing the CPU

Since you are working on important electronic parts of your PC, you should first disconnect it from the power supply and ground yourself!

1. Open the housing of your PC. Depending on the cooler installed, you may also need to be able to access the back of your mainboard. If not absolutely necessary, you should leave the mainboard installed.
2. Uninstall the CPU cooler. With an air cooler, be careful not to damage any of the fins. This would subsequently affect the cooling performance and thus indirectly the performance of the processor. When cooling water, you should take care not to kink any hoses.
3. The CPU is kept under a mechanism. This can be solved by opening the lever next to the processor and carefully opening the flap that holds the CPU.
4. Carefully remove the old CPU and store it safely. If the standing contacts are on the processor, you should take care not to bend them. Otherwise the CPU becomes worthless.
5. Greatest caution also applies when the standing contacts are on the mainboard. These too must not be bent over. You should pay particular attention to this when installing the new CPU.
6. To do this, place the new CPU on the socket. Note that there is only one correct orientation. You can recognize this by the notch in the processor chip and the bars on the base.
7. Close the holder so that the processor does not slip in the next steps and cannot damage any contacts. It can make sense to support the motherboard slightly from behind so as not to put too much pressure on it.
8. You should then apply a thin, even film of thermal grease to your CPU.
9. Now mount the fan again. It may be that there are remnants of the old thermal compound on the fan. You should remove this beforehand.
10. Finally, close the PC case and start your PC.

In the next article, you will learn how to install water cooling in your PC.