Let's put ourselves in situation. You have to change the CPU of your PC to one with more cores and better frequency. The current CPU gives you certain compatibility problems and there is a CPU on the market that you want to install on your motherboard and you can afford it.
But you don't know very well how to change the CPU and you are afraid of messing up your PC. Do not worry, here, in this simple guide on how to change the CPU of your PC, we will teach you so that you can do it yourself the next time you have to replace a CPU.
Table of Contents
What steps to follow to change a CPU?
In the vast majority of cases, there will be a rare path that does not follow this series of steps to change a CPU:
- Disconnect the PC from the electrical current
- Open the PC to access the motherboard.
- Remove the CPU cooler
- Remove the CPU to be replaced using the socket security system.
- Insert the new CPU using the socket security system.
- Apply thermal paste on the CPU.
- Install the sink.
- Close the PC.
- Reconnect the PC to the electrical current.
Consumer computing has been standardized and simplified to the bare minimum, so thatAnyone with basic knowledge can operate a change of CPU of a PC. But when in doubt, IT services can do this job quite simply if you don't see yourself with the capacity or time to do it. While you can do a CPU swap yourself, a computer technician can do it more efficiently and safely, albeit a quick process.
A computer technician will have everything necessary in terms of material and knowledge to be able to change the CPU with total safety.
First of all, make sure your motherboard is compatible
We repeat it a lot, but we insist. Before buying a new CPU for your PC, you must make sure it is compatible. Here the main factor will be the motherboard and its CPU socket, which should be the same between the two CPUs. It is possible that by switching between CPU generations, you can reuse your motherboard.
In the case of Intel it is somewhat more complicated, since Intel usually changes the socket every two or three generations. In the case of AMD, they are more permissive, and do not change socket generation as much. They often leave several generations of CPUs before forcing such an abrupt switch, and it looks like the move from AM4 to AM5 will be a bit smoother, since at least all CPU coolers using socket AM4 will be AM5 compatible. Be careful, it is not the same that an AM4 socket is the same as an AM5 socket, since the socket is the lower connectors that connect the CPU to the motherboard, and the heatsinks use the die on the upper part of the processor.
You can look up information about your CPU if you know the model. On the manufacturer's website you can see what type of socket it has, and a list of CPUs that share the same socket. You can also use the CPU-Z software to find out exactly and eliminate any doubts about the CPU socket of your motherboard, and see if it is compatible with the CPU you want to replace the one you already have.
What is CPU socket?
Also known as a CPU socket, it is the indentation and frame on the motherboard, with a shape designated by the manufacturer Intel or AMD, that houses the processor. Your frame also allows to place and support the processor heatsink, be it a normal heatsink, a liquid cooler or a passive cooler.
A motherboard socket has characteristic naming rules. If it is Intel, it will have an identifying name starting with LGA. If it's from AMD, its name will come with a name made up of AM and the number of the AMD socket generation it belongs to.
What should come in the package of a new CPU
In the commercial package of your new CPU, the CPU itself, the official heatsink, the installation instructions, the guarantee, and the necessary dose of thermal paste must come so that the new CPU and its cooler can be installed correctly. Some new CPUs do not include a heatsink as standard, as many CPUs aimed at the enthusiast market that are built by themselves, the PCs assume that the CPU to be installed is going to be a replacement, not for a new equipment, although this in the end not always true and you have to buy a new heatsink separately. It is understood that a replacement CPU to upgrade an existing PC will go into a computer that already has a CPU cooler.
Before starting to operate, disconnect your PC from the electrical network
It seems logical and makes sense, but it never hurts to remember it. You should always disconnect from the electrical network, not just turn off the motherboard, the whole PC. Remove the cable from the power supply to the electrical network and leave the PC on an insulating surface, be it a wooden one or one covered with a blanket or plastic that acts as an insulator. Wait a few seconds for the electricity to be properly discharged, and you can safely operate the PC.
Any physical operation done with the motherboard turned on or still connected to the power supply can cause damage to the motherboard, or the CPU. Disconnect any power outlet in a basic safety measure and one that should never be forgotten.
How to avoid static electricity when mounting a CPU
Static electricity can play tricks on us if we mount a CPU on the motherboard. The human body is capable of generating and storing it, and some of it can impact the CPU. It's not something that happens often, but there is always the possibility that a small discharge of static electricity can overload a CPU and spoil it together with the motherboard. It is highly unlikely, but seeing that we are handling a team that can be worth hundreds of euros, all precaution is little.
One of the most common safety safeguards is the antistatic bracelet, which collects the body's own static electricity and when connected to the ground of a plug or a metal peg that acts as a ground, we are safely discharged . Here we must be careful that in effect, we are connecting our electrostatic bracelet to the ground. It is also possible that our house does not have a ground connection, but this will only happen in very old houses that have a poor electrical installation.
You can also connect the antistatic strap to the PC case if it turns out to be metal. This way you get to download any static you have in your body.
How to remove the CPU cooler
Depending on the cooler you have, you may need to use a screwdriver to remove the hold the cooler has on the socket. Some screws can be unscrewed by hand, but it is recommended to use a suitable screwdriver.
Once you have removed it, if you need to reuse the heatsink because your new CPU does not include a new one as standard, be sure to save the assembly parts to be able to reuse them. Thermal paste from the old CPU will still be present on the heatsink, so you'll need to remove it. Luckily, thermal paste breaks down easily and it's worth wiping with a dry cloth or kitchen paper to remove traces of unusable thermal paste.
How to get the old CPU out of the motherboard socket
Unquestionably, on all motherboards there is a clamping and secure system on the CPU socket so that it is easy to remove without fail. This is that you will not need any additional tools to remove the CPU, once you have removed the heatsink from the socket.
The system consists of a lever that lifts the CPU socket protector latch and simultaneously lifts the CPU from the contacts. This is in the case of removing the old CPU. The process is the other way around once you want to put in your new CPU.
With all this, it makes it necessary for us to use an extra tool to insert a new CPU or remove the old one. Attempting to use a screwdriver or any tool to remove the CPU from the motherboard could damage the CPU, Socket or motherboard, so don't try to outsmart the engineers who designed the motherboard and motherboard socket. CPUs.
You will not need an additional screwdriver or any accessories to lift the CPU from the socket or to insert it.
What to do with the old CPU?
Once you have removed the CPU that you are going to replace, it is time to think about what to do with it. It can be reused to upgrade an older computer, which would require repeating the process for this entire article, using more thermal paste. Although very surely if it is already an old CPU, it will be difficult for you to reuse it in person in another computer of even lesser category.
But there is the second-hand market that looks for and takes advantage of old pieces. A CPU from several years ago may be ideal for them. Wallapop is a way of trying to sell it without intermediaries, but its main problem is that your audience may not want a multi-year-old CPU.
You can also offer it to component shops like CEX, which buy standalone CPUs. If you opt for this, you will have the option of presenting it in a physical store or sending it by mail. On the one hand, it is an option to get a quick refund for your old CPU, be it cash or store vouchers, but it will not be as much as if you sold it on your own, but that is what second-hand stores are for They act as a middleman and buy what is presented to them if it is in an acceptable state.
How to apply thermal paste when changing CPU
Applying thermal paste is not a complicated process. Ideally, with your new CPU you will have a dose that meets the needs of the CPU. But in case you don't want to risk falling short, get more in the dedicated computer store, as it is not particularly expensive and it is always better to have enough to renew it in the coming years than to run short of thermal paste in the installation of the new CPU.
The ideal is not to mix the dose that comes standard with the one you bought in the store, since compounds, compositions and materials are going to be mixed, which will cause irregular cooling. This can damage the CPU and cause it to heat unevenly.
About which way is better to apply on the processor to put the heatsink, the ideal is a cross that goes from corner to corner. With this you make sure that the center is correctly heat sealed and the excess extends to the rest of the CPU area.
After changing the CPU, do I need to do anything else to make my PC work properly?
If you have followed the simple steps to change the GPU, there should be no problem. The motherboard will start its boot process with the BIOS, and once you have a CPU, RAM and storage with the operating system. The replacement of the CPU to a better one, as long as it is supported in the base, will mean a change in performance, such as the number of cores and threads.
Some inconvenience may arise. Some DRM software they can detect that a CPU change is a full-fledged system change, with which they will be able to request a new validation of the use license.
It will also be ideal for you to go to the manufacturer's official website and install the new drivers for the motherboard and for the new CPU, in order to have the drivers up to date.
What should I notice if I change CPUs?
The change to CPU, in the event that it is to one with a higher frequency and a greater number of cores, is a substantial improvement in performance. This can be noticed especially in games and other more demanding software. On the subject of multitasking it will also be noticed, especially with demanding applications constantly in the background.
To verify that the new registered CPU is correctly detected by the operating system, in Windows you can go to Configuration and then to About. There you will see a series of specifications, among which is the name of the CPU. There should be the commercial name of the new CPU that you have installed, as well as its frequency.
