Upgrading a processor may sound tricky, but it's a lot easier (and cheaper!) than you might think. We'll show you how to swap the processor for a faster one in both an Intel and AMD machine.
Part I: Replacing an Intel Processor
1. Preparations
When working in a PC, the first thing you do is remove the power cable from the PC itself. Depending on the layout of your case and the layout of your motherboard, it may be helpful to remove your motherboard from the case before swapping out the processor. You will have to disconnect all cabling, remove plug-in cards and possibly also unscrew the power supply. Fortunately, sometimes you can also reach it if your motherboard remains built-in.
2. No pins
We'll start by replacing an Intel processor. Compared to older sockets (and AMD's current sockets), LGA775, LGA1156, LGA1366 and LGA1155 have moved the pins to the motherboard. Modern Intel processors therefore no longer have pins, but are equipped with contact points. This has the advantage that the processor itself is less vulnerable. However, caution is still advised, as you must now be careful not to bend the pins in the socket itself when removing or installing the processor.
3. Remove standard cooler
We assume in this article that you are using the Intel reference cooler. If you have a different cooler, the mounting method may be different. Look for this in the manual of your cooler. First disconnect the power cable from the processor cooler on the motherboard. To release the cooler, rotate all four mounting pins counterclockwise using a flat head screwdriver. Then gently pull up on one of the four pins until you feel it unlock. Repeat this procedure for the other three pins.
Intel Upgrade Capabilities
Intel currently has four sockets in use: LGA775, LGA1366, LGA1156 and LGA1155. Only LGA1156 is nominated to disappear from the scene soon, the other three sockets will probably be on sale for a while. Socket LGA775 can only be found at the bottom of the market in absolute entry-level machines and will also be phased out in the near future. Even if you have a very recent Intel machine, you still have two options with LGA1155 or LGA1366. The proliferation of sockets means that if you're going to do a significant processor upgrade to an Intel machine, keep in mind that you may also need a new motherboard and simply replacing the processor won't improve or reduce performance. expensive in relation to a processor on a more modern socket in combination with a new motherboard.
4. Lift Processor Cooler
The processor is often stuck to the heatsink of the processor cooler due to the thermal paste. The thermal paste ensures that the heat from the processor is better transferred to the heatsink of the processor cooler. Because the processor is often 'glued' to the cooler, you cannot pull the cooler off in one go. After all, you could damage the socket. Therefore make a rotating movement from left to right. After a while, the heatsink will separate from the processor and it will be safe to lift it.
