How to Upgrade Your Computer’s Processor

This article shows you how to install a new processor on a Windows computer. The processor (CPU) plays an important role in the speed of the computer.

Table of Contents

Select processor

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Learn how the processor and motherboard work. A computer’s motherboard is a large circuit board used to mount other computer components, including the microprocessor. Because each processor’s size and connector varies from model to model, you’ll need to make sure the processor you’ve chosen is compatible with your current motherboard.

Tip: You can also change to another motherboard capable of supporting the processor you want to use.

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Learn the limitations of computers. While you can upgrade the processor and motherboard of any Windows computer, upgrading a laptop’s processor is often not feasible; Even if your laptop model does support changing the processor, this is a difficult process that can do more harm to your computer than it helps. ^{[1] X Research Source}

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Find your computer’s motherboard model . While you can use the Command Prompt to find basic information about your motherboard, using a free service like Speccy will tell you a lot of important information about your motherboard (such as the type of pins you have on your motherboard). of the microprocessor).

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Determines the processor pin type the motherboard uses. If you’re using Speccy to find your motherboard’s information, you’ll click the CPU tab and look under the “Package” heading to identify the pin type.

You can click on the Motherboard tab and see the “Chipset” heading for your processor’s chip, but the service you use to check for processor compatibility Management usually determines this information for you.
If you decide to use Speccy, you can enter the name and model number of your motherboard, followed by “socket” and “chipset” into the search engine, and browse through the results.
Or, you can always see the pin type listed on the motherboard, near the CPU pin.

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Find the right processor for the motherboard. You will have to find the processor based on the pin size and chip of the current motherboard:

Go to https://www.gigabyte.com/us/Support/CPU-Support using your computer’s web browser.
Click the Choose Socket selection box, and then select your motherboard’s pin number.
Click the Choose Chipset drop-down box, then click the chip number (usually you only see a number here).
Click the “Search” icon

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to the right of the chip number, and then see the names of compatible processors in the currently displayed window.

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Find a new motherboard that matches the processor if needed. Although you can easily type your processor specs and the phrase “supported motherboards” into a search engine and see the results, navigating the CPU’s support page would be easier:

Return to https://www.gigabyte.com/Support/CPU-Support on your computer’s browser.
Click the Choose Processor Series selection box, and then select the name of the processor.
Click the Choose Model drop-down box, and then click the processor model.
Click the “Search” icon

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to the right of the model number, and then see a list of compatible motherboards in the “Model” column.

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Buy a processor. Once you know which processor is right for your computer’s motherboard, you can choose the one that best suits your budget, needs, and region.

Always check product prices in multiple places to find the best deals. You can buy a processor online for a lower price than in the store.
If you want to buy a new motherboard, be sure to compare prices between websites and stores before ordering.

Install the microprocessor

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Turn off and disconnect the computer. Before you move or open the case, make sure the computer is turned off and disconnected from the power source.

Note: For ease of operation, you can remove all peripheral devices (such as mouse, speakers, USB hub, etc.) from the computer. This step is not required if you just want to replace the motherboard.

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Place the case on a flat surface. This way, you will easily open the lid of the case.

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Open the case cover. Some cases require you to unscrew the screw on the case cover, while others simply open the clamp or slide the case cover.

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Find a way to ground to protect yourself . Here’s how to prevent electrostatic discharge. Since static electricity can damage fragile computer components, such as the motherboard, you need to take measures to ground it during installation.

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Find the motherboard. The motherboard looks like a circuit board with lots of wires attached to it. In most cases, you will find the motherboard on the bottom of the case.

You will probably see the motherboard mounted on the side of the case.

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Remove the current radiator. The heatsink is mounted above the motherboard, and usually has a large fan at the top. To remove the heatsink, you’ll have to remove it from the motherboard, unscrew the screws, or push it out.

Since each heat sink has a different design and installation procedure, you should consult your radiator manual for specific operating steps.

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Check the current processor mounting bracket. You’ll have to install the new processor into the chassis where the existing processor is mounted, so knowing the mounting direction will help you install it successfully the first time.

Skip this and the next step if you want to remove the motherboard.

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Remove the current processor. Carefully remove the square chip-like processor from the motherboard.

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Install a new motherboard if necessary. If you want to install a new motherboard, remove the current one from the case, and then install the new one according to the installation instructions (if necessary). The next step is to attach the other components of the computer to the motherboard.

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Attach a new processor. Only one side of the processor fits into the mounting bracket, so don’t try too hard; gently place the processor in the frame and check if it matches.

If the processor is tilted or doesn’t fit into the frame, you can try rotating it 90 degrees until the processor is properly seated in the chassis.
Try not to touch the connectors underneath the processor, as this is not good for the processor.

Advice

When you feel uncertain, using an Intel processor is usually the safest option. ^{[2] X Research Source}
If you choose to buy a new motherboard, don’t buy the lowest priced product line. The motherboard serves as the foundation for all of your computer’s connections, so you need to buy one that meets your computer’s needs without causing problems.

Warning

Using a computer without a heatsink and thermal paste will damage the processor.
Processors were very expensive in 2018 due to the great demand from cryptocurrency mining. Therefore, you will pay more for the processor than other components when installing the computer yourself.

Steps

Select processor

Install the microprocessor

Advice

Warning

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