CPU Upgrading

CPU UPGRADING

Upgrading a CPU is almost always possible on any motherboard unless the CPU that was installed on it was the maximum and latest available. This can be an easy process or a complicated one, depending on what kind of CPU Socket that your motherboard has and how old it is. You will need to know what motherboard you have, what bios is installed and what kind of CPU Socket the motherboard uses. Once you have these figured out, you can begin to look into upgrading your central processer.

You can look in the motherboard's manual if you have one to find out what kind of processor is installed, or you can check the computer manufacture's website to find out what kind of CPU your computer uses. You can also find information about the motherbaord manufacturer by looking at it. There should be a namebrand or a set of numbers on the motherbaord that can be used to identify it. The manufacture name is usually imprinted on the motherboard itself, while the numbers will be on a white sticker. You will also need to know the version of the motherboard. Motherboards are revised to meet updates. The version number will look like v 1.0 or v 1.1 or higher. Once you have the numbers you can run a search for them on the internet to find out who makes the board and what kind of CPU is installed.

When you have determined the type of CPU you will need to know if the BIOS needs to be updated before you continue. Most all motherboards will need a new Basic Input Output System (BIOS). The BIOS is a microchip on the motherboard called an Electronically Programmable Read Only Memory chip (EPROM) that contains all of the basic functions of your computer. The program for the BIOS chip is upgraded from the manufacturer to allow for changes in the CPU or for fixing errors that have been discovered.

If you need to identify what BIOS your computer uses you can go to CPUID.COM. There you will find CPUZ which is a free program to that identifies the BIOS and other motherboard and system information.

There are a few different ways to get an updated BIOS. One of the easiest ways is to go to ESUPPORT.COM and order one from them. Esupport sells complete updated BIOS installation files over the internet, delivered to your email address, that you can make a disk out of, or you can have a disk delivered to your physical address. Once you get the disk, all you need to do is put it in your computer, turn it on, and it will do all of the work for you. They charge from $25.00.

If you feel you have enough knowledge on how flash a BIOS, you can go to the website that produced your motherboard or manufactured your computer and download the latest version from there. BIOS updatign has become easier because manufacturers have recenlty incorporated updating software with their motherbords. You can now update BIOS systems in while running Microsoft Windows.

A few more questions you will need to ask about upgrading your CPU are as follows:

I. CPU Socket: What kind of socket is on the motherboard that the processor uses, for desktop computers.

A. For Intel CPU's:

1. Socket 7: Unless you have a fondness for this computer, it should be discarded and a new one should be bought. Many Super Socket 7 motherboards can by upgraded to an AMD K3 500 MHz CPU.

2. Slot One Socket: You might need an adapter for the Slot One CPU. These adapters are called Slotket adapters. Chances are you will also need to flash your BIOS, and check the compatibility with the chipset on the motherboard. The chipset is a two chip pair called the north bridge and the south bridge. There are many different kinds of chip sets that were installed on slot one motherboards. The 440 BX chipset with a 100 BUS speed is generally upgradable. You will need to check the charts offered by the adapter manufacturer to make sure the motherboard can accept a faster processor using an adapter.

3. Socket 370,

(1) PPGA, the original Pentium III Celeron Socket. You will need a socket 370 to socket 370 adapter.

(2) FCPGA, the intermediate Pentium III Socket. Supports Coppermine CPU's up to 1 Gigahertz. Upgradable to 1.2 or 1.4 using a Tualatin socket 370 adapter.

(3) FCPGA2, The latest socket 370 for the Tualatin CPU's. If your comptuer has a Celeron or a CPU less than 1.2 GHz it can be upgraded buy just installing faster processor. Check with your motherboard manufacture or computer reseller for more information.

4. Socket 423, and 478 and 775, LGA1366. These are P4 and P5 Sockets. The 423 to the 478 is about the only one that you will need an adapter for. The 775 is for the Newer Version Pentium 4 and the LGA1366 is for the Pentium 5 or i7. The newer 775 Pentium 4 processors have a built in buffer overrun protection. Buffer overrun protection goes by the name of NX, and is a based virus protection.

5. Xeon for server boards.

Special note, ASUS produces a special adapter for the Pentium 4 M class of CPU's. The Pentium 4 M processors are used in the production of Notebook Computers. They have a very large cache and use less power, therefore they stay cooler and work harder. It is called a CT-479 CPU Upgrade Kit.

B. For AMD CPU's:

1. Duron, outdated technology.

2. Athlon XP, Athlon 64, Athlon 64 FX, Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core

3. Sempron

4. Opteron for server boards

II. CPU Upgrade Adapters: What kind of adapter will I need and where can I buy it?

Go to the motherboard manufactures website, or the computers manufactures website, or the motherboard manual to determine if a faster cpu can be installed on the motherboard. If the motherboard can not accept a cpu that is at least 1200 MHz, you will need an adapter to upgrade the processor.

A. The easiest way to upgrade your microprocessor is to use the hardware provided by Powerleap. They have a variety of adapters for many kinds of processors which have a built in power regulator so your CPU won't be over loaded. They build technology that is simple to use.

B. A another way that will take a little more technical knowledge to understand is to use the CPU Socket Upgrades from Upgradeware.

C. A third way is to buy an adapter from Evertech.

III. Installation: What do I need to know in order properly install a new CPU? Here are several different ideas and procedures that you will help guide you the the process of upgrading a CPU.

A. Rules for Installation: Three basic rules to installing a CPU are, don't force it in the socket, ground your self before touching the cpu, and always unplug the cord from the wall and wait at least ten seconds for the capacitors to drain. These processes will help you avoid Electrical Static Discharge (ESD).

B: Procedures: If you look closely at a processor you will see that there are corners that are cut short or pinned different, so there is only one way it will fit in the CPU Socket. Make sure that you have used Heatsink-Paste between the fan and the CPU. Also, be careful at removing the fan. On some of the older machines, the fan is installed using a flat-head screwdriver. So, it might be best to remove the memory from the machine before attempting to place the flat-head screwdriver in the fan chrome metal connector. Be careful not to hit the components on the motherboard. For further help, Dell has a page with videos and tutorials to guide you through the process; Dell's Support Page.