CPU Installation

CPU installation is easy. The CPU, central processing unit, or processor, is a "chip." Because a CPU needs to be efficiently cooled, a heatsink and a fan will be attached (installed) onto the CPU. Sometimes the heatsink and the fan come as one unit. Sometimes they come separately.

It is usually much easier to attach (install) the CPU onto the mobo, then attach the heatsink and fan. This is done before the motherboard is installed into the case.

Always keep in mind, the Mobo and the Processor are fragile. Great care should be used, specifically:

• Ground yourself before you handle the mobo or the processor. One slight touch of static electricity and they could become worthless.

• Place the board on its static bag when setting the jumpers.

• Place the board on a flat surface.

• Handle the board as little as possible and only by the edges.

• Be especially careful while using tools near the motherboard. According to Intel, the # 1 destroyer of mobos is the owner accidentally hitting the mobo with a screwdriver while working in the case! That's something to think about.

Note: Take your time, these are all sensitive parts.

Follow this procedure:

1. Locate Pin 1 - on the processor and the socket. On the processor, Pin 1 is always marked. The mark could be a little dot, a small notch corner, or a mark at the pin under the chip.

2. Open the Socket - Take hold of the lever next to the socket. Slowly move the lever to its side, then straight up. Be careful about the amount of force used. It can break.

3. Insert the Processor - First, note the position of Pin 1 on the processor and the socket, slowly insert the processor into the socket. It should go in very easily with its pins nicely lining up. If you have difficulty, don't use force:

   • Line the processor up with the opening; make sure all pins line up.

   • Use your thumb, push on one side slowly easing it in a very small amount.

   • Then press on the other side until it also begins to go in an equal amount as the other side.

   • Keep working it down on different sides until it is completely in the socket.

   The body of the processor chip should now fully rest on the motherboard, with no gaps. It should appear to be laying on the board, evenly all around.

4. Close the Lever - It should snap into place.

The processor should now be installed and connected.

Heatsink Installation

Heat can be a problem with computers, especially in high-performance machines. The case fan alone is unable to adequately handle this situation without additional help. That is why a heatsink/fan combination is used. The heatsink works like a car radiator, pulling heat away from the motor. The fan blows the heat away from the area.

First, ground yourself.

The heatsink fan is often already attached to the heatsink. If it is not, then attach it now using the four screws that came with the fan.

Next, you need to attach the heatsink unit to the processor. Depending upon the heatsink, this can be done in one of two ways:

1. Clip - Some processors, like the Athlon XP, use clips to secure it. Clips are on each side and fasten themselves by attaching to a pair of tabs on each side of the socket. It requires some force to bend the clip down over the tab. Because the clip can be a little stubborn to set into place, you must be very careful not to allow the tool or clip to slip and cause damage.

2. Compound - The use of heatsink compound may be the only method of sealing the heatsink to the processor. Some consider this to be the best method.

   To use compound, apply just enough of the compound to cover the surface of the processor chip. If there are raised areas, then apply only to those raised areas. Position the heatsink on top of the processor. Press down lightly. Make sure all areas are in contact. This can be done by removing the heatsink and seeing if there are any areas that remain smooth. If so, apply a little more compound to those areas. Then refasten the heatsink.

   Check it a second time to make sure all areas of the heatsink are in contact with the processor chip. As before, remove the heatsink again. See if there are any areas that still remain smooth. If so, apply a little more compound to those areas, and then refasten the heatsink.

   If you applied too much compound it will have oozed out. Wipe this up; now you're done. Compound forms a perfect seal when done correctly. However, it is a bit messy.

Both clips and the use of compound are acceptable means of sealing the heatsink to the processor.

You are now finished this step.

[ Step 6: Motherboard Configuration ]