B142-Lab Assessment Sheet

Student Name: David Vandament

Assessment Topic: Assessment # 2 CPU Upgrade/Ram Upgrade

HOW TO PERFORM A CPU AND RAM UPGRADE

Icons:
alerts you additional information pertinent to the current step
alerts you to take caution as hazards to self or components are possible

Tools/materials required:
□ Antistatic wrist strap
□ Antistatic bag
□ #2 Phillips screwdriver
□ Thermal paste
□ Plastic card (credit card works)

1) Turn off the Computer:

□ Left-click the “Start” button and Left-click the “Turn off Computer” button
□ Once the pop-up window appears, Select “Shut down” and Left-click the “OK” button
2)Gather baseline system info:
□ Turn on the computer
□ As soon as the POST screen appears press the Pause|Break key
□ On the POST screen write down the BIOS flash revision and the processor Speed
◦ My test computers BIOS flash revision is 0701 and processor Speed is 2.60 GHz

Note: the processor in the picture has been overclocked to 2.66 GHz
□ Now press the DEL key to run CMOS setup
□ On the main screen, use the down arrow to select “System Information” and press Enter

□ Write down the Size of the System Memory

◦ My test computer has 640MB of RAM with 64MB of shared memory for video
◦ You can also find the Processor Speed on this screen
□ Turn off the computer
□ Unplug the AC cord from the back of the computer

3) Open the Computer case:

□ Locate and unscrew the two thumb screws at the back of the left side of the computer
If the thumbscrews are too tight, use the #2 Phillips screwdriver to loosen.
 □ Slide the left side panel of the case about 1/2” then tilt the top away from the computer and
lift up.

□ Set the side panel aside and re-screw the thumbscrews into the case

4) Remove heatsink/fan combo:

□ Put on your antistatic wrist strap and attach the alligator clip securely to the metal case

You should wear the antistatic wrist strap anytime you handle the CPU or RAM during this
assessment
□ Follow the CPU fan wires to the motherboard and unplug
When disconnecting the CPU fan wires, grab connector, not the wires.
□ Locate the two CPU heatsink/fan retention levers
Flip each lever a few times to get a feel for the amount of tension there is. This should be the
same feel when reinstalling the unit
 □ Flip both retention levers so that the side with a bump is facing up
□ To remove the heatsink/fan combo, place a finger under one of the corners, push down and
pull out to unclasp it from the retention bracket

□ Do this again for the other clip on the same side you started on
□ Gently tilt the heatsink/fan unit to unhook the opposite side and lift the unit out

Careful not to touch the thermal paste on the CPU and heatsink with bare skin as it is toxic
□ Remove the thermal paste from the bottom of the heatsink with isopropyl alcohol and a lint
free wipe
If your heatsink and fan are dirty, take some time now and clean them out with compressed air,
do this outside and be sure to hold the can upright

5) Remove CPU:
□ Locate the metal CPU retention lever
□ Push the lever down and out slightly
 □ Rotate lever up 90 degrees
□ Lift CPU out by the edges and place it in an antistatic bag

Careful not to touch/bend the pins on the CPU and do not touch the thermal paste with your
bare skin
□ Remove the thermal paste from the CPU with the same method used on the heatsink
□ Gather information from the top of the CPU to assist with acquiring a compatible
replacement
◦ My test CPU is an Intel Pentium 4 2.60GHz/512/800, the 512 is the L1 cache and the
800 is MT/s that runs on a 200MHz FSB
□ Look on the motherboard near the CPU socket for a label identifying the socket type
◦ My test computer is a PGA Socket 478 (Pin Grid Array)

6) Reinstall heatsink/fan combo with new CPU:

□ Remove the new CPU from the antistatic bag
◦ The CPU I am installing is identical to the CPU removed
□ Locate the arrow/triangle on one of the corners, this will point to the CPU retention lever
□ Make sure that the CPU lines up with the keys and that it drops into the socket with zero
insertion force
□ Give the top of the CPU a tap with your finger to make sure it is seated properly
□ Secure the CPU with the retention lever, opposite of the removal process in step 5
□ Place a dab of thermal paste the size of a grain of rice on top of the CPU
□ With a plastic card, spread the thermal paste as thin as you can get it evenly out to all
edges making sure there is no air pockets/bubbles
□ Grab the heatsink/fan unit and latch both clips on one side to the retention bracket
□ Gently tilt the heatsink/fan unit, guiding the remaining two clips onto the retention bracket
until they latch
□ Plug the CPU fan connector on to the motherboard
□ Plug the AC power cord into the back of the computer

7) Overclock the system:

□ Turn on the computer
□ During POST, press the DEL key to enter CMOS setup
□ Right arrow to select “Advanced” and press Enter
□ Down arrow to select “CPU Configuration” and press Enter
□ Down arrow to select “CPU Host Frequency” and press Enter
 □ Down arrow to select “Manual” and press Enter
□ Down arrow to select “Actual Frequency” and press Enter
□ Use the + key to set the Frequency to 205 MHz and press Enter
□ Press f10 to save and exit
□ A pop-up window will ask “Save configuration changes and exit now”, select “OK” and press
Enter
□ Turn off computer
□ Remove AC power cord from back of computer

8) Remove the existing RAM:

Be sure to wear a antistatic wrist strap while handling the RAM modules
□ Locate the RAM modules on the motherboard
□ Push down on the tabs on either end of the RAM module slots until they are just short of 90
degrees, the RAM modules should be loose now
□ Hold the RAM modules by the edges and lift them out and place them in an antistatic bag

Be careful NOT to touch the chips or the contacts on the RAM modules, it may damage the part
Pay attention to which module was in which slot, if your computer has mismatch RAM, the
larger capacity module should go in slot 1
 □ Read the manufacture label to gather information about your RAM modules
◦ My test computer has:
▪ Slot 1: 184 pin DDR 512 MB PC2100
▪ Slot 2: 184 pin DDR 128 MB PC2700

9) Install new RAM:

□ Remove new RAM modules from antistatic bag
◦ I am installing:
▪ Slot 1: 184 pin DDR 128 MB PC2700
▪ Slot 2: 184 pin DDR 128 MB PC3200
Both of the RAM modules are the same capacity, but different speeds which will cause the
RAM to operate at the slower of the two speeds or the memory buss speed, whichever is slowest
□ Orientate the RAM module key with the RAM socket on the motherboard
□ Push the RAM module straight into the socket
□ Lift up on the tabs at either edge of the RAM socket, you should feel it click as it snaps into
the ends of the RAM module
□ Plug the AC power cord into the back of the computer
10) Start computer to verify system is running properly
□ Turn on the computer
□ During the POST, press the DEL key to enter CMOS setup
□ Down arrow to select “System Information” and press Enter
□ Write down what the computers new configuration is
◦ My test computer is at:
▪ System Memory: 256 MB with 64 MB shared memory (video)
□ Press the ESC key to get to the main menu
□ Right arrow to select “Advanced” and press Enter
□ Down arrow to select “CPU Configuration” and press Enter
□ Write down what the computers new clock speed is
◦ My test computer is at:
▪ CPU Speed: 2665 MHz
▪ FSB Speed: 821 MHz

11) Return computer to original state:

□ Following the steps above, return the computer to its original state
□ Return the CPU setting to 200 MHz
□ Replace the original ram
□ Restart the computer into CMOS setup to verify that the settings/speed match the baseline
information gathered in step 1

12)Replace side cover: reverse of step 3

□ The cover should slide on smoothly, look to make sure all sides are straight and flush
□ Careful to only tighten the thumbscrews finger tight as to not strip the threads

Turn Computer Upright, Log on to Windows, Clean up your area, and leave computer running.
Assessed by: ___________________________ Date: _______________

Assessed by: ___________________________ Date: _______________