Ariez E.

Othus
March 19, 2012
Technical Writing
Technical Instructions

How to Install a Processor onto a Motherboard

The processing unit is one of the most vital parts of the computer system. It is the place where
the computer handles the majority of its computations. It, alongside your video card, provides the
majority of what you see when you are using your computer for every-day activities. Processor
need to be updated every 2-3 years in order to keep up with the technology curve. This guide will
walk you through the process of installing your new processor onto your motherboard.

You'll need:
A motherboard
A processor/CPU
A Heatsink/Fan Unit
A Phillips screwdriver
A grounded metal object
Thermal Paste (if your processor doesn't already have a thermal strip built in)

Warning: Electrostatic discharges can cause damage to computer hardware, you'll need to be
sure that you regularly discharge and buildup by touching a grounded metal object. Because
computers are electronic in nature you should always keep your safety in mind, I would highly
recommend not doing any resoldering on your own and to use electrical tape on any exposed
wires. Always keep your computer unplugged while working on its internal hardware.

1. Create a work space. Clear off a clean work space and arrange your computer and tools in an
orderly manage. Open up your user manual and familiarize yourself with all of the components.
2. Opening processor socket. Find your CPU socket and open it by pulling out and up a metal
arm that is generally located on the left hand side of the CPU socket.

Figure 1: Opening processor socket

3. Installing CPU. Align the side of your processor that is labeled with small triangular nicks
with the diagonal section of the socket pad that pokes out of the socket in a triangular shape.
Gently lay your processor into position.

Figure 2: Installing CPU

WARNING: Do not push your processor into place, let it slide naturally into position, if it
doesn't then simply rotate it 45° until it does.
4. Lock your CPU into place. Lower the arm that you used to open the socket and lock it back
down into its initial position.

Figure 3: Locking in the CPU

5. Applying thermal place for installation of fan/heatsink unit. Inspect your heatsink/fan to
see if it has a thermal pad built in already, if not then apply a few drops of thermal paste onto
your processor and spread it into a thin layer.

6. Install fan/heatsink. Inspect the area around your processor unit and align your fan/heatsink
unit's mounting hooks with the clamps on the board.

Figure 4: Installing Heatsink/Fan Unit

7. Lock heatsink into place. Hook the heatsink into the various sockets and snap the clamps into
place.

Figure 4: Locking in Heatsink/Fan

Work Cited:

Unknown. Servicing System Controller Components. Oracle® Database Appliance: Service

Manual (2011). Oracle. 4.8. Mon. 19 Mar. 2012.
Zamost, Eric. Installing a Processor. SGI 1100 Server Maintenance and Upgrade Guide (2001)
sgi. 83-85. Mon. 19 Mar. 2012.