Help Installing New CPU Please

[Friar]

Hi guys,

I have just received a new cpu for my machine.

I was hoping it would come with some install notes, but it does'nt.

Before I attempt to install it, do I need any heat paste etc.

I have included a couple of pictures.

[B16Enk]

Yes you need some thermal paste, and some thermal paste cleaner (to clean the heatsink).

Paste:

http://overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.p ... &subcat=27

Cleaner:

http://overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.p ... &subcat=27

When heatsink is clean apply arctic silver paste thinly to CPU upper face.

You are aiming to cover it completely as thinly as possible - it is only to fill the microscopic anomalies and will act as a thermal barrier if applied too thickly.

[Crash]

Hello Frior

the cpu should drop in BUT you will need to ensure that it is installed in the correct position. there should be a mark on one corner and a corresponding mark on the motherboard. Are you using the same heatsink fan? if the old fan is up to the job you will need to use some

[Friar]

@b16 - "bum", I was hoping that it could drop straight in. I am concerned about getting the thinkness of the paste correct. is this the only way of doing it, I thought I read somewhere "pads" were mentioned. could i not get one of those?

@crash - thanks, possibly if the cpu works out ok, i am also looking at a better sound card with onboard processing, audigy2.

[Crash]

You can spread a thin layer with an old credit card or similar I used some vodka to clean the heatsink!

[Friar]

i am a little confused, is the "heatsink" the silver coloured metal square on top of the cpu or is it the thing that fits down to the cpu from the fan?

[Crash]

Its the big lump of metal that has a fan attached to it that clips to the cpu

[Friar]

so i dont spread anything onto the actual cpu? as seen in my pictures in the first post of this thread?

[Crash]

You clean the bottom of the heatsink and spread a thin layer of compound on the top face of the cpu. clip the heatsink onto the motherboard and taht should do it. With an AMD cpu the main body of the heatsink is a bit offset. Dont know about intels though. just check that it looks right

[delta7]

here is a link to installing cpus

http://www.mysuperpc.com/pc_assembly/co ... oler.shtml

all cpus install in one way only- there is usually an individual shaped pin or different coloured pin on the bottom to help orientate them.

best thermal paste as ROG pointed out is arctic silver there are links to their install instructions

http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_silv ... ctions.htm

[Friar]

gee, i wish you guys lived nearer for a bit of hand holding..

first time i've done this, so understandably nervous of cocking the whole pc up!

[delta7]

the key is not to force the processor into the motherboard or bend the pins or your goosed - I believe a firm but gentle

[Friar]

thanks for the link dave, thats the kind of guide I had been looking for.

off to overclockers to order some paste and cleaner............

[JG52+Uther]

I have seen the method of spreading the paste all over the cpu,but I always thought that you just put a grain of rice sized 'dollop' in the centre of the cpu?

Also frior is that an 'OEM' cpu?If its a retail version with a fan,does it not already have a layer of paste already applied?

Sorry to 'muddy the waters' a bit

[Friar]

no, its as seen in the photo, an oem i suppose.

your right about the paste, in the link delta7 sent, it says that it should be the size of a grain of rice. it is spread by twisting the heatsink over it.

[Deacon352nd]

Another way is once you put the lump of artic silver on your cpu face, put a finger inside a plastic bag and use that to spread an even coating over the entire face of the cpu instead of twisting the heatsink in an effort to spread it evenly.

[B16Enk]

If you board has over temp protection for the CPU switch it on (in the BIOS) that way you add a little extra insurance.

As the guys said fitting a CPU is an easy, but nerve racking, task.

Credit card is a good tool, use it to smear the paste backwards and forwards.

The paste is electrically conductive, so care does need to be taken with over spill.

[Friar]

right, well the paste and the clearner arrived today, so tonight I opened her up to have a peek at what was there.

the heatsink is quite large and is held in place by fitting some lugs under a bracket at one end and a retaining leaver at the other.

the heatsink once in place covers the latch for lifting the cpu.

i removed the heatsink by raising the latch, lifting at one end to release the lugs from the clamp at the other.

to my surprise there does not appear to be any paste between the cpu and heatsink. i opened up an old pc at work and removed the heatsink and cpu to see what they were all about. on that one there is clear evidence of a "patch" where the paste was in place.

on my one it looks totally clean. the silver patch located on the base of heatsink is clean.

my question is are there "conductorpasteless" heatsinks? and have i got one?

my second problem is that i planned to use the "twist and spread" method once i had put the paste on the cpu thermal pad. i picked this because i tried using an old credit card to spread some paste on the old one i had brought home from work, and well quite frankly, made a bit of a mess!.

once the heatsink is clamped into place, there is no lateral movement to twist it. there is a couple of mm side to side movement but that is all.

would a rice grain sized "blob" of paste be spread enough just by pressing the hinksink down on top of it and then giving a little side to side slide? i did read on the articsilver website that the paste does only need to be in the middle as if the heat pad was removed (and a picture was shown to illustrait this) the core of the cpu is only in the middle.

i decided to put everything back and post here for further advice / support.

Salute!

Frior

[Pooka]

I know what your going through Frior.

When I put my computer together, the night before I had a nightmare about screwing up the CPU.

[delta7]

good post pooka

colin the paste is just there to remove any teeny tiney air gaps that form due to surface irregularities

[BBloke]

Funnily enough last cpu's I fitted I actually used my finger to spread the stuff around.. has worked on the last 4 cpus and none have blown or exhibited heat problems... especially the one that ran at high overclock speeds.

I'm sure you would see no problems if you blobbed the paste on the chip and pushed on the heatsink to try and spread it although I really wouldn't recommend it.

[Jabo]

Hi Frior

I know what you are going thru, even as a system builder, I get a bit nervous at the processor installation point.

I'll be happy to help if I can, but I'd need some more info first, specifically photos of the heatsink and clamp assy and of the socket on your mainboard.

One point I would make though is that installing a CPU with the mainboard in the case is risky as you may have to apply a fair amount of force to the clamp to get it to lock in place. As most mainboards are held up on pillars, pressing down hard on the heatsink clamp is likely to bend the mainboard, and overdoing that can lead to a whole world of hurt. Personally, I'd remove the mainboard from the case, and fit the CPU and heatsink with the board sat on something which which will hold it secure. I use a sheet of polystyrene about 20" square and 5mm thick which I glued to my bench for this very purpose. In fact, I tend to add as much to the board as possible before installing it (memory etc) to minimise the amount of messing about I have to do inside the case.

Apologies if this post oversteps the mark 'cos I'm a newbie here...

Jabo

[Tonar]

That is an Excellent Point Jabo!! That sort of forward thinking must come from Experience.

[Jabo]

~S~

15 years - plenty of time to make mistakes Tonar

[Friar]

@Jabo - no problem mate, if I have requested help I will take anything thats given.

To all who have chipped in with advice.....

I am pleased to report that this post has been made on a computer running with a new cpu