Installing a Processor
The following sections describe the steps required to install and configure standard slotted and socketed processors. The steps we describe are generally applicable to any modern processor of a given type, but the details may vary slightly between different processors, particularly with regard to such things as configuring the motherboard and installing heatsink/fan units. If this is the first time you’ve installed a processor, or if you are in doubt about any step, refer to the documentation provided by the manufacturer of your specific processor and motherboard.
Before you install any processor, make sure that you have identified exactly both the processor itself and the motherboard you plan to install it in. If the processor is not new, you can identify it using the steps described earlier in this chapter. All high-quality motherboards have information printed on the board itself that identifies the manufacturer, model, and revision number. If the board does not contain such information, you may be able to identify the board by writing down the full BIOS string displayed by the BIOS boot screen and checking that string against one of the BIOS sites listed in Chapter 3. However, such “anonymous” boards are generally of very low quality, so it’s usually better to replace such a board rather than attempt to use it.
Warning
Before you install a processor, make absolutely sure the processor is compatible with the motherboard. It is not safe to assume merely ...