ok i need to know a few things, ive got a new cpu but ive never fittewd one be4, but i can do everything else like put ram in, gfx card, hard drive etc etc.
i was just wanting to know how difficult it is on a rating of 1-10 ten being most difficult.
what other things there is to be done as well. like resetting the bios to default.
once its fitted will i have to do anything else be4 turning computer back on, or do i just fit the cpu and heatsink and thats it running like normal.
sorry for going on but if i can do this myself its saving me £25
If you have done it before it will be easy. And everyone is worried their first time. As long as you handle the CPU and board with care and respect you will be fine. Here are a couple of pionts of advice to ensure you make it as easy as possible.
Carry out any procedures using anti-static equipment as to ensure you don't zap any delicate components with built up static electricty on yourself.
Don't take out any components from their packets before you are ready to install them. And when you do check each component for bent pins / broken capacitors / components.
Check all card slots, pins etc BEFORE trying to push them home, otherwise you could damage items (and its sooooo easy to bend a 1mm thick pin on a motherboard costing over £100) and ensure all slots are free of any debris (bits of styrofoam bubbles, bits of solder flux etc).
Don't force things!! If they don't fit, check your putting them where they go. So many times I have tried putting RAM in backwards lol.
Don't power anything on until you have at least checked everything twice.
With regards to the BIOS / CMOS settings, you can look on the instruction manual on how to reset the BIOS data before you first turn on. This could be advised as someone may have had the board before you and inputed manual RAM timings etc. This could cause your M/B to fail its POST due to no fault of your own.
I always tend to update the BIOS immeadiately as I know the system powers on. This allows for you to update it to ensure compatibilty with your other components. (the motherboard you bought may be brand new but how long has it taken for you to buy it since it left the manufacturers factory?).
In respects to fitting the CPU yourself, its not too difficult, more frightening. You tend to spend alot on CPU's and you dont want to damage it or your motherboard. I would always suggest on using a cooling paste as well as a different HSF than the stock one manufacturers tend to give you with CPU's. Remeber to ensure you use the paste sparingly, and leave it a few minutes to let the force of the CPU and HSF to really work the paste into the gaps between both surfaces Mainly because most pastes can start to go hard when they get hot, so you turn your PC on 1st time and the paste isnt fully dispersed then it wont perform as well.
Always check the alignment of the CPU / Socket when you install. Bending pins on older CPU's was a pain in the arse. Newer models are easier, but dont drop / push the CPU on to the MB's socket pins.
