Changing Processors. CPUs

[rossoneri]

If I was to change processors what might I need to take in mind? Surely I carnt just switch them over, there has to be a catch?

[ChuckFickens]

Yep, the main catch is if you want to upgrade your processor by any significant amount then you would normally have to change your motherboard too.... and if you change your motherboard you will need new ram, probably a new video card, new hard drive, and new power supply....... in fact you may as well just get a whole new base unit.

if you keep everything else the same then you can normally only upgrade the processor to the fastest one in the same family as your current one, which normally only means a very small and barely noticeable increase in speed.

[VHG]

Apart from what Chuck says, you should also note a motherboard will either be an AMD based one or an Intel based one.

So you cannot put an AMD CPU in an Intel based motherbaord, or an Intel CPU in an AMD based motherboard.

Also note that the "socket" where the CPU goes changes every so often.

So when AMD or Intel bring out a new generation of CPUs they often change the "socket" they plug in to (different shape, different number of pins etc).

So for, example, recently Intel brough out a new range of CPUs called i7.

To fit these new Intel i7 CPUs you need a totally different type of motherboard (and different memory and so on).

So as you can see, upgrading your CPU is not as easy as all that.

[VHG]

Just to reinforce what chuck says in his second paragraph.

When a company releases a motherboard it normally only supports the CPUs that are around at that time.

When a new family of CPUs come out, then new motherboards are designed to take these new CPUs.

So if you have a motherboard that is say a year or so old you cant just buy the lastest fastst CPU and put it in the motherboard.

Even if it fits in the socket the motherboard may not even recognise it so the computer will not even start up.

As chuck says, the gain from putting in a new CPU is not always that great anyway.

Even if you put in a new CPU that was 30% faster it would not make your computer 30% faster.

All the other components in the PC are still working at he same speed so you may only see a 5% or 10% gain in performance, so it is hardly worth doing.

[ACtheTROLL]

in a nutshell

DON't
..... unless it's a project ... it's a good way to learn
got the new processor - doesn't work in mobo
got new mobo - mem won't fit

as long as there isn't a rush you can take your time ....
and if you take enough time ... when it's all finally working
the kit will be out of date .... and you can start again.

[DanAB]

first, find out your motherboard details (manufacturer/model). this will give you the basic details on what it can an can not accept. this will give you a good knowledge into what to buy.

if it will accept the processor you are planning on buying then it should all be fine. you will not need to re-install the operating system.