How to Install a New CPU on a Motherboard? [Step-by-Step Guide]

With both AMD and Intel recently releasing powerful and power-efficient new CPUs with substantial performance gains over their predecessors, it is no wonder that many people with computers two to three years old are considering an upgrade.

One such major upgrade is to the motherboard, with the installation of a new CPU. However, for the uninitiated, understanding how to install a new CPU on the motherboard can be daunting. It's not as simple as buying one and plugging it into your computer.

Today, we're going to go over a few key points to keep in mind when installing a new CPU onto your motherboard. Let's get started.

CPU Overview

On September 27, 2022, AMD finally released its much-anticipated Zen 4 processors, also known as the Ryzen 7000 series CPUs. These CPUs were met with enthusiasm from users. Intel, for its part, unveiled its 13th generation CPUs on October 20 of the same year.

With both the Red and Blue teams bringing their A-game, the competition for gaming, productivity, and everyday use has been fierce. This has led people to look for ways to upgrade their CPUs and install the new ones on their existing motherboards.

But two things are clear about both new architectures.

• AMD's Zen 4 architecture will move to the AM5 CPU socket, an upgrade from the previous AM4
• Intel's 13th Gen CPUs can be used with their Z690 or 12th Gen motherboards

As a result, when you upgrade to a new AMD processor, you'll need a new motherboard and memory, because these CPUs work only with DDR5. Intel's new chips will work with older motherboards and DDR4 memory.

So, if you continue reading this article, make sure you know your motherboard platform (socket), such as Intel's LGA 1700 and the new AM5 from AMD for its processors.

Benefits of Upgrading the CPU

In tech, the benefits of upgrading anything are well understood. Each new iteration of hardware delivers improvements in performance, efficiency, and so on. A new CPU can add many advantages to that list.

For example, newer AMD and Intel CPUs are known to provide:

- Improved application and task performance - Better single-core performance - Enhanced performance per watt - Higher frame rates in gaming - Better utilization of the latest and upcoming graphics cards (from both Nvidia and AMD) - Enhanced visual effects in graphics, rendering, and gaming - Faster boot times and quicker app switching

As such, a CPU upgrade ensures you make the most out of other components like an SSD, GPU, and RAM (Random Access Memory) for improved gaming and productivity performance.

Preparations Before Installing a New CPU on the Motherboard

Before ordering or attempting to install a CPU, it's important to get all your ducks in a row. In this section, we'll go over a few things you should do before installing a new CPU in your motherboard. Let's get started:

Make sure it's compatible with your motherboard:

First, make sure the CPU you want to upgrade is compatible with your motherboard. Check the:

• Your CPU, like an Intel LGA 1700 (12th and 13th Gen), LGA 1200 (10th and 11th Gen), or AMD AM4 (Zen 2 and Zen 3) or AM5 (Zen 4) socket, will slot into a port on your PC's motherboard.
• Make sure the CPU you plan to use supports the type of RAM you have, like DDR4 or DDR5.
• Check on the manufacturer's website that your motherboard's BIOS supports the CPU you want to upgrade to. If it doesn't, you'll need to update the BIOS before upgrading the CPU.

Be sure to check this information before you buy your CPU.

Required equipment:

In this section, we'll discuss some of the equipment you'll need. For example:

• New thermal interface material to ensure 100% contact between the CPU and CPU cooler
• A screwdriver or a toolkit with a Phillips head screwdriver
• An anti-static wrist strap to ground yourself

So, having these tools ensures that your CPU installation will be much easier.

Just in case, make a backup.

Finally, make a backup before proceeding, just in case. Installing a new CPU might require a fresh install of Windows, or even wipe your existing system, so it's best to be prepared with a quality backup tool.

We recommend you to use Todo Backup, because:

It allows you to clone an operating system image or perform an system clone. It makes data backup more efficient. As a fast backup and recovery software, its goal is to save time. It works on all Windows platforms, including 7, 8, 10, and 11. It offers 250GB of cloud storage space.

As such, after installing the CPU, it's a good idea to create a backup or clone of your system's OS image, just in case.

【Complete Guide】How to Install a New CPU on Your Motherboard

With all that out of the way, it's time to get started upgrading your CPU. This section will cover how to install a new CPU on both Intel and AMD platforms.

It is worth mentioning, however, that AMD's new processors use the same method as Intel's, i.e., LGA (Land Grid Array), where the pins are not on the processor itself but provided by the motherboard. Thus, we're talking about AM4, not AM5.

And for Intel, we're going to be discussing the LGA 1700 socket, as that's what's compatible with both the 12th and 13th Gen CPUs. So, let's get started.

Install a New CPU on an Intel Motherboard

Please make sure your motherboard and CPU are compatible for these steps to work properly. If so, proceed with the following:

Step 1: Gently press down and slide the retention arm on the Intel motherboard to the side to unlock it.

Step 2: Open the CPU socket and remove the CPU.

Step 3: Locate the golden triangle on the bottom left of the CPU.

Step 4: Align the triangle on the clip with the triangle on the motherboard slot.

Or line up the dots or grid on all four sides, and lower it.

<img src="https://d2sn5v8frvh61i.cloudfront.net/images/en/screenshot/todo-backup/guide/align-the-four-dots.png" width="700" />

5. Lower the CPU back into its socket, and close the lid until it clicks into place.

The CPU should now be securely seated and ready to go. Before you reattach the CPU cooler, though, make sure to apply a small amount of thermal paste to the CPU before putting the cooler back on.

How to Install a New CPU on an AMD Motherboard

In this section, we'll discuss how to install an AM4 CPU. If you're upgrading to a Zen 4 motherboard and processor with the AM5 socket, the process is similar to Intel's, so you can follow the steps outlined above.

And if you are planning to upgrade to Zen 3, AMD's 5000-series processors, what do you need to know?

Step 1: Open the CPU retention mechanism on the AM4 socket.

Step two: Pull it back up so that the pins line up – you can't see them, but they're there.

Step 3: Find the triangle symbol in the bottom-left corner of the CPU.

Locate the triangle in the bottom-left corner of the CPU.

Step 4: Find the similar triangle-shaped socket on your motherboard.

Look for the corresponding triangle on the motherboard's slot.

5. Gently lower the CPU into place (do not press down forcefully).

Step 6: Close the hook arm.

And once you're done, you put a little bit of thermal paste on there, put your heat sink back on, and when you boot up your computer again, you've got a faster CPU.

Ultimately

There you go, guys. That's how you upgrade your Intel or AMD processor. It's important to remember that the CPU you upgrade to must be compatible with your motherboard, or it just won't work.

That's why you must make sure that all the conditions listed earlier in this article are met, including using a tool like Todo Backup to ensure that you have a complete backup of your important data.

When done, make sure to select the correct CPU for your platform, then proceed with the upgrade as shown in this article.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Installing a New CPU on a Motherboard (UTF-8 Encoding)

Hopefully, if there are further questions, they will be forthcoming.

1. Can I install a new CPU on my motherboard?

Yes, it should. As long as your CPU is compatible with your motherboard, you should be able to install it using the method shown in this article. You may also need to update your BIOS to ensure that the CPU works properly with your motherboard.

2. Will I need to remove the motherboard to change the CPU?

Not necessarily – most motherboards can have their CPUs replaced without removal. The cooler just needs to come off first before installing the new one.

How do I switch from the old CPU to the new CPU?

First, make sure your motherboard is compatible with the new CPU type. Once you've confirmed that, follow the steps in this document to switch from the old CPU to the new one.