How do I install a brand new CPU on a computer you ask? While this task may seem scary, I promise you if you listen to my words you will be able to do it with the slightest bit of ease. I have personally installed the CPUs on all four different iterations of my PC. First off lets make sure you’ve gotten your materials. You’re going to need a CPU (obviously) a motherboard, a screwdriver, CPU thermal paste/coolant, a good enough fan for the CPU you have purchased, and obviously the rest of the computer.
Now, let’s get started. First off let’s make sure you are not standing on carpet and you have your PC mostly together already and it is on a non-static surface. Preferably a wide table or wide countertop will do. Now lift up the lever on the CPU tray, this may be located at either side of the CPU socket. Now, pull the lever up and back so that it is pointing vertically. Now you are going to want to find a little tiny arrow on one of the four corners of the CPU socket. Take your CPU and now line it up with that little gold arrow and place it down, be extra careful with this, as you do not want to bend any of the pins on your CPU. DO NOT put any extra pressure on your CPU because if it is needed you are doing something wrong. Once lined up, it should just glide into place where it needs to be.
Once you have your CPU in, you should now lower the lever to lock it into place and make sure it doesn’t budge. Now, you can apply about an almond size of thermal paste in the center of your CPU. Do not put too much thermal paste on your CPU otherwise it will be a huge mess for you and could potentially lead to a few problems. Once you have the thermal paste on, you should then place your cooler on it, make sure its flat, and begin lining it up and making sure everything is fine and lined up properly with the holes/standoffs on your motherboard. Now, you should begin screwing in your cooler down into place. Now you need to plug in your cooler into the fan header above your CPU.
