CPU

01 CPU

What you will need

Motherboard CPU

The first part of your computer building journey will be to install the CPU. In this section, we are going to learn about the CPU, its function, handling tips, and how to install it to your motherboard.

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Let’s talk about the CPU!

Central Processing Unit (CPU) is also referred to as the Processor. It is so important that it is also known as the “brain” of your computer.

What does the CPU do?

The CPU follows instructions sent by different computer programs that tell what data it needs to process and how to process it. The CPU is made up of multiple cores that help it process many instructions at the same time. If you are just starting out, you want to make sure that your CPU has at least four cores.

WARNING!

The CPU is very sensitive to static charges!

• Be sure to handle it very carefully.

• Only hold the CPU by its edges, and never touch the top or gold pins on the bottom.

• Make sure that your CPU is compatible with your motherboard’s chipset.

Top

Bottom

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What are cores?

Cores affect how fast a CPU can process data. You can think of cores as their own little CPUs. These cores greatly increase the amount of time it takes to process information, and in turn increase how fast a program can run. When you are looking to buy your CPU, it is recommended that you buy one that has at least four cores. The core count also lets you know how many tasks the CPU can run at the same time.

CPU Speed

The speed of a CPU is called the clock speed and is measured in gigahertz (GHz). A CPUs clock speed determines the calculations it can process each second.

Compatibility

The chipset of a motherboard determines which CPU it can and cannot take. For example, you could not put an Intel CPU inside an AMD chipset motherboard and vice versa.

10 // How to Build a Computer Now, let’s examine the top and bottom of the CPU. One thing to watch out for is the bottom of the CPU and the many gold pins. It is crucial not to touch the top or bottom of your CPU since the oil and dust on your fingers can damage these sensitive parts.

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Lets Install the CPU!

In this section, we will begin installing the CPU. One thing you should know before you install is that there is a tiny arrow on the top and bottom of the CPU. Once you open the CPU socket on the motherboard you will see the same arrow. These arrows need to match so that you install the CPU correctly and minimize the chance of damaging the pins underneath.

The first thing that you will want to do is take the motherboard out of its anti-static packaging. Once the motherboard is out, you will want to place it gently on your work surface and locate the CPU socket.

The CPU socket will have a plastic covering and a tiny metal lever. Make sure that you find the small arrow on both the socket and the CPU itself. These arrows will need to be lined up with each other when you install it. You will now have to lift the plastic covering by gently pushing down on the lever attached and moving it away from the socket to open the tray. This is when you can open the CPU from its packaging, but please remember to be very careful when handling it. The CPU and its socket can be very easily damaged, so it is important that you hold the CPU by its edges.

IMPORTANT!

• Never touch the top or gold pins on the bottom!

• Only handle the CPU by its edges.

• Your fingers have oil and dust that can cause damage.

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Make sure that the arrows on the CPU and the arrow on the CPU socket match up as mentioned before. The CPU will not require any force to put into place. The pins can be easily damaged or break off if you move it around too much, so be sure to lower the CPU in the socket gently. Once it is set in place, we can lower the lever and remove the plastic covering. Bringing the lever back down to its original position might take a bit of force, but once you push it back in place, the plastic cover will pop off. Please don’t try to remove the cap yourself. The lever will do the work for you as you push it down to its original position.

Congratulations on installing your CPU! Now that this part is finished, we can move on to installing the CPU cooler. Some things to note before moving on is that some CPU coolers need thermal paste and others come with thermal paste preapplied. Once you have these things together, we can jump into the next section.

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