The CPU (central processing unit) is the brains of your computer system. The CPU is primarily responsible for computing and executing complex programing instructions. In other words, your CPU is the component that largely drives how quickly computer programs and the operating system responds. In a modern computer, upgrading the CPU is an easy task with a bit of preparation. If your computer seems to be getting old, a CPU upgrade may be all you need to breathe second life into the machine.
Inspect Your Existing CPU and Motherboard
Over the years, the design of the CPU has changed radically. As the power of the CPU has increased, the size of the CPU has paradoxically decreased. These design changes must be taken into consideration before you run out to buy the newest and fastest CPU. The motherboard on your computer will only be compatible with a particular type of CPU. Be sure to carefully review your motherboard documentation or use a computer hardware profiling program like Sandra Suite or CPU-Z to determine what CPU you are currently running (and thus have a comparison for other possible CPUs), as well as the CPU type your motherboard supports.
Find a New CPU
Once you know what type of CPU you have, you can investigate the market. If your computer is older, it may be the case that your CPU type is not widely available on the market at retailers like Best Buy or Newegg. In that case, it will be necessary to shop at smaller-computer stores or on eBay to find the best CPU available. Knowing the upper limits of your motherboard, you can easily determine which CPU would perform best and offer the greatest upgrade to your computer with just a little bit of research.
Duo Core, Quad Core?
Most likely, you have heard all the talk about duo core and quad core processors offered in modern computers and laptops. These CPUs are extremely powerful because they are able to attach multiple processing units to a single CPU die. The CPU die is what connects the processing units to the motherboard. If your computer is running a single-core CPU, chances are it will not support a duo or quad core CPU. Upgrading to a multi-core processor will likely require upgrading the motherboard and the graphics card as well.
Installing the CPU
Once you have found a CPU that meets your needs, it is time for installation. Assuming you feel comfortable opening up your computer case, installing a new CPU is an easy upgrade. Before starting the installation, be sure that you have thermal paste to apply to the CPU. The thermal paste allows the heatsink to more easily conduct heat from the CPU. Simply remove the heatsink and fan from the existing CPU, lift the lever holding the CPU and remove the old CPU. Next, gently lower the new CPU into the slot, replace the lever, apply the thermal paste and then re-install the heatsink and fan.
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