Be sure not to bend the pins on your CPU when you reinstall it.
Reinstalling your computer's CPU is an extremely delicate task that needs to be handled with great care. The problem is that a CPU will have hundreds of tiny pins that must slide perfectly into the slot on your motherboard. If you bend some of them, it is nearly impossible to fix them and you may end up destroying your CPU in the process. Fortunately, doing the actual job is not complicated. It just requires patience.
Instructions
1. Touch the metal parts of your computer case to ground yourself. This will prevent the discharge of static electricity that may have built up on your fingertips and could cause severe damage to the sensitive equipment inside your computer.
2. Locate the slot for your CPU. If you are reinstalling it, as suggested above, this should be fairly simple. However, even if you are re-installing it to a brand new motherboard, the CPU slot is fairly unmistakable. It is typically white and will have hundreds of tiny holes.
3. Open the lever next to your CPU slot. In most cases, you will notice an arrow on the CPU slot which matches up to the tapered tip of your CPU. Sometimes, the CPU will have an arrow as well. You need to line up the CPU over the holes so that the pins fit inside the holes (use the arrow and tip to guide you). It will not simply drop into place. However, you do want to see that the holes clearly match up.
4. Press down firmly but gently on your CPU. You will feel slight resistance, but not much. If the CPU does not seem to be going in at all, stop immediately; double check that your CPU is lined up correctly with the slot. If it is not, fix the alignment. If it is lined up correctly, double check that no pins are bent. If pins are bent, see tips.
5. Apply some thermal grease to the top of the CPU, in the center (a drop or two will be fine). Spread it around with your fingers so that it evenly coats the top.
6. Place your CPU fan and heat sink (they typically come as one unit) on top of the CPU. You will notice support slots on either side of the CPU slot where the brackets on the fan/heat sink needs to be hooked in. Be sure to get it hooked in on either side. Once you have done so, close the lever for the fan. Plug the fan's power into the motherboard (see your motherboard's manual for where the plug is. Hint: It is usually a four pin plug close to the CPU slot.).
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