Cpu Processor Swap

RAZO · Jun 4, 2009

I was thinking on swapping my AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual core 4200 with a 6400. What do I need to do before actually swapping the processors? Do I have to upgrade anything? Do I use the same heatsink? I've swapped hd's, memory, video cards, but I never messed around with the cpu.

metallizer · Jun 4, 2009

you should read your mainboard manual to see if it´s necessary to move any jumpers or mess around at the bios menu.

The only thing you´re going to need is thermal grease to apply between the cpu and the heatsink.

systmdfect · Jun 4, 2009

*Usually* it's pretty straightforward. Unlatch the old one put the new one in.

To remove the old heatsink either unscrew or pop the latch(this part depends on the heatsink and/or motherboard). Then unlatch the processor and lift straight up slowly. The bottom has many pins so if you remove too fast or at an angle it can break some of the pins.

When putting the new one in make sure the arrow is lined up with the arrow on the motherboard. When it is in, secure the latch. Now apply new thermal paste to the processor; usually about the size of a grain of rice or so in the middle. You may or may not be able to use the old heatsink. If you can use the old heatsink make sure you clean all the thermal compound off and wipe clean with a lint free towel. When putting the heatsink on push it down on the processor twist about 5-10 degrees in both directions. Then either latch the fan back on or screw it back on(depends on fan and/or motherboard).

As much of the process depends on your computer it's hard to give exact steps. But this should be easy to follw.

Nesagwa · Jun 4, 2009

Or do it the right way and use a razor blade to put a very thin layer on both the CPU and the heatsink, getting rid of any excess.

But you shouldnt have any problem at all since all youre doing is stepping up to a faster version of the same chip.

RAZO · Jun 4, 2009

Ok good stuff. Do brand new processors come with the heatsink or is it something I have to buy separate? Can't forget to use the thermal compound, and will be reading the Asus manual, I believe I still have it boxed some were. Thanks for the info guys.

RAZO · Jun 4, 2009

Nesagwa said:
Or do it the right way and use a razor blade to put a very thin layer on both the CPU and the heatsink, getting rid of any excess.

But you shouldnt have any problem at all since all youre doing is stepping up to a faster version of the same chip.

Good move, will use the razor blade method. Thanks

Nesagwa · Jun 4, 2009

RAZO said:
Ok good stuff. Do brand new processors come with the heatsink or is it something I have to buy separate? Can't forget to use the thermal compound, and will be reading the Asus manual, I believe I still have it boxed some were. Thanks for the info guys.

Retail they usually do, so if you want to save some money get an OEM from newegg or something. No point in getting an extra one unless you want to upgrade to a nicer one.

xiao_haozi · Jun 4, 2009

Nesagwa said:
Retail they usually do, so if you want to save some money get an OEM from newegg or something. No point in getting an extra one unless you want to upgrade to a nicer one.

Good advice...

The only thing you might want to check then is that when upgrading to a faster cpu sometimes you will have more heat to deal with. Especially if you are going up in cores and will be running code that will be utilizing more than one of the cores at a time. I upgraded my last AMD single core to a double and was running code on both cores at once but it cranked the cpu temps up 20C ! This was with the stock heatsink. I grabbed an Asus cooler (that is massive and a tad pricey but excellent by reviews) and this has dropped my temps from 70+C to an average of about 22C on each core when under load in the winter and about 31C in the summer under load.

So longwinded...but in short, keep on eye on your temps when changing CPUs. If you are running a unix based setup you can run sensors (lm_sensors) to get some nice checks. Someone here that runs windows might have a nice lightweight sensor that you could run if you are running windows.

Nesagwa · Jun 4, 2009

Speedfan is a good one, shows different temps for each core.

If youre getting that big of a heat increase it may have been the crappy stock silver paste they put on the heatsinks from the factory. Did you get some arctic silver instead with the new one?

xiao_haozi · Jun 4, 2009

Nesagwa said:
Speedfan is a good one, shows different temps for each core.

If youre getting that big of a heat increase it may have been the crappy stock silver paste they put on the heatsinks from the factory. Did you get some arctic silver instead with the new one?

I can't recall the brand I had used on the new CPU... was stuff I got at a local place where I get all my specialty parts for electronics repairs and such... the arctic silver stuff is too salty for my blood haha. The guy where I go will usually go in the back and fill up a little ziplock baggy for me with the paste and charges me 'whatever change I feel like throwing his way'... so usually a dollar.

I think mostly it was that the stock sink fan for that guy was not moving a significant enough volume of air away from the sink. The Asus one I then replaced it with has more vertical coils with the fan sandwiched between them and capped. I think it was a combination of this setup and how my case is setup that it worked out much better.

Ichiro · Jun 4, 2009

What nobody has told you is that you can't put a 6400+ in a motherboard that previously had a 4200+, because the former is Socket AM2 and the latter is a Socket 939 and they're not compatible.

systmdfect · Jun 4, 2009

Ichiro said:
What nobody has told you is that you can't put a 6400+ in a motherboard that previously had a 4200+, because the former is Socket AM2 and the latter is a Socket 939 and they're not compatible.

It would seem that way. However, after taking less that 60 seconds to perform a search online you will see that it was also manufactured for AM2. He may very well have the 939 version, but don't jump to the conclusion that everybody else in this thread doesn't know how to perform a basic search function.

systmdfect · Jun 4, 2009

Nesagwa said:
Or do it the right way and use a razor blade to put a very thin layer on both the CPU and the heatsink, getting rid of any excess.

Either way works, the twisting removes excess air pockets. Using a thin object such as a razor blade does as well. I just figured since he was new to this that it might be easier to drop it down and twist it.

Ichiro · Jun 4, 2009

systmdfect said:
It would seem that way. However, after taking less that 60 seconds to perform a search online you will see that it was also manufactured for AM2. He may very well have the 939 version, but don't jump to the conclusion that everybody else in this thread doesn't know how to perform a basic search function.

That's a fair point. I wasn't aware they bothered to release an AM2 version of that chip. I stand corrected.

systmdfect · Jun 4, 2009

Ichiro said:
That's a fair point. I wasn't aware they bothered to release an AM2 version of that chip. I stand corrected.

I'm sorry if I seem like I'm being an ass, I just am sometimes. I just don't like know it alls, even though I can be one on certain subjects. I apologize for my tone.

123►Genei-Jin · Jun 4, 2009

Best thermal paste you can find is either Shin Etsu or Artic Cooling MX-2

Ichiro · Jun 4, 2009

systmdfect said:
I'm sorry if I seem like I'm being an ass, I just am sometimes. I just don't like know it alls, even though I can be one on certain subjects. I apologize for my tone.

No no, that's fine, I was wrong to assume. You were absolutely correct. I wasn't trying to be insulting to you or everyone who has offered advice, I build a lot of systems and I just thought everyone had overlooked the obvious. Ironically, it was me who overlooked the fact.

RAZO · Jun 5, 2009

So this is the one I should get. Should work fine, right? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103228

systmdfect · Jun 7, 2009

RAZO said:
So this is the one I should get. Should work fine, right? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103228

That really depends, you never mentioned what kind of socket your motherboard has.

RAZO · Jun 10, 2009

AtariBorn · Jun 10, 2009

You will definitley notice a difference in performance. I replaced my 2800+ with a 6000+ (tis all my board supports) and now it screams! Although, it wasn't too slow to begin with.

systmdfect · Jun 11, 2009

Yeah you could get that CPU. I would recommend an aftermarket cooler for it though, like this one. It snaps right in using the same hardware as your stock one did, Only thing you'll need is new thermal paste.

xiao_haozi · Jun 11, 2009

systmdfect said:
Yeah you could get that CPU. I would recommend an aftermarket cooler for it though, like this one. It snaps right in using the same hardware as your stock one did, Only thing you'll need is new thermal paste.

Yeah... definitely get an upgraded heatsink, especially if you are going to push it.

I mentioned in a post much further up about my drastic temperature drops... this is the one I used in that particular machine : asus guy

Not as cheap as a lot of the others...but it has been worth every penny for me.

RAZO · Jun 12, 2009

AtariBorn said:
You will definitley notice a difference in performance. I replaced my 2800+ with a 6000+ (tis all my board supports) and now it screams! Although, it wasn't too slow to begin with.

Yea, Same here. I really don't need to do it, but its been like 2-3 years, so I feel its time to upgrade. Wanna add 2 solid video cards via sli. Upgrade the mem to 4gb, and I need to add a bigger hd, at least an extra 500gb.

RAZO · Jun 12, 2009

xiao_haozi said:
Yeah... definitely get an upgraded heatsink, especially if you are going to push it.

I mentioned in a post much further up about my drastic temperature drops... this is the one I used in that particular machine : asus guy

Not as cheap as a lot of the others...but it has been worth every penny for me.

Will do, better spending acouple of extra bucks then frying my processor.

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