How to Install a Desktop Processor


A computer isn't a computer without a processor, so that's rightfully where system building and upgrading usually start. If you're looking for a faster, more powerful, and more feature-rich PC, you're going to want the best processor you can get your hands on. That doesn't always mean the most expensive, but it means doing a little bit of research. (Check out our story, "How to Buy a Processor," for more information about how to find your ideal CPU.) But once you have it, what do you do with it?

Installing a processor may seem daunting, but it's not really that difficult. The basic process is always four steps (open the socket, install the processor, close the socket, then install the necessary heat sink), but the details differ depending on whether you're using an AMD or an Intel CPU, and what model it is. Luckily, whichever kind of processor you have, you can install it in your motherboard in just a few minutes—and although you'll want to be careful while doing so, the process isn't even that complicated.

What follows are steps for installing processors in the current most popular motherboard sockets on the market: Intel's LGA1155 (mainstream) and LGA2011 (high-end), and AMD. Because we're assuming a from-scratch build, we're not including extensive information here about performing upgrades, but we'll pepper in a few words about it when it's appropriate.