We tell you how to install a processor or CPU on the motherboard without damaging it, step by step.Given the variety of socket types on motherboards, we’ll explain how to install your chip without any problems. Don’t worry, this guide is very simple, and you’ll be able to do it yourself without any problems. The idea is to avoid damaging the processor or motherboard, and to ensure the CPU is properly installed and its cooling is complete.
Table of Contents
How to install a processor step by step
Before you begin, make sure you have enough thermal paste because installing the processor without a heatsink or AIO kit will be useless (and don’t even think about installing it without thermal paste).
Prepare the table and motherboard
If you have your motherboard installed in the case, I highly recommend taking it out of the case and working comfortably. Otherwise, don’t mount it in the case without installing the processor.
To avoid scares , I recommend putting newspaper sheets or some kind of upholstery because the motherboard has many metal parts and they can get scratched, as can the CPU.
You won’t need much space, at least for this installation, so you don’t need a mansion. And if you do it on the floor, it’s fine too!
Carefully remove the processor from the box
We carefully remove the processor from the box, avoiding any unusual impacts or vibrations. This is a fragile component, so be careful.
As a recommendation, once you’ve removed it from the box, lay it face up to avoid scratching the pins or anything else. Look at the photo; we used a type of foam rubber, like the ones found on many motherboards.
Does your processor not have that smooth surface, but instead has pins? It’s likely from the AM4 platform , since those Ryzen processors used a PGA socket.
Install the processor into the socket
We go to the motherboard socket , push the lever down and tilt it to the right to unlock it and, if it is new (like the one in the image), we will remove the plastic cover that protects the socket.
Now, we need to look at the top cover of the CPU and find a kind of arrow , which indicates how the CPU should be installed on the motherboard, which also has this arrow marked on it. Insert it carefully, and that’s it.
Once we have it installed on the plate, we push the lever down (you may need to apply some force) and secure it to the lever holder you see in the image.
It should look like this:
Apply thermal paste
Thermal paste is the compound that transfers heat from the CPU to our heatsink or water pump (in the case of an AIO kit). It’s essential to use a good compound because otherwise, our air or water cooler won’t do its job properly.
Now it’s time to apply thermal paste to the CPU, and there are plenty of options here. If you ask me, just apply a pea-sized amount of paste to the IHS . When we install the heatsink on top, the thermal paste will spread to the rest of the surface.
Another method is to spread a little thermal paste as you can see in this photo.
Then, there are AIO kits that come with the thermal paste installed on the base, making it easier for you: just screw it on and you’re done. There are also brands that work with stencil-like applicators, as you can see in these photos.
Install the kit or heatsink on top
This part is part of any step-by-step guide on installing a processor or CPU , and it involves installing its cooler. Once the thermal paste is applied, we must mount this component on top, but how?
My recommendations :
- See the instructions for the kit or heatsink .
- If you’re not clear on the instructions, go to the website or watch a YouTube video that shows you how to install your model.
- You’ll likely need to remove the standard hardware from the socket to install the mounting kit that comes with your cooler.
- Always use the kit compatible with your socket (AM4, AM5, LGA1700, LGA1851, etc.), although if you use another one you will notice that the holes do not fit.
I could explain how to do this step by step, but it depends a lot on the model you install.
Check and monitor
Once you’ve installed the CPU, it’s time to install the rest of the components and screw the motherboard into the PC case. With everything ready, your CPU installation isn’t over : you still need to perform some checks .
I’ll tell you the order I always follow:
- I turn on the PC and go into the motherboard BIOS to see if it recognizes my CPU and if the temperatures are correct (no CPU should be at 50ºC when idle).
- You may need to update the BIOS depending on the motherboard you have.
- Once in Windows, I download CPU-Z and run it to see that everything is OK.
- I also open the task manager to check that it recognizes all the threads.
- I install HWMonitor (it’s easy) to see what temperatures it gives, especially when I run a game or stress it a little more.
If you see strange temperatures, you’ll have to disassemble it again because something strange is happening: either the thermal paste isn’t doing its job or the cooler is installed incorrectly.
Conclusions and final advice
It’s not a complicated process, as you’ll have realized with this short guide. I’ve been a beginner like all of you, and I recommend the following:
- Take your time, don’t rush: better done well and late than early and badly.
- If you applied the thermal paste incorrectly, it’s fine: just remove it with isopropyl alcohol and start over.
- It is necessary to tighten the heatsink well so that there are no air bubbles.
- Want an AIO kit but haven’t built one yet? Check out this tutorial because the radiator needs to be installed correctly.
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We hope this information has been helpful. If you have any questions, please comment below and we’ll get back to you shortly.
