Requirements

To replace a CPU you need the following products:

• A flat-head screwdriver
• OR a Torx T30 long blade screwdriver for HP models
• OR a Ph2 Phillips screwdriver for other brands
• Cleaning alcohol wipes / microfiber cloth with alcohol
• Thermal paste and a plastic ironing spatula
• the NTS shipping tray for CPUs

The Torx T30 screwdriver must have a blade of at least 15cm in length to reach the screws of the CPU cooler. An example of such a screwdriver can be found here.

Thermal paste often comes with a plastic spatula or a cap with a spatula shape, as in the image above. This is to spread the thermal paste evenly. Only use plastic spatulas. Other materials may leave scratches.

Preparation

Make sure you have the necessary materials from the previous section on hand, and make sure your work area is clean. This prevents dust or, for example, wet thermal paste from entering your system.

First of all, shut down the computer:

> Shut down your desktop or workstation
> Disconnect the power cable
> Press and hold the power button for five seconds. This discharges any residual electricity still in the system.
> Open the housing. In most cases, desktops and workstations open on the side, with the motherboard positioned vertically. It is therefore advisable to lay the computer flat. Opening the case can be done without tools on most modern desktops, servers and workstations.

Remove the cooler

The video below shows how to remove the cooler. The steps are further explained below.

> disconnect the CPU cooler from the mainboard. This way you can completely remove it from the system and prevent the cooler from folding back through the cable and causing damage to your system.

> Unscrew the cooler with the long Torx T30 screwdriver. Make sure you follow the order shown on the cooler, both for unscrewing and screwing on. This generally goes crosswise:

Completely loosen the screw per number before loosening the next screw.

> carefully remove the CPU cooler with the CPU attached to it from the pins. Place the cooler with the CPU side up next to the system.

Remove the old CPU

> Now use the flat screwdriver between the heatsink and the plastic processor carrier. The corner where this is possible is indicated with a screwdriver symbol and the word TIM BREAKER

Please note: only use the screwdriver in the specified position and only between the plastic carrier and the heatsink.

> Carefully loosen the other clips on the corners of the plastic carrier and remove the old CPU from the cooler on the CPU carrier.

Remove thermal paste

> Clean the cooler and old CPU of thermal paste with an alcohol cleaning cloth.

Please note: always perform this at some distance from your system. This prevents old thermal paste from ending up on the mainboard or in the socket.

If something does fall into the socket, it can be removed with high-pressure compressed air (for example a compressor). Do not touch the inside of the socket! This only causes defects. In this case, contact the NTS helpdesk to ask what the best next steps are.

> Carefully release the clips from the plastic carrier and remove the old processor. Always hold CPUs only at the side. As long as you do not touch the connectors, this is not a problem.

> Place the old CPU with the connectors (gold) facing down in an empty compartment in the NTS shipping tray.

Your old CPU may still have trade-in value. Contact your account manager for this. If this is the case, you can send in your old CPU in the same packaging that the new one was shipped in. This is specially made for this and this prevents damage during transport.

Install new CPU

> place the new CPU in the plastic carrier. Pick it up by the long sides so that the contacts are not touched.

Note: Pin1 on the CPU is indicated with a dot. On the tray with a triangular recess. Make sure Pin1 matches the triangle on the plastic carrier

> Align the CPU according to the recess at the carrier clip.

> Carefully bend the plastic carrier to attach the clip to the other side. Here too, use the recess in the CPU near the clip.

> Apply new thermal paste to the CPU. The CPU back has multiple levels. Make sure that only the top part is lubricated. Use the plastic spatula to apply an even layer of just under 1mm.

> Now place the CPU in the carrier on the cooler. The cooler also indicates where Pin1 should go. Check that Pin1 matches for the CPU, carrier and cooler before pushing the clips on.

> Press the corners of the plastic carrier to close the clips in the holes.

Install cooler with CPU

> Check that the CPU contacts and the socket in the system are clean.

> Align the cooler with the CPU on the pins. Make sure that the Pin1 indication on the cooler matches that on the mainboard.

> screw on the cooler. Use the long Torx T30 screwdriver in the order indicated on the cooler.

Please note: this is the opposite of loosening.

Tighten each screw completely before installing the next screw. Do not use force to tighten the screws. If the screw provides more resistance than you can easily tighten with your thumb and forefinger on the screwdriver, it is tight.

> Connect the cooler to the mainboard

> Close the case and reconnect the computer cables.

You can now restart your system. If it starts as normal, the installation was successful.

Before shutting down your system, check that the new information in System Information is correct and that the system is correctly detecting your new processor.

> Press the Windows key on your keyboard and type System.
> Select system information from the start menu.

The following window now opens:

Check the processor to see whether the correct specifications are listed.

> If the new specs are correct, you can test the temperature of your system as explained in the next chapter. Close the case before the temperature check.

> If the temperature is within parameters, you have completed the installation and can clear away tools, etc. and return the system to its regular location.

Temperature testing of the new CPU

To see if your new CPU stays within the temperature range specified for the CPU, you need 2 things:

The specifications of the CPU can be found on the ark.intel website.

> Use the selection tiles to find your processor.

In the specifications, navigate to Package Specifications. The T-case temperature is indicated here.
The T-case is the maximum allowable temperature for the CPU, measured at the heat spreader in the system.

HP performance advisor: A downloadable tool from HP to view system information.

After installation, the temperature of your CPU can be found under Your Computer / System Sensors

The performance Advisor continues to run if you do not close it in the hidden icons tray, so that you can check it under different loads on your system.

Adjust fan speed in the bios

If the Performance Advisor measures that your CPU becomes too hot during intensive operations, an option is to increase the fan speed in the BIOS. This provides more cooling, but the trade-off is that it produces more noise.

To adjust the speed:

> Press F10 when starting the system to enter the BIOS.
> Here you can adjust the Idle Fan speed:

Please note, however, that the fan speed remains constantly increased in this way until this is adjusted again in the BIOS.