I have a windows xp 2003. I need to change the cpu. how do i do that? can i just switch it out or do i need other programs etc?Change CPU on desktop?CPU isn't something that's virtual. It's a physical computer part inside your computer tower (this is a tower: http://www.cowden-herrick.k12.il.us/staf ), underneath the heatsink/fan.
To locate it, look in the middle of your motherboard. Here is a picture of a typical mother board.
http://www.electrical-res.com/EX/10-16-2
The %26quot;chipset%26quot; is where your CPU is, BUT you won't see exactly that. What you will see, if it's a stock heatsink, is this
http://www.tacticalpanda.co.uk/images/he
BEFORE CONTINUING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1) Unplug the computer completely from the wall, make sure there are NO cords coming out of the tower.
2) Ground yourself. Make sure you're not on carpet, it's not going to ruin it, per se, but it makes it easier to ground yourself. To do this, just grab anything metal that's plugged into a wall, like a lamp frame or something. Static electricity from NOT grounding youself can damage the mobo (motherboard)
3) Be conscious. Don't make big, fast movements while digging around or you'll knock something loose. Avoid touching gold contacts (the copper colored stuff that plugs into things, like you see on the bottom of this http://databy.com/komplekt/ram_images/KV ), soldered components, or pins (some are very easily bent).
Open your computer.
Remove the heatsink by disengaging the lever on one side. It will be stiff, and if you've never done it before, it will take more force than you'd think. Still be careful though.
Now, under the heatsink will be a square chip covered in some silvery-gray goo. That goo is called thermal paste and is absolutely necessary. You will need to buy some if you're replacing the CPU.
Disengage the metal lever the holds the CPU in place on one of the sides and lift it SLOWLY AND EVENLY out.
Put in your new CPU. Make sure the arrows on the CPU chip and the mobo line up if there ARE arrows. If not, just make sure it's on right. Putting it on wrong will mess it up. Make sure it's on there, straight and secure.
Engage the CPU lever. Like I said before, it might take more force then you'd think, but like I also said before, be careful.
Put a RICE GRAIN sized dot of thermal paste directly onto the top of the CPU. Smear it around evenly and as thin as humanly possible with a credit card or something like that. You want as little as possible because if it drips onto your motherboard, it could short it out. You'll understand why you need to little when you try to reengage the heatsink, it's so tight on there, just a littlest bit too much will be squeezed out from between them.
Put the heat sink back on top of the new CPU and engage the heatsink lever. For the third time; it will take more force then you're use to if you're new at replacing parts, and for the third time, be careful!! Mobos are very fragile.
If all goes well, a built in speaker on your mobo will beep upon start-up (check the mobo manual for tone patterns and their meanings, usually one beep upon start-up means it's running right)
Good luck and be careful!Change CPU on desktop?Do you mean the Central Processing Unit (CPU)? As in, the chip that does all the computer's thinking?
You do not need any programs, but you need a compatable replacement processor. Find out what socket you have. You can read it off the motherboard, or look up what socket your PC / motherboard has by the model number.
Be careful, it seems like you're not much of an expert at this.
