Installing new CPU in old motherboard

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 3:22 pm

My friend is installing another CPU (bought off ebay) in his computer (old one got damage). How does this affect his hard drive? Should he use a spare hard drive so he doesn't risk the information on the one he's using?

Moved from lounge by mod

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 3:25 pm

if it is the same type and as a replacement no issues.
If it is the same socket type and a faster cpu then still no worries.
Only possible issue if a different cpu but same socket is a possible adjustment in the bios.
Hard drive should be fine.

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 3:37 pm

The CPU is checked during the POST (power on self test) and any issues found will automatically halt the startup at a very early stage. It may possibly beep out some beep codes. If it does the beep code, note the beeps and check on the motherboards manufacturer site for the error. Some newer boards have an lcd block that gives an alpha numerical code, still an error code to be referenced.
Fingers crossed it'll work

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 4:52 pm

Even if you was to go from a single to a dual core it would still be fine. Bios should be reset whenever changing cpu or ram though.

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 5:20 pm

OK. We just ran into a snag. The replacement CPU has bent pins. The motherboard is ASUS M2A-VM HDMI purchased in '07. Can a newer CPU fit into an older motherboard, or are they not designed that way. (The reason we even have to replace the CPU is because the original one met with a tragic accident Crying or Very sad

)

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 5:28 pm

did you remove the replacement from another board?
if you have tweezers, and steady hands you can fix em pins, but its a risk of snapping them off if its been brutalized. please post pix of the cpu and the socket its going into.
is this the board?

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 5:31 pm

Still confused why this is in lounge?

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 6:30 pm

LORD! GARTH!, I purchased the replacement on ebay. I was told that I couldn't get the same kind new. And the tweezers thing, that's the tragic accident Crying or Very sad

. The original CPU was removed during cleaning and, well, the rest is history and so was the CPU. I think the picture matches the motherboard. I took a picture just to be sure.

How do I post a picture on here?

djdezzie, I'm still trying to get the "lay of the land" so to speak. Tell me where I should have put this question so I can do better next time?

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 1:05 am

LORD! GARTH! wrote:

did you remove the replacement from another board?
if you have tweezers, and steady hands you can fix em pins, but its a risk of snapping them off if its been brutalized. please post pix of the cpu and the socket its going into.
is this the board?

I have a fine blade stilletto knife that i run through the channels between pins to straighten them out. It's trial and error first few 'runs' Never force the cpu down though.
Curiosity, what cpu is it?

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 3:12 am

The CPU is AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core ADO 4000DDBOX.

My friend doesn't even want to bother trying to fix the replacement. I have tools I use for making jewelry. I think I might see if anything there is thin enough. I've worked with beads that were so small it took a needle the thickness of a thin wire to thread them on a silk thread even thinner. The one I bought looks new, like it was never installed in a computer, so I think it got knocked around in shipping.

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 3:55 am

cinvowell wrote:

The CPU is AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core ADO 4000DDBOX.

My friend doesn't even want to bother trying to fix the replacement. I have tools I use for making jewelry. I think I might see if anything there is thin enough. I've worked with beads that were so small it took a needle the thickness of a thin wire to thread them on a silk thread even thinner. The one I bought looks new, like it was never installed in a computer, so I think it got knocked around in shipping.

It would be quite a simple task with skills as yours then. If i can re-align pins with just an illuminated magnifier and a flick knife, then you should have no problem whatsoever. As long as the pins are within 10% of original placement, it should fit. Clamping the CPU into place usually finishes the job off nicely. I know i shouldn't have, but i straightened some on an old AMD 3800, put it in, clamped it down, then took it back out again to see if the clamp had straightened them, then i dropped the CPU and mangled up the corner pins, payback for being an idiot (or so she said)
Let us know how it goes

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 12:14 pm

it was late on my end so couldnt get back to you right away.
This link is about how to post photos, or pixs:
https://isohunt.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=146083
basically you signup (free) to an image hosting site such as photobucket.com, and up load your source pix from digital camera, screen captures, or cool images from webpages. I thought it would be good to send a pic of the bent CPU so we can see if its very bad. and to see the numbers on the chip. you wanna make sure its right for the board(i think it is but...)

Whoever shipped it should have packed it properly, goes without saying,but maybe some feedback would help them out...

..So you are accustomed to working with very fine tools at small scale thats excellent. the pins on a CPU are fairly soft, and if bent once and straightened again should be ok, just keep an eye on them when inserting in the socket.
You know about ZIF sockets right? there is a little hande on the side that unlatches then swings up and around. then the CPU should just drop right in no or very little force required. then when the heat sink goes on there is a bit of white goo, leave it on its thermal transfer paste. and like james says resetthe bios so it will redetect the new cpu.
give us TX if all good, or if NG

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 3:59 pm

LORD! GARTH!, no need to explain. Your doing me a favor by answering my questions.

I straightened the pins but haven't installed it yet. I looked at all my jewelry tools and the only thing I had thin enough was my needles but they weren't strong enough to do the job. I ended up using an old knife that use to belong to my grandmother. Back then they made them alot thinner. The thing is older then I am but it worked. Reading glasses and a magnifying glass I use for coins. They look straight. I'll let everybody know if it worked or if I killed it.

I e-mailed the person I bought the CPU from before I tried to straighten the pins. He e-mail back kind of rudely, but he refunded my money. If it works now after I straightened the pins. I'll send his money back. I believe in being fair with people. The old saying what goes around comes around, I think is true.

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 7:02 pm

yup....a knife blade is what i use. I normally stanley blades. One can insert between an entire row of pins and thereby gain leverage to ensure that the pins are then aligned and risk of a pin breaking is reduced to almost zero.

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 7:05 pm

Ive actually got bent pins on a phenomx2 right from the store before, i fixed it rather than return as im lazy lol. Its been running 3 cores for over a year solid for a buddy of mine. How many pins were bent, and how bad?