# Upgrading CPU - questions and pitfalls **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 26, 2002, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-cpu-questions-and-pitfalls/138798 "2002-11-26T01:10:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![li\_l\_Dickie\_Dirtz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/2bfe46/32.png) [@li\_l\_Dickie\_Dirtz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/li_l_Dickie_Dirtz)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-cpu-questions-and-pitfalls/138798/21 "2002-11-26T20:26:50Z")
It’s running fine, **World Eater** (are you **Galactus** to your friends?), thanks for asking. **hazel-rah** I think was being a little too scary with the talk of breaking the processor during installation, but it can happen, so that’s why I bought the MB/proc combo. Thermal grease isn’t all that difficult, as I wrote; it is kinda messy, though. And, again, don’t use too much. Oh, and I use the SoundBlaster card that came with my Dell in my new computer. No compatibility problems for me. I also have generic memory; again, no problems. I meant to say earlier that I don’t think it was worth it to roll my own, now that I’ve done it. I really didn’t save any money to speak of. If you have a Dell T600 then you’re really not that far behind, are you? I was making do with a 400 until earlier this year. If I were giving advice (and I am) I’d say just start saving for another Dell (or HPaq if you’re into AMD, which you should be, IMO). It was an interesting experience, and I did it for that reason. Next time, I’ll probably just buy another Dell. (I see on preview that you have reasons for building your own.) Oh, one more thing: you said you don’t have your Win98 disk. Shouldn’t be a problem if you’re going to transfer the old hard drive to the new computer and make it the C: drive. If not, then you’ll need to get your new drive installed in your old computer and make an image to the new drive, then put the new drive in the new computer as the C: drive. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-cpu-questions-and-pitfalls/138798/22 "2002-11-26T21:24:37Z")
Its about 3 years old, and now with my new dsl, I’m usually doing combinations, of burning disks, downloading things and playing Quake at once. I figure its time to upgrade the guts, so I’ll good for the next 3 years. That should do it everyone, thanks, I may be bumping this thread with questions, and I’ll keep yall posted on the progress. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-cpu-questions-and-pitfalls/138798/23 "2002-11-26T21:39:08Z")
You might try looking here [http://www.tomshardware.com/](http://www.tomshardware.com/) If you go for AMD then it might be worthwhile getting one of the very new M/B with “support” for 400DDR memory, not because of the speed of the memory, but because of the extra bus between Northbridge and Southbridge chips. This can make a large differance. The 400DDR support is not official yet, but having a board that can run it when it become available will help extend the life of the board. You might look into getting a 400W power supply in your box since the latest range of graphics cards consume lots of power, these cards will inevitably become cheaper over time, and their technology will certainly be transferred to other cards, so you might well find yourself using one sometime. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-cpu-questions-and-pitfalls/138798/24 "2002-11-26T22:00:00Z")
Thanks **Casdave**. I’m off to investigate. ---
**Author:** ![Alereon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Alereon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alereon)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-cpu-questions-and-pitfalls/138798/25 "2002-11-27T00:35:10Z")
**World Eater** : You will need to do a clean reinstallation of the operating system. Windows will usually not survive a move installed on an HDD to another system, especially one with a radically different hardware configuration. When you get the CPU, you’ll need to buy a tube of thermal paste. They cost about $1. Using a razor blade or similar implement, apply a PAPER THIN, EVEN LAYER of thermal paste to the CPU core (blue square) ONLY. The heatsink will probably have a thermal pad on it covered with a sticker, this must be removed COMPLETELY. The bottom of the heatsink should be bare, shiny metal when you install it onto the CPU. Remember, you’ll need to get a case with good cooling characteristics. AMD Specifications call for two case fans in addition to the power supply and any component specific fans, one sucking air in at the bottom front of the case, another blowing air out in the rear behind the CPU. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-cpu-questions-and-pitfalls/138798/26 "2002-11-27T01:32:19Z")
**Fdisk** , (like the name btw), do I need to reformat? Right now my C drive has 17 out a 20 gigs full, but my 40 gig D drive has 2 gigs of junk I can delete. Could I reformat the D drive and stick win 98 on it, and then add the other drive afterwards? For one I have a million applications I’ve managed to coax into peacefully co-existing, some I don’t even have the drivers for anymore, (not avail on web either), and obviously I fear losing it all. I like to learn, but I’m not sure I’m up to mirroring drives yet, lol. Any other suggestions as to do this without nuking my drive? P.S. I think I’ll go with a CPU/mobo combination, to avoid some work, and to ensure better compatibility, and to avoid the mysterious world if jumpers and multipliers. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-cpu-questions-and-pitfalls/138798/27 "2002-11-27T18:28:07Z")
I have never even _heard_ of anyone suggesting doing a fresh OS install when merely installing a new MB+CPU before this thread, let alone ever encountered it. You make sure you have all the driver and OS files available (preferably on the HD), boot up and let the OS autodetect and install stuff (helped along by pointing out where the drivers for newly detected stuff goes). It’s inconceivable that this would muck things up too bad unless Something Goes Wrong. Which is why you do a _backup_ just before, and _restore_ (not clean install) if you have to. I have done dozens of major upgrades of all sorts over the years and never once had to do a clean install of an OS as a result. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-cpu-questions-and-pitfalls/138798.md?page=1)