I’m currently in need to replace my processor as I get crashes once a day sometimes twice a day with my current processor, its missing a pin and I believe it was faulty. Long story short I messed up trying to remove it, and took it to a repair shop after the mess up. They were able to make it work mostly but I want to upgrade now because the crashes I get can happen anytime making something like pvp a headache. Anyways it was my first time building a PC and I definitely learned the hard way, so my question is: Can you install a processor with the motherboard being attached to the computer? I am dreading removing it and re-doing my cable management/connections.
Yep! There is a few steps.
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Remove the heatsink(fan or liquid cooler), usually by unscrewing that.
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Take out your old CPU.
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Plop in your new one.
WARNING: Make sure your new CPU is compatible with your motherboard’s CPU socket. IE: Most AMD CPUs use an AM4 socket. Just incase you don’t know what socket your motherboard has, you can google your motherboard’s model number and see what socket is has.
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Apply a pea-sized drop of thermal paste on the top of your CPU.
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Clean the old thermal paste off your heatsink.
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Replace your heatsink and screw it back down.
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Be an epic gamer.
Also, this is probably obvious: Make sure the computer is unplugged/no power is running to it, and you don’t zap anything with static electricity.
Thank you. I think it will be easy for me as I have the experience now and know the do’s and what not to do. I was a little worried as I’m thinking of getting the Ryzen 7 3800x with the wraith prism cooler and noticed in some guide videos it needs a little bit of pressure. I assume this won’t matter too much pressing a little bit downward on the motherboard, well it being attached still?
Depending on what CPU it is, how much a replacement cost is, it may not be even worth it to direct replace it. Example, if you’re trying to replace say, an older i7.
May be better to just upgrade.
Full specs?
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Next time you remove a Ryzen cooler, run P95 for 10 minutes, then immediately shut it down and remove the cooler.
The heat should help break up the cured thermal paste between the CPU and heatsink.
I never thought of that, I just rubbed that sum’b!tch with alcohol and a cotton ball.
From what I could gather, you mean while installing your Wraith Prism Cooler? Yeah, as long as the CPU is properly in the socket, and your not elbow dropping your motherboard, it should be fine.
My thoughts were always be firm, but never force it.
It’s a AMD ryzen 5 3600x https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/8fK4PV here’s my computers specs.
Seems a lot of folks have bent/damaged pins on their Ryzen CPUs by removing head sinks with the cpu coming out right out of the motherboard (with the arm down still) with the heat sinks still attached to them.
Guess that’s one benefit of Intel/TR’s LGA design.
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That’s literally what happened to me, lol.
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Here’s to hoping AM5 goes back to LGA
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Not your fault at all; that CPU is supposed to stay in socket until you lift the lever to unlock it. Any Ryzen 3000 CPU should drop into that socket just fine, and depending on mobo, there are likely Ryzen 5000’s that would work, too, with a BIOS update. They are relatively hard to find, though
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As fragile as Intel motherboards are in theory, I have yet (crosses fingers) to actually damage one of them.
I wonder why AMD decided to go with PGA on their consumer chips and yet LGA on their HEDT stuff.
If the lever actually did its job, everything would be fine. And imagine bending a pin on a Threadripper 
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I’m surprised this hasn’t been fixed…in like 4 generations of motherboards you’d the that might get resolved
Yeah I guess with my setup, I have to go with the pin types? PGA.
Will be fine. The motherboard sucker on pga systems are pretty robust. So if you’re replacing the cpu, it should be fine. Just update bios if it’s a newer cpu generation
Update your bios before swapping, if swapping to a 5000 series. The 5000 series require a Bios Update. Dont just swap it then wonder why it wont boot 
I hope you are not switching to the 3600x. I assume you are meaning the 3600x is your old processor. Just buy the 5600x for 300$. Its light years better
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Yes that’s my current processor, the 3600x and I was gonna get a 3800x.
Also just curious about something else, can I use the stock cooler from my 3600x on a 3800xt?
Honestly there is no reason to move to the 3800xt. Its not really an upgrade its a step to the side. Why not get the 5600x instead?
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