How to upgrade your CPU easily - essential things to know when upgrading an Intel CPU

Upgrading your CPU is theoretically an easy way to make your system faster or better without building an entirely new PC, but there are a few things you need to know first. For example, whether your motherboard can support a new CPU and, if so, do you need a BIOS update first?

Things I'm covering in this video:
Motherboard socket types
Checking for CPU compatibility list (see manufacturer's site)
BIOS updates and how to do them
Steps for removing and swapping your CPU.

This is a brief guide on how to easily upgrade your Intel CPU. First check what new(er) generation CPU you can afford that will work with your motherboard, check for BIOS updates, and follow the steps in this video.

Then follow these steps for the actual replacement:
TURN OFF YOUR PC and unplug it!!
- Attach an anti-static strap to yourself and to an earthing point - a radiator works perfectly.
- Unscrew the CPU cooler/heatsink and detach any cables that might get in the way.
- Set the screws aside and carefully pull the cooler off.
- Use Noctua thermal paste cleaning wipes to remove thermal paste from your old CPU/cooler
- Remove the lever holding the CPU in place, lift up the flap and gently remove the old CPU by lifting it by the corners.
- Ready the new Intel CPU, remembering the gold arrow in the bottom corner should point that way when installed. You're installing the new CPU in the same way the old one came out.
- Carefully and gently push the CPU into place.
- Replace the flap and ease the lever back into place to hold it down.
- Ready the new thermal paste.
- Apply a small amount of thermal paste in a pattern that will cover the entire CPU but not come out of the edges.
- Replace the CPU cooler, reattach and tighten the screws to keep it in place.

Remember to plug all necessary cables back in.

Please note links listed here include affiliate links which may earn me a commission. Find out more below.*

Things to buy and use for this:

Noctua thermal paste wipes (for removing paste):

Thermal Grizzly paste:

Related videos:

0:00 Helloooo
0:30 CPU Socket type
2:30 CPU-Z
3:48 Motherboard compatability
5:27 BIOS Update
6:00 Basic steps to take
8:04 CPU install
8:41 Remove the cooler
9:10 Thermal paste cleaning
9:45 Removing & installing the CPU
10:15 New thermal paste
10:45 Installing the cooler

🏆Big thanks to my super awesome YouTube members:
SirSpawnsALot, Meatykeyboard, Beaster Bunny, JayShank007, Rawrr483, DStarastins, McFarty, Riggsy79, Chief Hao, Kraken Tortoise, Aaron Yarden, Paolo madamba and you? 🏆

PLEASE NOTE

Affiliate links*:

Disclosure: Shopping links within the description of this video generate a commission at no extra cost to you. These are added for your convenience but other retailers are available. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Products:
Products featured may also have been sent for free for review/testing purposes. Often these have to be returned by me, but not always. I endeavour to avoid bias in my videos wherever possible and try to give honest, subjective opinions.

[JB-uelf]

The most simple and straightforward explanation. No fluff. No BS. Straight to the point. Thank you!

[Uthyrexe]

came for the info and stayed for the voice

[KMSchriver]

Thank you for this video. I am a super amateur trying to work through some problems and this was super helpful and simple to follow. Thanks.

[michaelfrizz]

I'm upgrading from an i7-12700k to an i9-13900k I've never swapped out a CPU before I'm pretty new (noob) to PC I've always been a console player this is going to help a lot

[theunholinesswithin]

I have a old Gigabyte MB and finding out what upgrade CPU would work on mine was a wild goose chase-I had to get the local tech shop guy to determine that for me. Gigabyte provided a chart but I'm an illiterate.

The problem is that I am now concerned about the BIOS download.

[gplay]

I just wanted to make sure that no drivers needs to be updated or anything

[leonardodeoleo]

hey thanks for the video. so i guess if you have an I9 and go from a K to a KS its just a simple swap if your bios was already up to date.

[barackdwaynecenajohson]

I switch from i3 to i5 and I'm stuck at this "please wait" after pressing f2 for system reboot how long does it take I've been stuck for an hr

[jin-je]

when i upgrade my AMDcpu
3700x→5700x3d the computer cantBoot and CPU has no temperature😢
who can help me

[ricosingleton]

cpu upgrade n85_n87 hj hj1 hk1 XMG this is the cpu its a notebook with a 7th gen..I need to upgrade for w11 can i do it?

[DTWAIRSOFT]

0:00 Helloooo
0:30 CPU Socket type
2:30 CPU-Z
3:48 Motherboard compatability
5:27 BIOS Update
6:00 Basic steps to take
8:04 CPU install
8:41 Remove the cooler
9:10 Thermal paste cleaning
9:45 Removing & installing the CPU
10:15 New thermal paste
10:45 Installing the cooler

[theunholinesswithin]

YT doesn't allow links, so requesting specific CPU's is impossible.

[jnsnn]

would would be different about the bios update with an asus prime H510M-K motherboard?

[TeakillaSunrice]

Very helpful video. Curious though, how did you overclock your voice?

[ikooooooo]

can you make a follow up as how everything would go if done right? And what if I did everything and its not posting anymore?

[traviskelly]

@theprovokedprawn so I am new to this, I'm going from i7 13th gen to i9 13th gen will I need a bios update?

[JaxRaizenYT]

Hi, I have Ryzen 3 3200g with a320m-dvs r4.0 motherboard, I am upgrading to Ryzen 5 3600g, any tips or extra steps needed??

[MonstrumReborn]

Ive always had this question, I havent said it tho because I feel like people would get offended for whatever reason. But why to some people say Z like Zed??

[DhaBanana]

1 second in and I already love it, I love your voice and cadence as a prawn 🦐

[Itsoktobesad_]

Im running windows 11 for a year now and after watching this video I checked my motherboard bios update and the version I’m running isn’t compatible with windows 11 so I updated my bios but I was wondering if maybe that’s why I had blue screen issue and crashes