- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
How do you Upgrade a CPU?
Hey Community,
As I'm a bit unexperienced with upgrading CPU's I thought it would be better to ask the pro's first. I upgraded things like graphiccards and RAM before but I'll need some help with this one.
I currently have the following setup:
CPU: AMD A6-9500 A320 (w/ integrated Radeon R5 graphics) 65W, AM4 Socket, air cooling
Graphic Card: Radeon RX560 Series 4GB
Motherboard: ASRock A320M-HDV
RAM: 8GB DDR4 (willl be upgraded to 16GB soon)
Windows 10 64-bit
My questions are:
1. Since it's an AM4 Socket CPU it should be easy to change and not require soldering, right?
2. https://www.cpu-upgrade.com/CPUs/AMD/A6-Series/A6-9500.html this list states that upgrading to A8, A10 and A12 should be possible. https://www.cpu-upgrade.com/mb-ASRock/A320M-HDV.html this list states that my motherboard should be able to support the Ryzen Series. What is true?
3. Which stats show how much better the new processor would be, compared to the old one? (Is it worth upgrading?)
4. I'd like to stay with a 65w processor since my current PSU isn't the best (not planning on upgrading it, don't want to do the math ;-). Will the air cooling system be enough to cool the new CPU?
5. What would be a good recommendation if I'm planning to spend around 200£$€ and would that even be recommendable with the current setup.
6. My current CPU has integrated R5 graphics, my graphics though run through the installed RX560. Will I run into any problems because of the integrated graphics thing?
7. If I'm upgrading to a Ryzen for example, will I need an BIOS update?
I know, it's a lot of questions. But I'd be really thankful if somebody could help me figure this out. Basically all I want to know is: Can I upgrade my CPU and if, to which CPU can I upgrade to?
Thanks a lot in advance for your help.
Solved! Go to Solution.
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
Update!!!
The processor arrived today! The switch was rather simple. The included stealth cooler already had a perfect layer of thermal paste on it and just needed to be screwed into the cooler anchor. Everything pretty much plug and play (of course I made sure I had the right BIOS version before I switched).
And the performance difference!!!!!! It's amazing, my old CPU must have been a really big (small) bottleneck.
For Example Valorant:
Old: 45 FPS in 900p lowest settings, constantly had to make sure no other programs were running in the backround or I'd
drop to 20 FPS for a couple of seconds sometimes
Ryzen 5 2600: 100FPS in 1080p highest settings, no break ins, a lot of programs running in the backround!!!!!
My old CPU really didn't allow my RX560 to do it's job!
So for everyone who upgraded his desktop with a graphic card and there seems to be no improvement, your processor might be the bottleneck.
Here a quick and full guide on how to upgrade your CPU after my first time doing it:
1. Download CPU-Z to get all of the specs from your PC
CPU-Z will have all nessecary specs of your PC in a couple of seconds. No searching required. Download it here.
2. Check which Motherboard and which CPU you have
Use CPU-Z to find out the exact model of your Motherboard and CPU, write it down or leave the programm open.
3. Check online if your current CPU uses a socket or is soldered in
I used https://www.cpu-upgrade.com/index.html . Most desktop PC's will have a socket CPU. If it however is soldered it
will be impossible for you to change. Note down which socket type you have.
4. Check which CPU's your motherboard supports and choose
Go to the manufacturers site of your motherboard and search for your exact motherboard model. There will be a
CPU-Support list. Alternitively type your motherboard model into Google + "cpu support" and open the manufacturers site
from there. Crosscheck the list with your CPU socket type to make sure you got the right list.
Which CPU you decide on is however up to you. Know how much you want to spend and what you're going to use it for.
Again make sure the CPU you want:
1. Is on the list of your motherboards supported CPU's
2. Has the same socket type as your old CPU and your motherboard
3. If you dont have a graphic card, make sure the new CPU has integrated graphics as well (APU), or better buy
a grapic card for your PC and just choose a CPU (upgrading an APU to another APU is rarely a good solution,
If you have integrated graphics, install a graphic card and buy a good CPU instead)
4. Doesn't use more Watt than your motherboard supports. Check the motherboard manufacturers site on the
max. Watt your motherboard supports for your CPU.
5. Check your RAM size and speed (Try checking a different post or forum on more precise info)
Open CPU-Z and note down from the SPD tab the max. Bandwith as well as model, manufacturer, DDR type and size.
Check the following:
1. Check the max supported bandwith and size for RAM on your new CPU as well as supported type.
2. Check on https://www.cpu-upgrade.com/index.html which core type your new CPU has (Pinnacle, Raven, Bristol...)
3. Check the specs of your motherboard. The motherborad manufacturer will have a specific list or chart on which RAM
speeds and combinations are supported for the specific core type of your new CPU (Pinnacle, Raven, Bristol...)
Decide:
A) You don't want to upgrade your current RAM, just make sure it's compatible with your new CPU
B) You want to upgrade your RAM. Check the max. specs your new CPU supports. Check the motherboards
"Storage QVL" on which RAM's are supported and decide on size and speed based on your CPU max and motherbords max
Sorry for this rather general description of RAM support, I don't know too much about the RAM topic. Inform yourself on things like DDR3, DDR4, DDR5, SRAM, DRAM, single rank, dual rank, voltage, UDIMM...
Feel free to write the full description of this step in a reply.
6. Check which BIOS version your running and which is needed for your new CPU, update if nessecary
Use CPU-Z to find out which BIOS version you're currently running on and check on your motherboards
CPU-Support list which BIOS version is required for your new CPU. If you already have this version or a newer one you don't need to do anything. If your BIOS version is older than the one required, update your BIOS from the motherboards
website. WARNING: Make a 1000% sure you got the manufactures site with the exact model of your motherboard
selected when looking for the BIOS update. Make sure you select the right or newest BIOS version. When starting the
BIOS update your motherboard will be flashed, directly from the website, so make sure your internet doesn't cut off
(use LAN) and your PC stays on by any means. If it gets interrupted somehow your PC might be done,
except your motherboard has a backup BIOS chip or you get the chip replaced.
7. Make sure your new CPU has a proper cooling solution
Most CPU's are delivered with a cooler. Buy some thermal paste to ensure a good thermal connection between CPU and
cooler. If you buy a high perfomance CPU you might want to think about a better cooler, which comes with more things to
be considered. Check online on what to do and experiences with your new CPU.
8. Buy the CPU and install it
1. Unplug your PC, flick the on off switch for a couple of seconds to make sure all capacitators are empty and keep yourself discharged of static electricity by using a special grounding bracelet or touching the PC's case multiple times during the process. Open up your PC.
2. Remove the cooler from your processor. Unplug it from your motherboard.
3. Unlock your CPU socket and remove the old CPU.
4. Put a small amount of thermal paste on your new CPU and lay it into the socket of the motherboard.
It only fits in one way so make sure not to use force.
5. Lock the socket again.
6. Place the new cooler on top and secure it in place being careful not to apply to much pressure on your motherboard.
Open up the back to hold against the anchor if nessecary.
7. Plug the cooler back into your motherboard.
8. Put everything back together and start your PC.
Again there are more precise tutorials on the mechanical part of this task out there. Make sure to check them out when sth. doesn't work.
That's pretty much it!
Please let me know if I forgot sth. or an information is wrong and I will add it.
