Deciding If A CPU Upgrade Is Cost-Effective?

Answer 1

Upgrading a CPU involves installing a new motherboard and rewiring the power, keyboard, mouse, monitor and other connections. Amateurs are strongly discouraged from attempting this on their own; they would be much better of seeking professional help. Before attempting a CPU upgrade, it is wise to determine whether or not such an upgrade is even cost-effective. The good news is that CPU prices drastically fall with time. A state-of-the-art CPU that costs $500 will probably cost $200 a year later and $100 a year after that.

The first and biggest hurdle to overcome is socket compatibility. A socket is a component attached to a printed circuit board that provides a connection between the CPU and the circuit board. There are many technical specifications of sockets used by different CPU makers, such as AMD and Intel. Sockets are also based on the design of computers, or computer architecture. Socket compatibility is the most important part of upgrading a CPU, since if the CPU is not compatible with the socket, it will not fit on the circuit board. Before shopping for a new CPU, it is advised to locate the owner’s manual and discover what kinds of CPUs the motherboard is designed to support.

If the manual cannot be found, the motherboard socket normally has the relevant specification engraved on the side. Unfortunately, it is usually located below the CPU’s heat sink, so without the owner’s manual you actually cannot tell what the socket type is without partially starting to disassemble the CPU. It is also possible to check what the CPU version and type is by accessing the BIOS setup during the computer’s boot cycle.

The second hurdle is that one cannot assume compatibility simply because the socket is correct. This may run counter to the above, but the CPU and memory speed supported depend on two things: the chipset and the motherboard model. Unless one has access to the motherboard manual and/or has experience discerning the details from the motherboards circuitry, it is better not to attempt upgrading. If it is possible to figure out the exact motherboard model and version, the relevant information is easily available from the internet.

Cost-effectively upgrading a CPU depends on knowing the two key points outlined above. The rest is a simple matter of exchanging one CPU for another and fitting it to the motherboard correctly.