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How to Install an AMD
Athlon or Duron Socket A Processor
Last updated: 10/31/01
 Choosing
a Heatsink-Fan. Your best bet is to purchase a heatsink-fan (cooler)
recommended by AMD. For an average Athlon computer, used in an office
environment, I like the one to the right. It has a large spring which
hooks to all six lugs on the Socket A, can be attached without tools, is
easily removed, and is less likely come loose during shipment than those
which attach to just two lugs. This one has IBIS on it and comes
from a vendor I have doing business with for many years. Tai
Sol Electronics, Aavid (Part
# 11-K754-01; .pdf
spec), and Tiger
Electronics also make them. Get a heatsink-fan with a quality
ball bearing fan (not a sleeve bearing), one that plugs into the motherboard
(3-pin fan), and has a tachometer function for RPM monitoring by the motherboard.
Observe Antistatic Procedures. Many people
don't realize that computer components can be damaged by static electricity
and a problem may not appear for months later when a power surge completes
the damage. Ideally, you should wear a grounded anti-static wrist strap
when working on computer equipment, especially when handling memory and CPUs. Also,
the use of grounded anti-static mats on the floor and on the workbench is
a good practice. However, these items can be too expensive if you are
building just one computer. As a minimum, my advise is to make sure
your body is touching the metal on the computer case when handling the CPU. It
would also be a good idea to work with bare feet during this critical time. Try
to avoid touching drives, boards, memory, etc. with your clothes. Clothing
can quite often be charged with static electricity, especially during cold-dry,
Winter days.
 Prepare
the Motherboard. If you are installing the CPU on a new motherboard,
most of them come in an anti-static bag or are packed with an anti-static
pads. As a precaution it advisable to place the motherboard on
whatever anti-static material comes with it or that you can obtain. Aluminum
foil on top of a bath towel or several layers of paper towels will work. Be
sure to inspect the bottom of the motherboard when you are done with the
CPU and heatsink-fan installation to be sure there are no pieces of aluminum
foil clinging to the bottom of it.
 Purchase
the pdf version of this article plus notes
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