How to Install an AMD
Athlon or Duron Socket A Processor
Last updated: 7/15/02
Inspect the CPU for Bent Pins. If it
has pins which are badly bent or you are not comfortable trying to straighten
slightly bent pins, send the CPU back to from whence it came. Occasionally
I get one with some pins slightly bent. I use a round, bench-mounted
fluorescent light with an adjustable arm and a magnifying glass in the middle of
the fixture, to inspect and work on CPU's.  You
can look down rows of pins and diagonally from the edge of the CPU at groups
of pins to see which pins do not line-up. I use a small pair
of needle nose pliers to very carefully straighten them. This can be
tedious and time consuming work, requiring an environment where absolute
concentration is possible. If you break a pin, as it's easy enough
to do, you can kiss-off the CPU and its warranty. I straighten pins
by grasping approximately the top 25% of the pin and bending it ever so slightly. Don't
try to bend a pin at its base or you will probably break it. Again,
be very gentle.
 Inspect
the Heat Sensor. Many motherboards have a heat sensor (thermister)
(3) soldered to the motherboard in the cutout in the middle of the CPU
socket to monitor CPU temperature. All of the ones I've seen on motherboards
are blue with a white top. If you can identify the sensor, inspect
it to be sure it hasn't been pushed into the socket. It should be
very slightly above the top of the socket so it will makes good contact
with the bottom of the CPU. If needed, bend it gently upward--if
you feel confident in doing so.
Unlatch the Socket Lever. Push the lever on
the side of the CPU socket (Socket A) slightly away from the socket to disengage
it from the restraining tab (1) and lift it all the way to the fully vertical
position (2) as shown to the right. The socket is a Zero Insertion
Force (ZIF) Socket. When the lever is up, one should be able to insert
a CPU with correctly aligned and unbent pins into the socket with almost
no force. I have seen them drop in without any force except that of
gravity.
 Insert
the CPU. The socket has two corners without pins as does the CPU. On
the CPU, one of those corners is knocked-off. Orient the CPU so the
pins are down and the knocked-off corner is aligned with the corner of
the Socket without pins which is next to the lever and carefully and gently
insert it into the socket. Never force a CPU into its socket. You
may gently wiggle it a little from side-to-side to get into the socket,
but if you force it you can bend pins. If you force it a lot, the
pins will get hot and may melt the solder  holding
them to the CPU--believe it. Lower the CPU lever making sure it snaps
into the locked position: all the way down. Look around the edges
of the CPU and make sure it is all the way in the socket. The pins
will be slightly visible.
It may advisable to make a couple of dry runs
at installing the heat-sink-fan before applying thermal compound, If
you have never installed a heatsink-fan, have not installed a Socket
A CPU before, or do not feel confident in installing this particular
type of heatsink-fan. Please skip below and read the precautions
in the procedures before attempting it.
 Purchase
the pdf version of this article plus notes
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