At 900 MHz, the Celeron 900 is slow by 2010 standards, making any computer running it in dire need of an upgrade. According to Intel, the 900 only works in motherboards with processor socket PGA370. Any processor upgrade from the Celeron 900 must also be compatible with socket 370. While no socket 370 processor is state of the art, they offer speed boosts of up to 600 MHz above the 900.
Instructions
1. Shut off your computer and unplug it. Remove the screws on your side panel and lift the panel off of the computer. Attach the clip of the grounding strap to a piece of metal inside your computer. Fix the opposite end of the strap so that it's in contact with your skin.
2. Look on your motherboard for your processor's heatsink. This component consists of a fan resting on top of an array of fins. Examine the heatsink closely. Different models secure themselves to the motherboard in different ways. Release the clips at the base of the heatsink as well as any other clips or screws that hold it in place. Disconnect the heatsink cable from your motherboard.
3. Gently lift the heatsink away from the board. The processor socket is directly beneath it. Socket 370 is usually white or cream in color with a locking lever running along its side. Raise this lever to its most upward position and remove the Celeron 900 processor.
4. Look on the corners of your new processor for a missing pin. According to CPU World, socket 370 contains a missing hole that matches up with this missing pin so that the processor can only fit into the socket one way. Align these corners, set the processor in the socket, and hold it down with light pressure while closing the locking lever.
5. Place a dab of thermal grease on the processor and spread it into an even coat over its metallic surface. Place the new heatsink that came with your processor so that its bottom surface touches the processor. Consult your heatsink's instructions for details on fix it to the motherboard. This usually involves fastening clips at the base of the heatsink and attaching a cable to the motherboard.
6. Take off the ground strap and reattach your access panel to your computer.
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