Thanks PenguinNest (May I call you PenguinNest?). That made me feel a lot better. I tend to worry about stupid things like that... especially after spending quite a bit of money on this particular upgrade. :-)
As for your question, it was easy removing the old processor. I followed the instructions in my XPS owner's manual step-by-step. I didn't skip anything. I paid extra attention to the static discharge warnings. ;-)
I bought my processor by itself from TigerDirect.com without the fan/heat sink. I'm using my old heat sink and fan right now, so I think that you should be able to use yours too.
My only comments about installation is that the retention clip on the heat sink is a bit tough to remove gently. The retention tab was a bit bothersome too. I guess it's good that everything has a nice firm hold on that part of the mother board. Other than that, the processor shroud came out smoothly.
If anything happens to my system in the next few days or weeks... I'll post the events, because I'm sure this sort of stuff would be of interest to other people too. In the long run, I hope that my system with the new upgrade will last at least 3 years without any problems.
mmmm 960... 3.6 Ghz
hmmm... can't wait to see what Intel comes out with next year. :-D
- Josh
---------------------------------------------
Dell XPS 600
Original CPU (12/7/2005 to 2/7/2006): Pentium D 830 Dual Core 3.0 Ghz
New CPU (2/7/2006 to present): Pentium D 950 Dual core 3.4 Ghz
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 533 Mhz Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Nvidia Ge Force 6800 256 MB 160 GB Hard Drive 19 inch flat panel monitor
The actual processors are deep inside the packaging, and only communicates with the world through the packaging pins. A drop onto your lap is nothing, a drop onto a cement floor might be something else! What can really kill any electronic device is static electricity, but since it's working you probably installed it correctly and avoided that.
Now you can help me - I have an XPS 400 with a 940 3.2 GHz processor, and the 960 3.6 GHz should be out in late April. I was thinking of upgrading to that. Is it hard to remove the old processor? Does the new processor come with its own heat sink/fan, or do you just use what's in the PC? I should think with the 940 already in the PC I could just change the processor and not the heat sink/fan, but I'm not sure.
I've seen people do some horrendous things to their laptops at my college. Somehow, they are still able to use them. I guess I shouldn't expect any less from my current processor.
jg1981
108 Posts
0
February 9th, 2006 03:00
Thanks PenguinNest (May I call you PenguinNest?). That made me feel a lot better. I tend to worry about stupid things like that... especially after spending quite a bit of money on this particular upgrade. :-)
As for your question, it was easy removing the old processor. I followed the instructions in my XPS owner's manual step-by-step. I didn't skip anything. I paid extra attention to the static discharge warnings. ;-)
I bought my processor by itself from TigerDirect.com without the fan/heat sink. I'm using my old heat sink and fan right now, so I think that you should be able to use yours too.
My only comments about installation is that the retention clip on the heat sink is a bit tough to remove gently. The retention tab was a bit bothersome too. I guess it's good that everything has a nice firm hold on that part of the mother board. Other than that, the processor shroud came out smoothly.
If anything happens to my system in the next few days or weeks... I'll post the events, because I'm sure this sort of stuff would be of interest to other people too. In the long run, I hope that my system with the new upgrade will last at least 3 years without any problems.
mmmm 960... 3.6 Ghz
hmmm... can't wait to see what Intel comes out with next year. :-D
- Josh
---------------------------------------------
Dell XPS 600
Original CPU (12/7/2005 to 2/7/2006):
Pentium D 830 Dual Core 3.0 Ghz
New CPU (2/7/2006 to present):
Pentium D 950 Dual core 3.4 Ghz
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 533 Mhz
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
Nvidia Ge Force 6800 256 MB
160 GB Hard Drive
19 inch flat panel monitor
PenguinNest
62 Posts
0
February 9th, 2006 03:00
The actual processors are deep inside the packaging, and only communicates with the world through the packaging pins. A drop onto your lap is nothing, a drop onto a cement floor might be something else! What can really kill any electronic device is static electricity, but since it's working you probably installed it correctly and avoided that.
Now you can help me - I have an XPS 400 with a 940 3.2 GHz processor, and the 960 3.6 GHz should be out in late April. I was thinking of upgrading to that. Is it hard to remove the old processor? Does the new processor come with its own heat sink/fan, or do you just use what's in the PC? I should think with the 940 already in the PC I could just change the processor and not the heat sink/fan, but I'm not sure.
Scream_And_Fly
2 Intern
•
406 Posts
0
February 9th, 2006 04:00
Scream_And_Fly
2 Intern
•
406 Posts
0
February 9th, 2006 04:00
jg1981
108 Posts
0
February 9th, 2006 04:00
Hahahaha, good point. :-P
I've seen people do some horrendous things to their laptops at my college. Somehow, they are still able to use them. I guess I shouldn't expect any less from my current processor.