How To Build Your Own Personal Computer

Choosing And Fitting Advanced Micro Device (AMD)

Fitting the motherboard and CPU are almost the same with AMD as described for the Pentium. Possible differences are discussed below.

One important difference when purchasing AMD merchandise is that the CPU can be purchased as a separate item, but then you must buy a separate heatsink/fan that is rated for the speed of your processor. If you use the wrong fan, the processor will soon die from overheating! 

If you purchase an AMD ATHLON 1700+ you MUST buy a Heatsink/Fan that has the ability to cool the processor, such as the appropriate Coolmaster.

Their range of Heatsink/Fans for AMD CPU’s go up to 2700+.

The easiest way to ensure you get it right is to buy a retail package that comes with CPU and matching heatsink/fan.

 

You get a 4-year warranty & even your own AMD badge for the PC case.

The installation of an AMD CPU is the same as a Pentium CPU.

 

Just follow the same procedure as the Pentium CPU installation but there may be these differences;

• Its ZIF socket may be a little larger.

• Installing the Heatsink/Fan is slightly different. AMD motherboards do not have the same easy mounting lock-in board mount illustrated in the Pentium section. The Heatsink/Fan is mounted slightly differently.

On the ZIF socket for the AMD board, there are catches at either side. On one side, the silver-mounting latch is pushed under the catch on the ZIF socket.

The heatsink/fan is then pushed flat and that lets the latch firmly hold one side of the heatsink/fan in place. 

Push down gently on the Heatsink/Fan to push the other side into place, ensuring that the Heatsink/Fan is flat on the surface of the CPU. The last picture shows the orientation of the Heatsink/Fan on the CPU ZIF socket.

Examine the ZIF socket and the bottom of the Heatsink/Fan. You will see a ridge that must be aligned for the Heatsink/Fan to properly cool the CPU.

It’s not as difficult as it may look. I always recommend installing the CPU and Heatsink/Fan FIRST, because trying to fit when the motherboard is already installed is much more difficult as there is very little room to work.

Believe me - I learned the hard way and the inside will soon look like spaghetti junction when more components and connections are in place.

Start Building Your Own Personal Computer

Own The Book

Adding The Main Components