[d0od]

Hey all - i'm thinking of upgrading my motherboard.

it's an Am2 motherboard currently housing a AMD 64 x 2 6000+ @ 3.0GHZ with 4Gb 677 RAM and a 8500GT.

I'm not a gamer, so the graphic card is totally fine for my needs - secondlife, aero, compiz etc

However, my motherboard only has 2 DIMM slots for RAM, and I'm used to having 4... [do video editing. effects] and kinda am inclined to get an am2+ motherboard so that if i upgrade to a phenom at some point i'll not need a new motherboard.

What i'm wondering i guess is, is it safe/easy to take the CPU out of a motherboard and stcik it in a new one?

[Dave Hybrid]

Originally Posted by d0od What i'm wondering i guess is, is it safe/easy to take the CPU out of a motherboard and stcik it in a new one?

Yeah, just make sure the new mobo supports both the old and new CPU and that you are earthed when touching components.

[Mike0001]

The only fiddly bit is connecting the right wires between the mobo and the case front on/off/reset switches and case speaker. The sockets are usually crammed together and inaccessible!

[thingie2]

and you would probably be best buying a new tube of thermal paste when you get your board for the CPU, as it will be better than re-usuing what is currently on the CPU.

[d0od]

i built the computer i'm thinking of upgrading so know all about cramped mobo's!

on that point, my cpu came with a thermal 'pad' type thing that was already on the heatsink so didn't have to use thermal paste.

would this still be okay, or should i get some thermal paste to make sure.

penom's are am2+ am i right? and am2+ mobo's tend to support am2... and some am2 ones support am2+ but at a reduced speed or summit.

[Mike0001]

The pad is all you need.