1. Start

2. Case prep 1

3. Case prep 2

4. Data and power cables

5. Serial ATA stuff

6. General motherboard/CPU info

   • SocketA (AthlonXP, Duron, Socket462Semprons)

   • Intel Socket478 (last-generation Pentium4 & Celeron)

   • AMD64 (Athlon64 & Socket754 Sempron)

   • Intel LGA775 and LGA1366(pinless Intel processors)

7. Testing & installing the motherboard assembly

8. Installing the hard drive

9. Final connections

10. Security during Windows Setup

    • How a router helps

    • How SP2 for WinXP helps

    • General antivirus configuration

    • Kaspersky Antivirus trialware & configuration

11. Best practices for ongoing security

    • How a Limited account helps

    • How to make software cooperate with Limited accounts

12. Resources (drivers, diagnostics, links, online antivirus scans, antispyware resources)

13. A brief visual glossary

Return to the general CPU and motherboard page

Next: Forward to testing and installing the motherboard assembly

Here is my new Athlon64 CPU, a retail-boxed model.

Inside the box.

The underside of the retail AMD heatsink has a square patch of high-quality thermal grease, protected by a clear plastic cover.

To install the CPU, I lift the metal locking lever of the socket completely vertical, and drop the CPU into the socket in the orientation shown below.

Then I hold the CPU down, and lower the locking lever.

Attach one end of the steel clip to the claw on the black plastic frame that surrounds the CPU.

Put the other end of the steel clip over the other claw.

Rotate the big black lever until it connects to the black plastic frame below.

Click here for a Windows Media Player movie clip that shows the heatsink being attached.  : )

Back to general CPU/motherboard page

Next: Forward to testing & installing the motherboard assembly