CPU upgrade: How to install your new Intel or AMD gaming processor

How do you install a CPU? While your graphics card is undoubtedly the main driver when it comes to gaming, it’s also essential to upgrade your CPU now and then. With higher clock speeds, as well as new features such as AMD 3D V-cache, a CPU upgrade can keep your GPU fed with frame data at a faster rate than your old chip, preventing bottlenecks in your rig. What’s more, this is a relatively easy upgrade, as long as you arm yourself with patience, time, and space to work. In this guide, we’ll take you through the whole process of upgrading your CPU.

In our tests, we’ve found that you don’t need more than eight cores for gaming, so there’s no need to splash a silly amount of money on a 16-core or 24-core monster CPU if your main priority is gaming. Instead, we recommend buying a six-core or eight-core chip with a fast clock speed if you’re upgrading an Intel system, or with 3D V-cache if you’re upgrading an AMD rig. You can check out our guide to the best gaming CPU to find the chip that best suits your needs.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Ryzen 7 9800X3D review, Best gaming CPU, Radeon RX 7800 XT review