SLC S23 Week3 || Computer Repair - CPU (Processor)

Computer Repair - CPU (Processor)

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Wishing you all a beautiful and rewarding day. It is another ICT day today, and I love the way this week's class on the microprocessor was explained in detail.

_{^{The CPU is the main processing device}}

The processor is housed in a silver-metal frame locked by a locking liver that keeps it seated in place.

Task 1:

First Experience with a CPU

Describe your first experience with a CPU. Have you ever replaced, upgraded, or troubleshooted a processor? What were your initial impressions of its complexity? If not, take time this week to examine a CPU in a PC and document your observations.

I have not replaced a CPU. And this opportunity will not be wasted.
With me today is a trusted multi-screwdriver 🪛 with different bits for different screw types.

_{^{my screwdriver and its replacement bits}}

My plan is to open and examine the CPU on this computer with the help of this screwdriver. The CPU is one of the most important components of the computer system. It is located under the cooling mechanism consisting of two fans and a copper aluminium heat extractor.

_{^{picture showing a computer with the cooling area highlighted}}

I will have to remove the plastic airflow guide and unscrew the heat sink nuts before gaining some access to the processor.
The four screws holding the heat sink are spring-loaded and should be unscrewed carefully while following the numbering indicated beside each screw. I also noticed that removing too much of one screw can make it feel awkward. So I went round unscrewing them bit by bit.

[1] unscrew	[2] unclip	[3] unmount

The locking lever holds down an elaborate silver clamp that keeps the CPU in place. You need to know how much force to apply to dislodge the locking lever.

_{^{Pictures showing how I removed the CPU from its socket}}

Task 2:

Identifying CPU Components

Take a photo of a CPU (preferably removed from its socket). Identify and describe its key features, including the socket type, thermal interface, cores, and cache memory. Also, identify the model and brand of the CPU.

The top of this CPU is covered with a metal to help it expel heat by conduction. High-performance CPUs like this generate a lot of heat. To help quicken the rate at which heat is removed from the CPU, a cooling paste is smeared on it such that it makes better contact with the heat-extracting components consisting of a metal design to lose heat by radiation and a cooling fan that dissipates the heat.

On the other side of the CPU, there are painless connectors arranged in a land-grid array formation. This arrangement mirrors the arrangement in the socket. This CPU has two special notches, as indicated in the picture below.

These notches help in identifying the correct orientation for mounting the processor on its socket. If you don't align these notches correctly, the CPU will not connect properly.

This specific CPU is mounted on an LGA 775 socket designed to support pinless processors and hold them in place with a metal locking mechanism.

Operating at a frequency of 3GHz, it is capable of executing 3 billion operations every second. This CPU is an Intel dual-core microprocessor with a cache size of 2 MB.

Task 3:

CPU Performance Factors

Explain how CPU specifications such as clock speed, core count, and cache size impact performance. Compare two different CPU models and discuss their advantages in gaming, .

Clockspeed is a measure of the number of operations a CPU can execute in one second. The processing speed is measured in hertz. It sizes from Hz to kHz then MHZ, GHz and THz. The higher the Hz, the better.

The processor's core count indicates the number of processing operations that can be concurrently executed by the processor. A processor with more cores will be better at multitasking operations compared to one that has fewer cores.

The cache is a fast storage device that holds data that are often used to reduce seek time. With a good catch memory, tasks and information that are frequently used can be picked up from the catches instead of going all the way to the storage devices.

Comparing an Intel with an AMD processor

Features	Intel CPU	AMD CPU
Power	consumes less	consumes more
Temperature control	good control	poor control
Driver support	More support	less support
Cost	Expensive	cheaper
Graphic components	Inferior	superior
Gaming experience	better	poor
AI compatibility	good	good

The AMD processor and hardware, with the help of NVIDIA's GeForce RTX-30, are better optimised for gaming compared to Intel processors.
Both AMD and Intel are doing well in the area of AI workloads, but AMD also leads in the area of productivity.

Task 4:

CPU Failures and Fixes

Have you encountered CPU overheating, instability, or incompatibility? Describe the issue and how it was resolved. If you have not faced such issues, research common CPU failures and their solutions.

I worked with a PC that often complained with an error message saying "CPU over temperature error"
And then it adds: "Press F1 to run SETUP"

Solution: 1
Press the F1 button and navigate the setup environment. Asserting that the CPU is not overclocking or set to run at an extremely high frequency. Pushing the CPU to run too fast can lead to overheating. Reset CPU speed to default. If this is not the case, try solution 2.

Solution: 2
Open into the system unit and confirm if the system fan and CPU fan are running properly. A bad CPU fan can lead to this error. Make sure the cooling vents at the back of the system unit are not blocked. The ambient temperature inside the system unit should be controlled by the system fan while the CPU fan takes care of the processor. If this is not the case, try solution 3.

Solution 3
Disassemble the CPU cooling mechanism, and confirm that the thermal paste applied on the CPU is not dried out. Scrape off and replace the past with fresh thermal paste. But if this is not the problem, try solution 4

Solution: 4
Unmount the CPU from its socket and make a thorough inspection of the socket; all pins should be uniform without any twisted or bent pins. A lost, broken, or twisted pin can lead to overheating, but assuming this is not the case, try solution 5.

Solution: 5
Replace the CPU with one that you are sure is in good condition.
_{^{Replacing the CPU as a last resort when dealing with overheating}}

In my case, it was an issue with a twisted pin on the CPU socket. I had to use a magnifying glass and a precession screwdriver to adjust the pin that was twisted, and this was the end of the problem with overheating of the CPU.

Task 5:

CPU Maintenance Best Practices

What are the best practices for ensuring CPU longevity? Discuss proper cooling solutions, thermal paste applications, and BIOS configurations.

Avoid overclocking the CPU.
Overclocking makes a CPU perform better than it was designed to, giving you more value for your money. But it is best to avoid overclocking your CPU so it can last longer

Practices safe handling
Microprocessors are designated to run on very small voltages. Improper handling can result in damage caused by electrostatic discharge from our body. For this reason, it is best to avoid touching metallic parts and connectors on the CPU.

Proper Installation
Carefully insert the CPU into its socket, making sure that the notch and bevelled edges of the CPU and socket align correctly. Do not force the CPU into its socket neither should you force the locking mechanism.
Forgetting to fasten in the processor or connect the power supply for the cooling mechanism can have damaging effects on the CPU.

Avoid thermal paste dry out
You should regularly conduct routine maintenance and check the thermal paste to make sure it does not dry out. Know that forgetting to put the thermal compound can also have devastating effects on the CPU.

_{^{Pictures showing thermal paste on the CPU}}

Avoid physical stress
The CPU is a fragile component, avoid dropping it to the ground or other objects scratching dents and marks on it.

Thanks to my instructor for this weeks lesson and for taking time to explain the material to our understanding.

Inviting @okere-blessing, @kesybliss, @dequeen and @josepha to participate.