Your Computer Processing Unit also known as, CPU, is the brain of your computer. This component is the core component that allows the computer to compute and calculate and give you that beautiful image your viewing right now which happens to be my article!

Now it is important to note that there are many types of CPU's. Depending on your device this will dictate what type of CPU you have. The two major companies with the most common sockets include AMD and Intel.

AMD Sockets:

AM2/AM2+/AM3/AM3 And F/FM1/FM2

Intel Sockets:

LGA 775, LGA 1156, LGA 1366, And LGA 1155

This guide is meant to help you become informed about your CPU and ways to help diagnose your CPU if problems arise.

Step 1: Components Involved With a CPU

The first picture is your average AMD CPU Socket. This is what holds your CPU and allows the pins shown in the second image to connect to the motherboard.

Picture 2 is an image of a CPU's pins. These pins are very fragile and the most important part of a CPU. So at all costs protect these pins from damage when handling your CPU.

Picture 3 is an image of the CPU Heatsink. This piece of metal will be clamped on top of the CPU in order to dissapate heat away from your CPU because while the computer is running CPU's create a lot of heat and if not properly cooled could force the computer to automatically shut down to protect the components from heat damage.

Picture 4 is the roof of the CPU. This CPU currently has old thermal compound on it which will be removed at a later step.

Step 2: Taking Care of Your CPU

The first video involves how to take out your CPU, inspect it, and put it back. Again take caution while handling your CPU because if the pins on the bottom of the CPU get bent it is a very difficult task of fixing or an expensive replacement to get a new one. The reason you might want to take out your CPU would be to do a physical examination of the CPU to see if the thermal compound is still quality.

Although not show there are also programs you can install to monitor your CPU's temperatures and the functions/tasks it is performing. Some of the programs include:

CPUID HWMonitor -- http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html

MSI Afterburner -- http://event.msi.com/vga/afterburner/download.htm

RealTemp -- https://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/2089/real-te...

These programs can allow you to monitor your CPU temperatures to make sure it is not overheating and causing damage to your hardware or slowing it down.

Step 3: CPU Failure

You CPU is one of the most labor intensive components you're computer contains. Over time this component can begin to fail causing your computer to no longer give an image, or constantly reboot.

There are ways to resolve these problems and the most common solution will involve replacing your thermal compound. Thermal compound is a metallic liquid that sits between the CPU and the CPU Heatsink. This liquid allows heat to be dissipated from the CPU faster and much more efficient allowing foe your computer to run smoother.

As shown in the video above I will walk you through the process of cleaning and replacing the Thermal Compound on your CPU.