Identify the board
Find the manufacturer, full model and board revision if marked. “Core i5” and “Ryzen 5” each describe a whole family of processors.
Processors
Video exports taking too long, or a game pushing your processor to its limit? Look for a CPU upgrade that suits your software and fits your current motherboard.
Ask about price and availabilityWhich CPU will my motherboard support?
Check the BIOS
Find the exact CPU on the motherboard maker’s supported processor list. Compare its minimum BIOS version with the one installed on your PC.
Plan the cooling
Identify the cooler and its mounting kit. Say whether you plan to use a separate graphics card or connect your monitor to the motherboard.
Looking for a specific part?
Include your motherboard, current processor, BIOS version if known, and the game or application you want to speed up.