The only processor came to my mind was the AMD Athlon 64 3800+ because it is almost as fast as my 4000+ but the price is a lot more affordable. So as usual, I went to my favorite computer store (CompUSA) again and made the purchase, and along with that I purchased the ASUS A8N-E motherboard (I will write about it soon). Please refer to the How to purchase a processor guide for full details on what questions to ask yourself before purchasing a processor.


INSTALLATION :
As always the installation was as a breeze because I have done so many of these builds that I can just put them together with my hands tied behind my back (I think). But seriously these processors are really simple to install if you follow the instructions in the quick install guide. The easy installation guide comes in handy if you are doing this for the first time, even the second time (you get used to it after that), or if you just want to refresh your memory. Unless you are using a different heatsink and fan, you will not encounter any problems when you follow the instructions in the setup guide. If you are going to use a different heatsink and fan, than use the instruction that came with the fan and heatsink to install it properly.

If you choose to install the stock heatsink and fan (like my client), I would highly advise against overclocking this processor (plus it is already pretty fast). One thing I would like to suggest you if you are planning to install it yourself, use Arctic Silver thermal grease when installing the heatsink; it will help keep your processor cooler or make it cooler faster and run cooler at all times.

When you boot-up your newly built computer for the first time with this processor, you may probably need to clear your CMOS settings to make sure you start out with a clean system (this will also reduce crashes and conflicts), but if you are just replacing the processor, you may not have to. Then all you have to do is to just install your favorite operating system or if you already have an operating system installed, just boot up. One thing to keep in mind when booting for the first time is to keep an eye on the processor and memory (RAM) temperatures (especially if you used a different heatsink and overclocked the CPU). Also make sure the memory sticks you have are compatible and can overclock without problems.