So instead of getting the AMD Athlon 64 FX-57, I recommend this AMD Athlon 64 FX-55 processor. I went online to newegg.com and ordered it for about $815 (shipping included). I chose the DFI LanParty UT nF4 SLI-DR motherboard for this job; after all I was building one of the best systems I have ever put together. Please refer to the How to purchase a processor guide for full details on what questions to ask yourself before purchasing a processor.


INSTALLATION :
Installing this AMD Athlon 64 FX-55 processor was a breeze; well for me anyways, since I have been doing this for some time now. These AMD processors are also very easy to install and if you do get stuck, you can simply follow the instructions in the quick install guide. The quick installation guide comes in handy if you are doing this for the first time, even the second time, or if you just want to refresh your memory. If you follow the steps in the setup guide properly, you should not encounter any problems. If you want to use a heatsink and fan other than the once that came in the box, then you may have to follow the installation instructions that come with the other fan and heatsink.

If you choose to install the stock heatsink and fan, I would highly advise against overclocking this processor (plus it is already one of the fastest processors). One thing I would like to suggest is that if you are planning to install it yourself, always use Arctic Silver thermal grease to install the heatsink; it will help keep your processor cooler or make it cooler faster and run cooler at all times. Arctic Silver thermal grease helps transfer heater more efficiently so your computer always run cool. You can purchase it from your favorite computer hardware store for around $5.00 to $11.00.

Heatsinks do tend to accumulate dust and dirt on them over time, so I suggest doing a clean up every two to three months or so. I had not cleaned mine for about six months and the processor started over heating; when I opened it up I noticed a lot of dust and dirt on the heatsink. Now it runs much cooler after a good cleanup. You can use the Falcon Dust Off duster to blow all the dirt and dust off; you can get these for around $4.00 to $9.00 a can.

The first time you boot-up your newly built or upgraded computer with this processor, you may be required to clear your CMOS/BIOS settings to factory defaults to make sure you start out with a clean system (this will reduce the chance of crashes and conflicts); plus some systems just will not work properly without resetting. You may not have to do this if you are just replacing or upgrading your processor.

The next step is to 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 up in the beginning is to keep an eye on the processor and memory (RAM) temperatures, especially if you used a different heatsink and also overclocked the processor. I also suggest that you make sure the memory sticks you have installed are compatible and can overclock without problems.