28.3. Step 3: Install the Processor

Before you begin processor installation, place the motherboard flat on a firm surface, padding it with the anti-static foam or bag supplied with it. Installing the CPU (and memory) may require substantial force, so it's important to ensure that the motherboard is fully supported to avoid cracking it.

We're installing a Socket 478 Pentium 4 processor, so the instructions and illustrations in this section refer specifically to that processor. If you're installing a different processor, see Chapter 4 for more detailed information.