How to tell what CPU I have here

[chapster]

Hi,

Removed a CPU from a thrown-out computer of apparent high-spec going by the 4GB of DDR2 RAM in it (high-spec compared to mine!) which was covered in heatsink compound.

It's the type without pins, having pads instead, and a metal top on it. I wiped the metal top on the in-laws' carpet (why not?) not realising it's the high traffic rough stuff, which effectively sanded the top of the metal cover, obliterating anything written on it!

I now have a CPU and I don't know if it's Intel or AMD or anything. Only numbers are ones on a black sticker under cut-out of metal top which has on it:

35505346
A6308

Can I use these numbers anywhere to find out what the CPU is? And what happens if I put it in my computer which uses Intel CPUs but it turns out to be AMD? Might it kill motherboard or CPU? Just curious since my motherboard takes same size CPU with pads.

Thanks :thumbsup:

 

[crucibelle]

I don't know how to find out, myself.. I just hope that the static electricity from the carpet didn't kill it!

 

[Ben90]

Well if it doesn't have pins, then it is an Intel chip. AMD only LGA sockets are F, C32, and C34. All of these are in the server markets.

Since we know its an Intel chip, the next step is to figure out what socket it is for. Since it is using DDR2, the only options are LGA 775 and LGA 771. 771 is another server socket, which leaves 775 as our only consumer option.

From here you can do further deduction looking at the capacitors in the middle of the chip, but it would probably be easiest to just put it in your mobo and see what the BIOS says. If the chip fits in your motherboard, it will not do damage. The only bad things that could happen is:
1: The Mobo doesn't support the chip and its a waste of time.
2: The PSU cannot handle the chip wattage, and has problems. (extremely unlikely unless you have like a 150W PSU)
3: The Mobo cannot handle the chip wattage, and is unstable, again a waste of time. (extremely unlikely)

Give us the model of your mobo and I can help you further. Also a picture of the pads of the CPU would help a decent amount as well.

Unless you were doing something wrong, its not very likely that static from the carpet killed the processor.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Pads? I'm assuming you mean thermal "pads" to transfer heat from the CPU to the HSF. This has nothing to do with the kind of CPU it is. All modern Desktop CPU's have sockets with the pins being on the MB.

Just because both the found CPU and the one in your computer has sockets instead of pins doesn't mean they are compatible. If the found CPU has the same pin count (number of sockets) as your CPU does it may post or it may not. In either case, it will not "kill the motherboard." You can't put a AMD CPU in a MB which uses a Intel CPU. It will not fit.

 

[Harvey]

Unless I missed something along the way, all AMD CPU's have pins so it's probably an Intel part. If there's any remaining heatsink compound hiding some numbers, Windex will remove it safely.

If the discarded machine is a department store brand (Compaq, Dell, etc.) you can look up the model number on the manufacturer's site. If you have the motherboard, the info on that maker's site would include the CPU's it accepts.

Without further description, you'll have to determine which pad format you have. From your description, possible sockets include:

LGA 775

LGA 1156 and

LGA 1366

Info at the links includes pics which may give you a better idea of what you have. Once you know that, unless you know the CPU is good, you may want to see if someone can test it to see if it works before investing in a motherboard.

If you have the whole thing, don't forget to check the RAM and any plug in peripherals such as a vid card, DVD burner, etc. If any of it's good and fast enough, it's more found money.

Hope that helps.

 

[chapster]

Thanks a lot everyone. From the above, I've now deduced it's an Intel and is socket LGA775. That's what my motherboard has, so tomorrow I'll fit it and see what's what.

Then I'm going to go through other bits from the box and see if any other goodies in there, as suggested above!

Thanks again!

 

[TemjinGold]

Harvey: The DDR2 kind of rules out 1156 and 1366.

 

[Harvey]

Harvey: The DDR2 kind of rules out 1156 and 1366.

True. I didn't catch that on first reading, but the links to the pics probably helped him.