How to Upgrade Processor Speed on an HP Laptop

The speed of your processor determines how fast each program operates and performs essential functions and/or operations. Upgrading your HP laptop's processor generally requires removing and replacing your processor with a faster one, and involves completely dismantling your laptop to access the processor. While not a difficult procedure, you can damage your laptop while replacing the processor if you're not careful.

• 1

  Shut down your laptop. Unplug all cables and devices from your computer. Pull the display panel closed, and place the laptop face down on a flat surface. Remove the battery pack from its compartment by disengaging its release buttons next to the battery compartment.

• 2

  Remove the Phillips-head screws fastening the hard drive to its compartment in one of the laptop's four corners. Pull the drive out of its compartment and set it aside.

• 3

  Remove the memory compartment cover, and its retaining Phillips-head screws from the center of the laptop's bottom casing. Remove all memory modules from inside the memory compartment. Each module is held in place by two, spring-loaded retention clips.

• 4

  Locate the wireless card inside the memory compartment. In some HP laptops the wireless card is located inside its own compartment off to the side of the memory compartment. Use a pair of tweezers to disconnect the two antenna cables from the wireless card. Spread the wireless card's retention clips and remove the card from the laptop.

• 5

  Remove all Phillips-head screws from the laptop's bottom casing. Flip the laptop over and open the display panel as far as possible. Remove any Phillips-head screws from the laptop's back panel. Pry the keyboard cover from the laptop's casing with a flat-head screwdriver. The keyboard cover is the small, plastic piece situated above the keyboard.

• 6

  Locate the speaker assembly revealed by the keyboard cover. Remove its one or two retaining screws, then disconnect its cable from the motherboard. Remove the speaker assembly from the laptop.

• 7

  Remove the four Phillips-head screws that fasten the keyboard to the laptop's casing. Place the keyboard face down on the palm rest, then disconnect the ribbon cable extending from the keyboard's bottom side to the motherboard. Remove the keyboard from the laptop.

• 8

  Remove the two Phillips-head screws from the center of the laptop that fasten the CD/DVD drive to the right or left side of the laptop. Pull the drive out of its compartment and set it aside.

• 9

  Disconnect all cables extending from either side of the LCD panel to the motherboard. Then remove the Phillips-head screws from each display hinge. Lift the entire display panel assembly off of the laptop's base and set it aside. Be sure to place the display panel on a flat surface with the screen facing upward to avoid damage to the screen.

• 10

  Remove all remaining Phillips-head screws fastening the top case to the laptop's base. Disconnect the touchpad cable that extends from the touchpad device to the motherboard. Disconnect any other miscellaneous cables that extend from the top casing to the motherboard. Carefully remove your laptop's top casing from the laptop to reveal the top side of the motherboard.

• 11

  Locate the processor cooling fan in the upper right or upper left corner of the motherboard. Disconnect its power cable from the motherboard. Then remove the spring-loaded Phillips-head screws fastening the cooling fan to the motherboard. Lift the fan off of the processor, and set it aside.

• 12

  Turn the processor's flat-head locking screw in the counterclockwise direction as far as you can. This unlocks the processor to the motherboard socket. Lift the processor out of its socket and set it aside.

• 13

  Repeat this entire procedure in reverse to install the new processor, and reassemble your laptop.