How do I find what computer motherboard I have?

If you need to identify your motherboard (the model number), you can do one of the below three things.

Identifying through Windows or other utility
Documentation
Visually identifying

If you're trying to identify the motherboard for any of the reasons below, view these links for additional related information.

Motherboard form factor
Chipset or driver update
Product Listing or specifications
Replacement or repair

Identifying through Windows or other utility

You can view the manufacturer and model number in your Windows system using theSystem Information utility. To access this utility, follow the steps below.

1. Click Start
2. Open All Programs, Accessories, System Tools and click System Information.

This utility provides a good bit of information about your computer. On the System Summary screen, you will find the motherboard manufacturer (System Manufacturer) and motherboard model (System Model). For example, for a computer with a MSImotherboard, the manufacturer would be MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL and a System Model of MS-7599. The Model is the model number of the motherboard.

Note: If your computer is an OEM computer, such as a Dell or Hewlett Packard, the model number may be the model number of your computer and not the motherboard. For these computers, we suggest referring to the technical documentation for the model of the computer. These documents can be downloaded directly from the computer manufacturer.

• Other ways of locating hardware and other computer specifications.

Documentation

The documentation or technical notes for your computer or motherboard also include the motherboard information. PDF versions of these documents can be downloaded from thecomputer manufacturer or motherboard manufacturer website.

Visually identifying

Finally, every computer motherboard has a silk screened name of the model and the manufacturer printed on the motherboard. For example, in the picture below, this motherboard has the model number (PSAD2-E) printed above the memory slots. Click the image below to get a larger view of this picture.

Tip: If you are unable to locate the model number of a motherboard, but can locate an FCC identification number, it is recommended that you perform a search using that instead. Additional information about FCC numbers and how to search for information about them can be found on our FCC definition.

Motherboard form factor

If you are looking for additional information about the type or form factor of the motherboard, see the form factor definition. That page contains sections about each of the motherboard form factors and information on how to distinguish each of them.

Chipset or driver update

If you are trying to determine chipset or motherboard information to update the drivers or the BIOS, see the motherboard driver section for further information.

• Additional information and help with BIOS updates.
• How to determine the computer motherboard chipset.

Product listing or specifications

If you are trying to list all the specific information about your computer motherboard, specifying the manufacturer, form factor, and specifications of the motherboard is sufficient. Below is an example of how a motherboard could be listed in your system specifications. If you're listing this information to sell the computer, keep in mind that most people are not going to be too concerned about the specific motherboard in the computer.

Intel D815EGEW ATX using a 1.1GHz processor and 512MB of memory

Replacement or repair

If you are trying to determine the motherboard because it needs to be replaced or repaired, it is recommended that the motherboard be replaced instead of repaired. Because of the complexity of today's motherboards, it can be very difficult and costly to repair a motherboard and it is easier and cheaper to replace the motherboard.