How To Find Motherboard Model: I Tested Every Method So You Don’t Have To

Last updated on November 18th, 2025 at 11:29 am

Look, I get it. You’re sitting there, eager to install that new RAM or download the proper driver, and then you think: Wait a minute. which motherboard do I even have? I’ve been there more often than I care to admit.

I was helping this friend of mine upgrade his gaming rig, last week. We had everything lined up: new graphics card, faster RAM the whole deal. Then we hit a wall. He didn’t even know what motherboard was hiding in his case. No receipt, no documentation, nothing.

So I spent the afternoon trying every method to discover a motherboard model, and you know what? Some were far more effective than others.

Here’s what I found out, broken up the way that I discovered it not all corporatespeak BS but actual experience.

Why It’s Important to Know Your Motherboard Model Number

But before I dive into how to, let me explain why this is important. This is not just tech nerd stuff.

I bought the wrong type when I attempted to install new RAM not having just checked my board first. DDR4 vs DDR3 – yeah, that was a costly mistake. Your motherboard is your PC’s spine. It tells you what CPU to use, how much RAM you can cram in there and which ports are open.

And when something goes wrong and you need a driver update? You will need that precise model number. Trust me on this one.

Method 1: Open the Case and See (The Old-School Way)

So this is where I began the simplest approach. I got a screwdriver and opened up the side panel then starred at the motherboard in itself.

The model number is generally printed directly on the board. Mine just sat between the PCIe slots, sometimes it is near the RAM slots or next to the CPU socket. On my buddy’s GIGABYTE board, it was literally white text that says “GA-B450M-DS3H” just right there.

Here’s the catch: Dust happens. Cables happen. Occasionally, that label is buried under your GPU or nestled behind a massive CPU cooler. I had to use the flashlight from my phone and turn my neck in a normal way just to recognize it. Not fun, but it worked.

If you’re checking your board, be on the lookout for text that includes the manufacturer name (ASUS, MSI, GIGABYTE, ASRock) along with a model code. Once you come across it, snap a photo with your phone — you’ll thank yourself later.

Method 2: By Way of Your BIOS (No Screwdriver Required)

All right, so maybe you don’t want to crack your case. Fair enough. So that’s when I tested the BIOS way.

Here’s how it went down:

I rebooted the computer and started tapping both Delete keys right away. On some systems it’s F2 or Esc just keep an eye on your boot screen for the exact prompt. Once I was in the BIOS, I saw any reference to “System Information” or “Main.”

Yup, right there in black and white: motherboard maker and model.

The cool part? There is nothing to unplug, and no chance that you will touch any components. The annoying part? BIOS interfaces vary wildly. The everything-up-in-the-air way Infinity was set up a PITA. My friend’s older MSI board? That menu was a maze. We eventually found it under a tab labeled “Settings,” but not without clicking around.

Pro tip: You shouldn’t mess with anything else in there while you are at it unless you know what you’re doing. Just jot down the model info and get out.

Method 3 – The Software Approach (My Favorite, and very Simple)

This is where it got easy. I’m talking download-and-done easy.

CPU-Z: The Go-To Tool

I decided to start with CPU-Z, both because it’s free and absurdly easy. Installed it in 1 minute, opened and clicked on the “Mainboard” tab.

Boom. Manufacturer, model, chipset I had it all right there. No opening cases, no restarting. Just instant information.

The reason I like CPU-Z is that it shows which chipset and BIOS version, etc. That’s useful for when you’re trying to figure out which upgrades are compatible with your system.

Speccy: For More Detail Fans

Next, I tested Speccy. It’s a member of the CCleaner family, and it shows you an exhaustive hardware breakdown. Not just the motherboard CPU temps, RAM speed, storage info, the works.

It’s a bit much if you only want to know what model mother board it is, but I’ve ended up leaving it installed. It’s only good as a check up for system health.

Windows Built-In Tool: msinfo32

And here’s one you probably didn’t even realize was happening. Windows does have an in-built tool for viewing system information. I tried by pressing Win + R, typing “msinfo32” and pressing Enter.

It brought up a window packed full of all sorts of system information. I went down to “BaseBoard Manufacturer” and “BaseBoard Product” there was my motherboard info.

The catch? Some times it simply states “To be filled by OEM”. Yeah, seriously. That was on a pre-made Dell I was testing. But when it does, switch to CPU-Z or Speccy instead. They draw on the info in a different way and generally are effective.

What About Linux Users?

I dual-boot, so I also tried this on Ubuntu. If you’re on Linux, open the terminal and enter:

sudo dmidecode -t baseboard

Type hit Enter, enter your password and you should get something like this with your motherboard manufacturer and product name. It’s actually faster than Windows for me.

The New Stuff: QR Codes and AI Tools

Here’s where it gets interesting. Some new motherboards are even being shipped with a QR code or NFC tag printed directly on the motherboard. I haven’t had these on any of my builds yet, but you can scan them with your phone and immediately have the model, revision number, and support links for them.

That’s honestly genius. I hope other manufacturers follow suit.

And now there are a few experimental AI-driven diagnostic tools appearing that automatically scan your system and suggest upgrades compatible with your hardware. I experimented with one HWiNFO that’s moving in this direction: It scanned my system, and not only did it tell me the model number of my motherboard, but also listed compatible speeds for RAM. Pretty slick.

When It Doesn’t Go as You’d Like

Some things didn’t go perfectly for me in testing. So here’s what was tripping me up:

Virtual Machines: If you’re on a VM and trying this out, as effective HTG reader someone smartly pointed out in the comments these methods probably won’t work or will output garbage data showing the virtual motherboard rather than your physical one. You also will be wanting to inspect this from the host OS.

Locked Company PCs: Where I work, BIOS access is locked down tight. I could not get in without admin access. With those, it’s either software tools or a cursory glance at a case.

Hidden Labels: Occasionally the label is simply not visible without removing parts. I had to remove the GPU on one build just to read the model number. Annoying, but necessary.

Why I Save This Now guiActive

After all this, I’ve been keeping a plain text file on my desktop listing the specs of my system. Sounds nerdy, I know. But when it comes to needing to download drivers or check compatibility for an upgrade, I’m not having to hunt down how do i find my motherboard model again!

Then, I photographed the label on my board with my phone as well. All it’s doing is staying in a folder with shots of my GPU, PSU label, and RAM sticks. Five minutes of documentation has saved me hours.

What to Do About Upgrades and Troubleshooting

Your precise motherboard model brings with it a host of advantages:

Driver Updates: I can go to the manufacturer’s website and download the newest chipset drivers and audio drivers. No guessing, no wrong downloads.

RAM Compatibility: Before I purchase my RAM, I browse through the specs of my board to determine what speed it can handle. My B450 board only goes up to 3200MHz, so his recommendation of 3600MHz RAM is useless.

CPU Upgrades: It all depends on the motherboard and what it will support for processors. And I can upgrade to more recent Ryzen chips without having to buy an entirely new board with my AM4 socket.

Troubleshooting: When I had strange USB issues, being able to see my model number helped me narrow things down and find forum threads that addressed the exact problem based on people running the same board.

At a Glance: Which Way to Go?

If you only want the information quickly and don’t mind restarting: Open the BIOS. It’s built-in and reliable.

If you just want details without the restart: Download CPU-Z. Free, quick and no less than just the motherboard is shown.

If you’re on Linux: Run the dmidecode command. It’s already installed and it takes two seconds.

If software tells you “To be filled by OEM”: Open up the case and take a peek. Old ways are often the best ways.

My Take After Testing Everything

Honestly? For daily use I go with CPU-Z. It’s fast, tells you everything you want to know and it doesn’t require restarting or the use of a screwdriver. But I’m happy I learned it the manual-inspection way as well, A), because there have been times when software didn’t cut it.

That BIOS based method is great if you already know how to navigate through the firmware menus. For everyone else, there’s free tooling.

And here’s my serious tip: When you’ve figured out exactly the model of your motherboard, write it down somewhere. Seriously. And future you will be thankful when you’re shopping for upgrades at 2 a.m. and don’t want to turn your PC off just to look up compatibility.

Final Thoughts

Discovering your motherboard mannequin isn’t mind surgery, but it doesn’t come without effort. I spent way too much time in the beginning not knowing this stuff. After having now gone through every method (I’m a dedicated journalist, what can I say?), I can tell you that there is no definitive “best” way it depends.

Have a case that’s easy to open? Just look at the board. Don’t want to power down? Grab CPU-Z. Running Linux? Terminal command. Choose whatever suits your situation.

What matters is getting enough of a model number to make smart decisions with your hardware. Whether you’re trying to upgrade it, diagnose an issue or simply learn what’s inside it, now you know where to find it.

Source: Reddit

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