How to check which motherboard you have in 2 easy steps

The motherboard is arguably the most important component in your PC. The motherboard determines what hardware you can use, so it’s important to know your exact model. This knowledge can come in handy when you’re building a new PC, upgrading your existing computer, or even just updating your drivers.

You may be familiar with finding components within your system, but the methods used to check your GPU model don’t always apply to your motherboard. To make it easier, we’ve compiled a list of all the methods to check your motherboard model on Windows, and they only take a few minutes to complete.

Check with System Info

This is by far the easiest way to check your motherboard model. It only takes a minute and is as simple as it gets.

Step 1: Your first step is to gain access System information on Windows. This can be done in several ways.

The easiest option is to type System information in the Windows search barthen tap it or press Enter. You can also navigate to it manually by going to the Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Tools > System Information.

Finally, you can Windows and the R keys on your keyboard to open Run, then type msinfo32 and click OK.

All of these paths lead to the same place: System Information.

Step 2: Regardless of the route you took to get here, you are now in the System Information section of Windows.

To determine the model of your motherboard, please note the following: Skirting board manufacturer and skirting board product. Under Manufacturer you will find what company made your motherboard, and under Product you will see the exact model. That’s all you need to know!

In most cases this should be sufficient and you shouldn't need to look any further. However, if for some reason this didn't work, let's explore your other options.

Check with third party software

If you don’t want to mess around with different settings and options, you can just download a quick and easy tool that will do the work for you. The most popular options for checking your motherboard are HWiNFO and CPU-Z, and both can be useful for other purposes, such as monitoring your system performance and temperatures.

Step 1: First, download the program of your choice. For this article, we will use HWiNFO, but you can also use CPU-Z. Both are free to download.

When it comes to HWiNFO, you can choose between a portable download (that is, one that doesn't need to be installed) and a normal installation. Both work fine.

Step 2: Once you have downloaded HWiNFO, launch the program. You will be presented with an overwhelming amount of information, but at this point you are only interested in the Motherboard section.

Two windows will have opened: the System overview window and the main window of HWiNFO. In the first one you see the Motherboard section right in the middle, containing information about your board, including the manufacturer, model, and chipset.

In the main window, simply click on the Motherboard option on the left for a detailed overview of everything related to your motherboard.

There is a lot more interesting info in programs like this, so take the time to look into it if you are interested. For example, you can use HWiNFO to check the temperature of your CPU or measure the power consumption of your PC.

Check with command prompt

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can use the Windows Command Prompt to check your motherboard model. This is a little more advanced than the previous two methods, but should only take a few minutes.

Step 1: Start by opening the Command PromptTo do this, type Command Prompt go inside Windows SearchThan right click on it and select Run as administrator.

Step 2: With the command prompt active, type the following:

wmic skirting product obtain,Manufacturer

You can also just copy and paste it if you find that easier.

Press EnterShortly after, Windows will give you your motherboard model, just as you would in System Information.

Check with PowerShell

If for some reason you prefer to use Windows PowerShell to check your motherboard instead of the Command Prompt, there's a very quick way to do so.

Step 1: Start Windows PowerShell by typing PowerShell in the Windows SearchNext, make sure that: right click on it and select Run as administrator.

Step 2: Paste the following into the PowerShell window:

Get-WmiObject Win32_BaseBoard | Format-Table –Auto Manufacturer,Product,SerialNumber,Version

Press Enter to execute the command. PowerShell will then return a bunch of information, and some of it may be empty even though it shouldn't be. What you're really interested in, however, is the information under Manufacturer And Productwhich lists your motherboard model.

Please check the box and order history

Whether you bought a pre-built PC or built your own, information about the type of motherboard you are using is out there somewhere. Here are a few options to consider.

First, check if you still have the box for custom PCs. This is an obvious one that can easily solve all your problems.

Next, for both pre-built and custom computers, look for receipts and order history. Log into your account with the retailer(s) you used and check. If you don't find anything there, call them. In the case of pre-built computers, finding the motherboard should be easy once you know the exact model of your computer. Just type the model into a search engine and add Specifications.

Open the suitcase

If you own a desktop, your last resort is to open the case and then physically check the motherboard. Keep in mind that if you own a pre-built computer, your warranty depends on you never opening the case, so check that first. Laptop users should stick to the methods mentioned above, as the motherboard model on notebooks is not as easy to distinguish.

Assuming your PC case has a glass side panel, you may be able to look inside and see the motherboard model. Virtually every one of the best motherboards has the manufacturer and model printed somewhere on the front. If you don't see it, turn off your computer and ground yourself by using an antistatic wrist strap or by touching the metal casing of your PC with your bare hands.

Remove the side panel and take a good look at your motherboard. If there are any components in the way, you may need to remove them, so keep our PC building guide handy to help you put everything back together when you’re done.