[gentoo-user] how can i find out my motherboard?

[gentoo-user] how can i find out my motherboard?

[renna bud]

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is there a command to let me know the name and model of my motherboard, 
without having to open my pc-case (or worse to find the manual and box in 
which it came) ? thanks

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Re: [gentoo-user] how can i find out my motherboard?

[Jarry]

renna bud wrote:

> is there a command to let me know the name and model of my motherboard

Some motherboards display it on screen during start-up, on the very
beginning (like my asus mo-bo). Others might show it in bios-screen...

Jarry

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Re: [gentoo-user] how can i find out my motherboard?

[Mark Knecht]

On 9/9/05, renna bud <rennabh@gmail.com> wrote:
> is there a command to let me know the name and model of my motherboard, 
>  without having to open my pc-case (or worse to find the manual and box in
> which it came) ? thanks 

I don't know of one. You can use lspci to get a list of devices, but
not the model number. You'd have to read BIOS to figure this out I
think. Where that info is held in BIOS probably differs from
manufacturer to manufacturer.

I'm interested also. If this was possible then it seems that a Linux
install could do an even better job.

Cheers,
Mark

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Re: [gentoo-user] how can i find out my motherboard?

[Dave Nebinger]

> is there a command to let me know the name and model 
> of my motherboard, without having to open my pc-case 
> (or worse to find the manual and box in which it came) ? thanks 

emerge dmidecode

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Re: [gentoo-user] how can i find out my motherboard?

[Holly Bostick]

renna bud schreef:
> is there a command to let me know the name and model of my 
> motherboard, without having to open my pc-case (or worse to find the 
> manual and box in which it came) ? thanks

Hi, renna,

As far as I know, there is not such a command-- but there is a command
to find out the information that you're probably looking for (which is
not actually the mobo make and model, but the mobo *chipset*).

You need to know the chipset to work effectively with the kernel; and
the command (as root)

#lscpci

will most likely give you the information you need, as follows:

lspci
0000:00:00.0 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8366/A/7 [Apollo
KT266/A/333]
0000:00:01.0 PCI bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8366/A/7 [Apollo
KT266/A/333 AGP]
0000:00:09.0 Multimedia audio controller: C-Media Electronics Inc CM8738
(rev 10)
0000:00:0c.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ (rev 10)
0000:00:11.0 ISA bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8233 PCI to ISA Bridge
0000:00:11.1 IDE interface: VIA Technologies, Inc.
VT82C586A/B/VT82C686/A/B/VT823x/A/C PIPC Bus Master IDE (rev 06)
0000:00:11.2 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB
1.1 Controller (rev 1b)
0000:00:11.3 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB
1.1 Controller (rev 1b)
0000:00:11.4 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB
1.1 Controller (rev 1b)
0000:01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc R350 AH
[Radeon 9800]
0000:01:00.1 Display controller: ATI Technologies Inc Radeon R350
[Radeon 9800] (Secondary)

As you can see, my chipset is "clearly" identified as an Apollo KT266A
at with a bus speed of 333 Mhz, VIA is plastered all over the
motherboard resources (host bridge, PCI bridge, USB controller are all
motherboard resources), so it's a VIA chipset, and you also see the chip
numbers for the northbridge and southbridge chips (or you would see the
southbridge if I was using the onboard sound), which is variously listed
as 8233 or VT82686, so you'd know what options were for your actual mobo
when you're configuring your kernel.

However, if you really *really* need to know the mobo manufacturer and
model number for some other reason, I would suggest:

1) looking at your invoice (some computer stores do list the parts they
used when building the PC, some don't)

2) looking in the manual you may have received (the 'specifications'
area of any manual is supposed to tell you what parts the unit is made of)

3) going to the PC manufacturer's website and seeing if they list the
parts used in your model (this could be in service, rather than on the
product page).

Hope this helps,
Holly
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Re: [gentoo-user] how can i find out my motherboard?

[Mark Knecht]

On 9/9/05, Dave Nebinger <dnebinger@joat.com> wrote:
> > is there a command to let me know the name and model
> > of my motherboard, without having to open my pc-case
> > (or worse to find the manual and box in which it came) ? thanks
> 
> emerge dmidecode

Very nice. Thanks!

- Mark

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Re: [gentoo-user] how can i find out my motherboard?

[Holly Bostick]

Dave Nebinger schreef:
>> is there a command to let me know the name and model of my 
>> motherboard, without having to open my pc-case (or worse to find 
>> the manual and box in which it came) ? thanks
> 
> 
> emerge dmidecode
> 

This looks quite the useful utility, but it doesn't seem to provide the
requested information (or at least, not all of it, and what it does
provide is difficult to recognize):

I know the make and model of my mobo; it's a Shuttle AK32A.

Let's see what dmidecode has to say:

dmidecode
# dmidecode 2.6
SMBIOS 2.2 present.
34 structures occupying 862 bytes.
Table at 0x000F0800.
Handle 0x0000
	DMI type 0, 19 bytes.
	BIOS Information
		Vendor: Phoenix Technologies, LTD
		Version: 6.00 PG
		Release Date: 09/27/2002
		Address: 0xE0000
		Runtime Size: 128 kB
		ROM Size: 256 kB
		Characteristics:
			ISA is supported
			PCI is supported
			PNP is supported
			APM is supported
			BIOS is upgradeable
			BIOS shadowing is allowed
			ESCD support is available
			Boot from CD is supported
			Selectable boot is supported
			BIOS ROM is socketed
			EDD is supported
			5.25"/360 KB floppy services are supported (int 13h)
			5.25"/1.2 MB floppy services are supported (int 13h)
			3.5"/720 KB floppy services are supported (int 13h)
			3.5"/2.88 MB floppy services are supported (int 13h)
			Print screen service is supported (int 5h)
			8042 keyboard services are supported (int 9h)
			Serial services are supported (int 14h)
			Printer services are supported (int 17h)
			CGA/mono video services are supported (int 10h)
			ACPI is supported
			USB legacy is supported
			AGP is supported
			LS-120 boot is supported
			ATAPI Zip drive boot is supported
Handle 0x0001
	DMI type 1, 25 bytes.
	System Information
		Manufacturer:
		Product Name:
		Version:
		Serial Number:
		UUID: 1297A232-FFFF-FFFF-FFFF-FFFFFFFFFFFF
		Wake-up Type: Power Switch

----------------------------------------
Handle 0x0002
	DMI type 2, 8 bytes.
	Base Board Information
		Manufacturer:
		Product Name: AK32
		Version:
		Serial Number:

Ok, here's the model name. But I know that because I already know the
model name. Would I know this was the model name if I didn't know what
the model of my mobo was already? I don't think so.
---------------------------------------------
Handle 0x0003
	DMI type 3, 13 bytes.
	Chassis Information
		Manufacturer:
		Type: Desktop
		Lock: Not Present
		Version:
		Serial Number:
		Asset Tag:
		Boot-up State: Unknown
		Power Supply State: Unknown
		Thermal State: Unknown
		Security Status: Unknown
Handle 0x0004
	DMI type 4, 32 bytes.
	Processor Information
		Socket Designation: Socket A
		Type: Central Processor
		Family: Duron
		Manufacturer: AMD
		ID: 81 06 00 00 FF F9 83 03
		Signature: Family 6, Model 8, Stepping 1
		Flags:
			FPU (Floating-point unit on-chip)
			VME (Virtual mode extension)
			DE (Debugging extension)
			PSE (Page size extension)
			TSC (Time stamp counter)
			MSR (Model specific registers)
			PAE (Physical address extension)
			MCE (Machine check exception)
			CX8 (CMPXCHG8 instruction supported)
			SEP (Fast system call)
			MTRR (Memory type range registers)
			PGE (Page global enable)
			MCA (Machine check architecture)
			CMOV (Conditional move instruction supported)
			PAT (Page attribute table)
			PSE-36 (36-bit page size extension)
			MMX (MMX technology supported)
			FXSR (Fast floating-point save and restore)
			SSE (Streaming SIMD extensions)
		Version: AMD Athlon(tm) XP
		Voltage: 1.6 V
		External Clock: 133 MHz
		Max Speed: 2000 MHz
		Current Speed: 1800 MHz
		Status: Populated, Enabled
		Upgrade: ZIF Socket
		L1 Cache Handle: 0x0008
		L2 Cache Handle: 0x0009
		L3 Cache Handle: No L3 Cache
Handle 0x0005
	DMI type 5, 20 bytes.
	Memory Controller Information
		Error Detecting Method: None
		Error Correcting Capabilities:
			None
		Supported Interleave: One-way Interleave
		Current Interleave: Four-way Interleave
		Maximum Memory Module Size: 2048 MB
		Maximum Total Memory Size: 4096 MB
		Supported Speeds:
			70 ns
			60 ns
		Supported Memory Types:
			Standard
			EDO
		Memory Module Voltage: 5.0 V
		Associated Memory Slots: 2
			0x0006
			0x0007
		Enabled Error Correcting Capabilities: None
Handle 0x0006
	DMI type 6, 12 bytes.
	Memory Module Information
		Socket Designation: A0
		Bank Connections: 0 1
		Current Speed: 60 ns
		Type: Other SDRAM
		Installed Size: 256 MB (Double-bank Connection)
		Enabled Size: 256 MB (Double-bank Connection)
		Error Status: OK
Handle 0x0007
	DMI type 6, 12 bytes.
	Memory Module Information
		Socket Designation: A1
		Bank Connections: None
		Current Speed: 60 ns
		Type: Unknown
		Installed Size: Not Installed
		Enabled Size: Not Installed
		Error Status: OK
Handle 0x0008
	DMI type 7, 19 bytes.
	Cache Information
		Socket Designation: Internal Cache
		Configuration: Enabled, Not Socketed, Level 1
		Operational Mode: Write Back
		Location: Internal
		Installed Size: 128 KB
		Maximum Size: 128 KB
		Supported SRAM Types:
			Synchronous
		Installed SRAM Type: Synchronous
		Speed: Unknown
		Error Correction Type: Unknown
		System Type: Unknown
		Associativity: Unknown
Handle 0x0009
	DMI type 7, 19 bytes.
	Cache Information
		Socket Designation: External Cache
		Configuration: Enabled, Not Socketed, Level 2
		Operational Mode: Write Back
		Location: External
		Installed Size: 256 KB
		Maximum Size: 256 KB
		Supported SRAM Types:
			Synchronous
		Installed SRAM Type: Synchronous
		Speed: Unknown
		Error Correction Type: Unknown
		System Type: Unknown
		Associativity: Unknown
Handle 0x000A
	DMI type 8, 9 bytes.
	Port Connector Information
		Internal Reference Designator: PRIMARY IDE
		Internal Connector Type: On Board IDE
		External Reference Designator:
		External Connector Type: None
		Port Type: Other
Handle 0x000B
	DMI type 8, 9 bytes.
	Port Connector Information
		Internal Reference Designator: SECONDARY IDE
		Internal Connector Type: On Board IDE
		External Reference Designator:
		External Connector Type: None
		Port Type: Other
Handle 0x000C
	DMI type 8, 9 bytes.
	Port Connector Information
		Internal Reference Designator: FDD
		Internal Connector Type: On Board Floppy
		External Reference Designator:
		External Connector Type: None
		Port Type: 8251 FIFO Compatible
Handle 0x000D
	DMI type 8, 9 bytes.
	Port Connector Information
		Internal Reference Designator: COM1
		Internal Connector Type: 9 Pin Dual Inline (pin 10 cut)
		External Reference Designator:
		External Connector Type: DB-9 male
		Port Type: Serial Port 16450 Compatible
Handle 0x000E
	DMI type 8, 9 bytes.
	Port Connector Information
		Internal Reference Designator: COM2
		Internal Connector Type: 9 Pin Dual Inline (pin 10 cut)
		External Reference Designator:
		External Connector Type: DB-9 male
		Port Type: Serial Port 16450 Compatible
Handle 0x000F
	DMI type 8, 9 bytes.
	Port Connector Information
		Internal Reference Designator: LPT1
		Internal Connector Type: DB-25 female
		External Reference Designator:
		External Connector Type: DB-25 female
		Port Type: Parallel Port ECP/EPP
Handle 0x0010
	DMI type 8, 9 bytes.
	Port Connector Information
		Internal Reference Designator: Keyboard
		Internal Connector Type: PS/2
		External Reference Designator:
		External Connector Type: PS/2
		Port Type: Keyboard Port
Handle 0x0011
	DMI type 8, 9 bytes.
	Port Connector Information
		Internal Reference Designator: PS/2 Mouse
		Internal Connector Type: PS/2
		External Reference Designator:
		External Connector Type: PS/2
		Port Type: Mouse Port
Handle 0x0012
	DMI type 9, 13 bytes.
	System Slot Information
		Designation: PCI0
		Type: 32-bit PCI
		Current Usage: Available
		Length: Long
		ID: 1
		Characteristics:
			5.0 V is provided
			PME signal is supported
Handle 0x0013
	DMI type 9, 13 bytes.
	System Slot Information
		Designation: PCI1
		Type: 32-bit PCI
		Current Usage: Available
		Length: Long
		ID: 2
		Characteristics:
			5.0 V is provided
			PME signal is supported
Handle 0x0014
	DMI type 9, 13 bytes.
	System Slot Information
		Designation: PCI2
		Type: 32-bit PCI
		Current Usage: In Use
		Length: Long
		ID: 3
		Characteristics:
			5.0 V is provided
			PME signal is supported
Handle 0x0015
	DMI type 9, 13 bytes.
	System Slot Information
		Designation: PCI3
		Type: 32-bit PCI
		Current Usage: In Use
		Length: Long
		ID: 4
		Characteristics:
			5.0 V is provided
			PME signal is supported
Handle 0x0016
	DMI type 9, 13 bytes.
	System Slot Information
		Designation: PCI4
		Type: 32-bit PCI
		Current Usage: Available
		Length: Long
		ID: 5
		Characteristics:
			5.0 V is provided
			PME signal is supported
Handle 0x0017
	DMI type 9, 13 bytes.
	System Slot Information
		Designation: AGP
		Type: 32-bit AGP
		Current Usage: Available
		Length: Long
		ID: 8
		Characteristics:
			5.0 V is provided
Handle 0x0018
	DMI type 8, 9 bytes.
	Port Connector Information
		Internal Reference Designator: USB
		Internal Connector Type: None
		External Reference Designator:
		External Connector Type: Other
		Port Type: USB
Handle 0x0019
	DMI type 13, 22 bytes.
	BIOS Language Information
		Installable Languages: 3
			n|US|iso8859-1
			n|US|iso8859-1
			r|CA|iso8859-1
		Currently Installed Language: n|US|iso8859-1
Handle 0x001A
	DMI type 16, 15 bytes.
	Physical Memory Array
		Location: System Board Or Motherboard
		Use: System Memory
		Error Correction Type: None
		Maximum Capacity: 512 MB
		Error Information Handle: Not Provided
		Number Of Devices: 2
Handle 0x001B
	DMI type 17, 21 bytes.
	Memory Device
		Array Handle: 0x001A
		Error Information Handle: Not Provided
		Total Width: Unknown
		Data Width: Unknown
		Size: 256 MB
		Form Factor: DIMM
		Set: None
		Locator: A0
		Bank Locator: Bank0/1
		Type: Unknown
		Type Detail: None
Handle 0x001C
	DMI type 17, 21 bytes.
	Memory Device
		Array Handle: 0x001A
		Error Information Handle: Not Provided
		Total Width: Unknown
		Data Width: Unknown
		Size: No Module Installed
		Form Factor: DIMM
		Set: None
		Locator: A1
		Bank Locator: Bank2/3
		Type: Unknown
		Type Detail: None
Handle 0x001D
	DMI type 19, 15 bytes.
	Memory Array Mapped Address
		Starting Address: 0x00000000000
		Ending Address: 0x0000FFFFFFF
		Range Size: 256 MB
		Physical Array Handle: 0x001A
		Partition Width: 0
Handle 0x001E
	DMI type 20, 19 bytes.
	Memory Device Mapped Address
		Starting Address: 0x00000000000
		Ending Address: 0x0000FFFFFFF
		Range Size: 256 MB
		Physical Device Handle: 0x001B
		Memory Array Mapped Address Handle: 0x001D
		Partition Row Position: 1
Handle 0x001F
	DMI type 20, 19 bytes.
	Memory Device Mapped Address
		Starting Address: 0x00000000000
		Ending Address: 0x000000003FF
		Range Size: 1 kB
		Physical Device Handle: 0x001C
		Memory Array Mapped Address Handle: 0x001D
		Partition Row Position: 1
Handle 0x0020
	DMI type 32, 11 bytes.
	System Boot Information
		Status: No errors detected
Handle 0x0021
	DMI type 127, 4 bytes.
	End Of Table

The manufacturer name, Shuttle, never appears in this output (which is
not all that surprising, since I don't think Shuttle puts any chips on
the board that identify themselves as Shuttle-made (as opposed to VIA or
whoever), but the fact that I'm not surprised is irrelevant to solving
the problem :) ).

There certainly is a lot of useful information in this output, but it's not
necessarily the information needed (and certainly not all of the information
requested by the OP). So how would I, or the OP, use this utility
properly to answer the question, "What is the make (manufacturer) and
model number of my motherboard?" Or does it not answer that question fully?

Holly
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Re: [gentoo-user] how can i find out my motherboard?

[Dave Nebinger]

> There certainly is a lot of useful information in this output, but it's 
> not
> necessarily the information needed (and certainly not all of the 
> information
> requested by the OP). So how would I, or the OP, use this utility
> properly to answer the question, "What is the make (manufacturer) and
> model number of my motherboard?" Or does it not answer that question 
> fully?

The dmidecode utility dumps all of the DMI information available to the 
BIOS, so it is, in effect, the same thing as checking for the MOBO via the 
BIOS at system boot.

That said, it's important to note that your BIOS knows how to take the DMI 
information and display it in a format for the display at boot time.

So your bios automatically knows it's a shuttle, but the AK32 is used to 
show the exact MOBO revision.

That said, the bios must know to check another DMI value to determine 
whether it is the AK32A as opposed to a straight AK32 or some other 
revision.

On one of my servers, dmidecode produces:

# dmidecode 2.6
SMBIOS 2.3 present.
61 structures occupying 1735 bytes.
Table at 0x000EF130.
Handle 0x0000
 DMI type 0, 19 bytes.
 BIOS Information
  Vendor: IBM
  Version: PLKT44AUS
  Release Date: 02/13/2002
  Address: 0xF0000
  Runtime Size: 64 kB
  ROM Size: 256 kB
  Characteristics:
   ISA is supported
   PCI is supported
   PNP is supported
   APM is supported
   BIOS is upgradeable
   BIOS shadowing is allowed
   Boot from CD is supported
   Selectable boot is supported
   Japanese floppy for NEC 9800 1.2 MB is supported (int 13h)
   Japanese floppy for Toshiba 1.2 MB is supported (int 13h)
   5.25"/360 KB floppy services are supported (int 13h)
   5.25"/1.2 MB floppy services are supported (int 13h)
   3.5"/720 KB floppy services are supported (int 13h)
   3.5"/2.88 MB floppy services are supported (int 13h)
   Print screen service is supported (int 5h)
   8042 keyboard services are supported (int 9h)
   Serial services are supported (int 14h)
   Printer services are supported (int 17h)
   CGA/mono video services are supported (int 10h)
   ACPI is supported
   USB legacy is supported
   AGP is supported
   LS-120 boot is supported
   ATAPI Zip drive boot is supported
Handle 0x0001
 DMI type 1, 25 bytes.
 System Information
  Manufacturer: IBM
  Product Name: 686831U
  Version: Not Specified
  Serial Number: 23NN078
  UUID: 0036AB92-E6AD-2212-8B2C-CFF000D0B779
  Wake-up Type: Power Switch
Handle 0x0002
 DMI type 2, 8 bytes.
 Base Board Information
  Manufacturer: IBM
  Product Name: 686831U
  Version: Not Specified
  Serial Number: JNZNL0T7V8D

The difference in output is merely a reflection of what is stored in the 
DMI; in my case it happens to be a little more complete than yours.

Regardless, the tool provides the best opportunity to get the information 
w/o having to a) find the docs, b) open the box, or c) reboot to get into 
the BIOS.

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Re: [gentoo-user] how can i find out my motherboard?

[Mark Knecht]

On 9/9/05, Holly Bostick <motub@planet.nl> wrote:

> This looks quite the useful utility, but it doesn't seem to provide the
> requested information (or at least, not all of it, and what it does
> provide is difficult to recognize):
> 
> I know the make and model of my mobo; it's a Shuttle AK32A.
> 
> Let's see what dmidecode has to say:
> 
<SNIP>
> 
> The manufacturer name, Shuttle, never appears in this output (which is
> not all that surprising, since I don't think Shuttle puts any chips on
> the board that identify themselves as Shuttle-made (as opposed to VIA or
> whoever), but the fact that I'm not surprised is irrelevant to solving
> the problem :) ).
> 
> There certainly is a lot of useful information in this output, but it's not
> necessarily the information needed (and certainly not all of the information
> requested by the OP). So how would I, or the OP, use this utility
> properly to answer the question, "What is the make (manufacturer) and
> model number of my motherboard?" Or does it not answer that question fully?
> 
> Holly
> --
> gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
> 
> 

Hi Holly,
   This machine is a newish Asus A8N-E. Here's a trimmed version of what I see:

lightning ~ # dmidecode | more
# dmidecode 2.6
SMBIOS 2.3 present.
72 structures occupying 2042 bytes.
Table at 0x000F0000.
Handle 0x0000
        DMI type 0, 20 bytes.
        BIOS Information
                Vendor: Phoenix Technologies, LTD
                Version: ASUS A8N-E ACPI BIOS Revision 1005
                Release Date: 06/08/2005
                Address: 0xE0000
                Runtime Size: 128 kB


<SNIP>

Handle 0x0002
        DMI type 2, 8 bytes.
        Base Board Information
                Manufacturer: ASUSTeK Computer INC.
                Product Name: A8N-E
                Version: 2.XX
                Serial Number: 123456789000

So to me it appears to be SMBIOS dependent? 

- Mark

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Re: [gentoo-user] how can i find out my motherboard?

[Holly Bostick]

Mark Knecht schreef:
> On 9/9/05, Holly Bostick <motub@planet.nl> wrote:
> 
> 
>> This looks quite the useful utility, but it doesn't seem to provide
>> the requested information (or at least, not all of it, and what it
>> does provide is difficult to recognize):
>> 
>> I know the make and model of my mobo; it's a Shuttle AK32A.
>> 
>> Let's see what dmidecode has to say:
>> 
> 
> <SNIP>
> 
>> The manufacturer name, Shuttle, never appears in this output (which
>> is not all that surprising, since I don't think Shuttle puts any
>> chips on the board that identify themselves as Shuttle-made (as
>> opposed to VIA or whoever), but the fact that I'm not surprised is
>> irrelevant to solving the problem :) ).
>> 
>> There certainly is a lot of useful information in this output, but
>> it's not necessarily the information needed (and certainly not all
>> of the information requested by the OP). So how would I, or the OP,
>> use this utility properly to answer the question, "What is the make
>> (manufacturer) and model number of my motherboard?" Or does it not
>> answer that question fully?
>> 
>> Holly -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
>> 
>> 
> 
> 
> Hi Holly, This machine is a newish Asus A8N-E. Here's a trimmed
> version of what I see:
> 
> lightning ~ # dmidecode | more # dmidecode 2.6 SMBIOS 2.3 present. 72
> structures occupying 2042 bytes. Table at 0x000F0000. Handle 0x0000 
> DMI type 0, 20 bytes. BIOS Information Vendor: Phoenix Technologies,
> LTD Version: ASUS A8N-E ACPI BIOS Revision 1005 Release Date:
> 06/08/2005 Address: 0xE0000 Runtime Size: 128 kB
> 
> 
> <SNIP>
> 
> Handle 0x0002 DMI type 2, 8 bytes. Base Board Information 
> Manufacturer: ASUSTeK Computer INC. Product Name: A8N-E Version: 2.XX
>  Serial Number: 123456789000
> 
> So to me it appears to be SMBIOS dependent?
> 
> - Mark
> 

Yes, I think that's what I wanted to know; if my mobo is too old or too
dumb or too cheap to give the information, then you're not going to see
it based on this util.

Which seems to kinda suck, but not dmidecode's fault, obviously. But if
you've bought an off-the-rack box with a PCChips mobo (as so many
off-the-rack boxes have), I'm not sure that there's going to be another
way than 'the hard way' (since cheap mobos gotta get cheap somehow).

But hopefully it's just that my mobo is old (before such information
became really ubiquitous to be transmitted) and not that it's cheap and
corners have been cut (which would then be a concern to the OP).

Holly
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[gentoo-user] Re: how can i find out my motherboard?

[Mick]

Holly Bostick wrote:

[snip]
> But hopefully it's just that my mobo is old (before such information
> became really ubiquitous to be transmitted) and not that it's cheap and
> corners have been cut (which would then be a concern to the OP).
> 
> Holly

It's probably age related, but price/cost might have something to do with it
too.  I am using lshw (which like other similar utility applications also
includes dmidecode) and because I am running an antique ;-) I can see
rather limited info regarding my *cheap* and *old* mobo:
=================
]# lshw       
study1                    
    description: Computer
    width: 32 bits
  *-core
       description: Motherboard
       physical id: 0
     *-memory
          description: System memory
          physical id: 0
          size: 255MB
     *-cpu
          product: Pentium III (Coppermine)
          vendor: Intel Corp.
          physical id: 1
          bus info: cpu@0
          version: 6.8.1
          size: 600MHz
          width: 32 bits
          capabilities: fpu fpu_exception wp vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8
sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 mmx fxsr sse
        *-cache:0
             description: L1 cache
             physical id: 0
             size: 32KB
        *-cache:1
             description: L2 cache
             physical id: 1
             size: 256KB
=================

Further down it mentions VIA ApolloPro and I can get a more detailed idea of
my chipset, but still no idea which motherboard make or model this sample
of engineering is wearing.  Looking at the manual of the motherboard I see
three different part Nos on the front, so although I can noe guess the make
I am none the wiser of the exact model.  In cases like mine it may
unavoidable to open the PC case, which should take the whole lot of three
minutes (2 minutes looking for a screw driver and 1 minute undoing the
couple of screws :-)

Modern cases have thumb screw(s) and side access which makes the whole
exercise sooo easy, it may be well worth going for it.  The part/model Nos
on the circuit board is usually a dead give away.  However, if even partial
info is obtainable from dmicode, lshw, et al. then getting down and dirty
may not be necessary.  A bit of googling often reveals the rest, along with
latest BIOS patches, downloadable manuals, etc.  Personally, I would always
open the case (I'm curious like that), but understand that if the PC is in
the loft, your garage, or 100 miles away then that approach may not be an
option.
-- 
Regards,
Mick

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Re: [gentoo-user] how can i find out my motherboard?

[Norbert Kamenicky]

renna bud wrote:
> is there a command to let me know the name and model of my motherboard,
> without having to open my pc-case (or worse to find the manual and box
> in which it came) ? thanks


emerge lshw
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