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

[Mick <michaelkintzios@lycos.co.uk>]

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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