How to Find Motherboard Model On Windows 10 [Updated 2021]
Posted by Julia Werner •
How to Find Hardware Details Ubuntu GUI?
Everybody checks their computer’s hardware details from time to time. These details include information about RAM, processor, motherboard, GPU, and much more. Through this information, we can gauge how strong a computer is, what kind of drivers it needs, and its configuration. Hardware details are essential knowledge for a computer user; therefore, we will be discussing the best 5 GUI tools you can use to view them.
Hardinfo
Hardinfo is one of the best GUI tools designed for displaying hardware details. It is also known as a system benchmark tool that performs hardware analysis and generates reports. A long, vertical list of hardware items is displayed on the left, from where you can select which one you would like to analyze. All you have to do is simply click on the unit of your choice, and its details will be revealed. An overview of your entire system can be viewed through the Summary entry. Hardinfo generates reports in HTML and allows you to compare your system with other ones through the help of its benchmark tools located at the bottom.
Now, let’s come to the installation of Hardinfo. In Linux Mint, it comes preinstalled. However, for other distributions, all you need is a simple command to get this awesome tool. Open up a new Terminal window either through the sidebar or hit Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard. Next, please type in the following command and run it.
$ sudo apt-get install hardinfo
You will need to have the Universe repository enabled, so if you do not have it, run the command below.
$ sudo apt-add-repository universe
If you are on Fedora, run the command below.
$ sudo yum install hardinfo
Here is the package for openSUSE and here for Arch Linux.
And with that done, you should have installed Hardinfo successfully. The next step is to start using it. Run it by typing hardinfo in the terminal, and a new instance of the program should pop up.
You can go to the Summary tab to see a short breakdown of your whole computer.
As you can see, Hardinfo is a comprehensive tool that detects all of your devices and peripherals. Furthermore, you can perform comparison tests and generate reports of your system. Feel free to play around with this tool, as there definitely is a lot to explore.
I-Nex
Next on our list is I-Nex, perhaps the best Linux alternative to CPU-Z. Its UI and style are very similar to CPU-Z, and we are sure you’d enjoy it. Let’s see what it has to offer.
I-Nex displays your hardware details in a very refined manner. Each major hardware device has its own tab. These tabs contain relevant information about their respective hardware units, such as name, manufacturer, model, drivers, and more. Using I-Nex, you can create customizable reports on your computer and take screenshots as well. Furthermore, you can also find operating system details (distribution, version, X.Org version, GCC version, and much more).
Run the commands given below in the specified order to install I-Nex on Ubuntu, Debian, or Linux Mint.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:i-nex-development-team / stable
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install i-nex
Arch Linux, openSUSE, and Manjaro users can visit this link to find their installation methods.
Lshw-gtk
Lshw is popularly known to be a command-line tool; however, this is its graphical version. It has a very simple-looking user interface, but it packs a mean punch in terms of functionality. The hardware details it displays are extensive and convincingly comprehensive; therefore, you can check every nook and cranny of your computer through Lshw-gtk.
On startup, you may see a blank window. You can fix that by simply clicking the Refresh button. The Save button will let you export the report of your system. Furthermore, Lshw-gtk supports exporting options with HTML, plain text, and XML.
You can install this handy system information tool by running the command below.
$ sudo apt install lshw-gtk
Fedora users can install this utility by running the following command.
$ sudo yum install lshw-gui
KInfoCenter
KInfoCenter, also known as KDE Information Center, comes as a part of the KDE environment. The good thing, however, is that it is available for install on other desktops as well. Through KInfoCenter, you can get information about PCI, USB devices, network interfaces, IO ports, XServer, in addition to the main hardware components of the computer. This utility may already be installed on your computer if you run a KDE Environment on your Linux system. Either way, we will provide you with the installation instructions nonetheless.
Ubuntu or Linux Mint users can get KInfoCenter by running the command below.
$ sudo apt install kinfocenter
Fedora users should run the following command.
$ sudo yum install kinfocenter
If you are on Arch Linux, click here to download KInfoCenter.
Once the installation is finished, run the program by entering kinfocenter in the Terminal.
Sysinfo
Among all the heavy-lifters here on this list, Sysinfo is a frail but daring rival. Sysinfo is a lot more lightweight than the other utilities mentioned here. As promised, it is GUI-based, but it does not show a whole lot of system information. If you are a casual user who does not bother looking at all the ins and outs of their computer but still requires a hardware info tool, Sysinfo is your best bet.
It is simple and smart, and most importantly, it gets the job done.
Conclusion
In this article, we went over the 5 best GUI hardware details tools out there. We saw which ones had the most impressive features and extensive functionality. Finally, we also considered a lightweight option for casual users.
Sol-20 Terminal Computer — The MagPi magazine
Michael’s home is full of Raspberry Pi computers performing tasks from NAS to OctoPrint server and RetroPie games arcade, so it seemed obvious to use our favourite single board computer for his Sol-20 project. He chose a Raspberry Pi 4 because he needed “the horsepower it provides to run the emulator at speeds comparable to the original Sol-20”. He also realised the GPIO ports and option to use a variety of HATs – particularly the voltage shifter module – made Raspberry Pi a great choice for this build.
In the end, the project took around four months to complete, and cost roughly US $550.
Computer love
Michael wanted his Sol-20 reproduction to be “as authentic-looking as possible, with the beautiful walnut sides for sure”. He’d always admired the original computer’s striking steel blue sides too, but chose to 3D-print the case for his version, pointing out that also makes it easier and cheaper for anyone else following in his retro build footsteps.
Raspberry Pi came into its own when it came to the software written for Sol-20. Recreating the motherboard to do this and populating it with vintage parts would have been prohibitively expensive, Michael explains. Raspberry Pi runs code that emulates the 8080 CPU at the heart of the Sol-20. “On top of this, it emulates the original hardware providing a display via the HDMI port and a virtual cassette interface for loading and saving programs.” Michael used Python to write the Sol-20 hardware emulation software on top of an existing 8080 emulator that he found on GitHub.
His Sol-20 emulator can be run on Raspberry Pi 4 with a standard keyboard and display, but another Sol-20 fan had recreated a keytronic version of the original keyboard and Michael couldn’t resist!
Screenwise, he bought a Pimoroni PIM372 8in XGA display. The full build details and hardware list can be found here.
New tricks
With detailed documentation about the computer he was trying to recreate available online, Michael says the Sol-20 project went smoothly. As a retro computer build veteran, he was able to apply lessons learned from previous projects such as the KENBAK-2/5 and DEC VT100 Terminal, both of which we’ve featured in The MagPi. However, he also challenged himself, learning how to use a CNC machine at his local maker space in order to recreate the Sol-20’s “gorgeous” walnut side panels.
If you’re thinking of your own reproduction of a classic, Michael warns you need to be prepared to be in it for the long haul. “Don’t start unless you are passionate about the idea,” he cautions, before enthusing: “Break the project up into smaller pieces that can be finished in a relatively short time. Keep plugging away at it. Have fun!”
For further information on Sol-20 Terminal Computer, Michael recommends visiting where you’ll also find Solace (SolAnachronistic Computer Emulation), a Windows version of Sol’s interface.
How to Find Motherboard Model On Windows 10 [Updated 2021]
Whether you are looking for updating drivers, checking hardware compatibility, or simply want to know for information, it is very easy to find out the motherboard model number without having to take apart your desktop computer or laptop.
There is no need to crack open the casing of your device to check this small detail because you can simply do so from within your operating system. In this article, we take a look at how you can find out the motherboard model on Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems.
Why would you want to know the motherboard model?
There are some situations where you will need to know the motherboard model of your computer system. For instance, when you wish to upgrade the drivers on your computer, it is essential that you know the motherboard model of your device.
Similarly, when you wish to buy new hardware for your system, you will need to know what hardware is your motherboard capable of supporting (information such as the expansion slots available and the memory DIMMS can be obtained from the motherboard model).
Now that you know exactly why is it important to know the model number of your motherboard, let us take a look at how you can find out this important specification on the various operating systems out there.
Read also: How to Find Your IP Address
For Windows 11
How to Find Motherboard Model in Windows 11
If you are comfortable with using the Windows Command Prompt (commonly abbreviated as cmd), then you will be easily able to check a variety of hardware specifications of your system, including the motherboard model. There is a handy tool by the name of WIMC (Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line) that enables you to check your system’s stats.
With the WMIC interface combined with the baseboard query, you can check the basic motherboard specs and combine them with additional information such as Name, Part Number, Model, Manufacturer, Slot Layout, etc. In this guide, we will be checking the motherboard’s manufacturer and model number. Here are the steps that you need to follow for checking the motherboard model number on Windows:
Press Win + R on the keyboard to open up the Run Dialog.
Type in “cmd” without the quotation marks and press Enter.
Enter the command line:
wmic baseboard to get the product, manufacturer
This will return information about your motherboard. The product tab will give you the information about the model number of your motherboard.
An alternative to this method is to look up the information through the “System Information” tool available on Windows. To use this method, follow these steps:
Press Win + R on the keyboard to open up the Run Dialog.
Type in “msinfo32” without the quotation marks and press Enter. This will open up the System Information tool.
Here, look for the specification next to “BaseBoard Model” – this is the model number of your motherboard.
How to Check PC Specs From System Properties in Windows 11
To view PC specs on Windows 11, this is the most frequent approach used by most users since it is simple. To test using this technique, follow these steps:
To begin, click the This PC icon on your desktop and then choose Properties.
This will show a window with your computer’s basic information. Here, you may see the Windows 11 OS version, the system processor, installed memory (RAM), system type (32 or 64-bit OS), computer name, windows activation status, and much more.
How to Check PC Specs From Settings in Windows 11
This is the second approach for checking PC or laptop specifications on Windows 11.
Click the Start button and then choose Settings or right-click on Start button and select System
Select System, then About from the list of options. It will display a window with your device’s information.
Here, the specifications include the name of the device, CPU, RAM installed on it, device ID, product ID, system type, and touch screen information.
You can also view the Windows specifications from here, such as edition and version.
How to Check PC Specs From CMD in Windows 11
You can also check your computer’s specifications using the command prompt tool.
To use a command prompt, you must first open a command prompt window. To do this, press Window Key + R to bring up the RUN window.
In the window, type “cmd” and hit Enter.
You may also start the command prompt window by clicking on the start button and searching for “command prompt”. After the command prompt appears in search results, right-click and choose Run as administrator.
Type “systeminfo” at the command prompt and press Enter.
You’ll see your computer’s hardware specifications in the command window itself.
How to Check PC Specs From Dxdiag in Windows 11
The RUN window may also be used to check the specs of a personal computer or laptop, as long as you can find it. Follow these steps:
Press Window Key + R and t ype the following command, then press Enter: “dxdiag” to display the system information window.
dxdiag
You can find out a lot more about your computer this way than the other methods described here.
How to Check PC Specs From PowerShell in Windows 11
In Windows 11, you may also use PowerShell to look at the system information.
Click the Start button and type PowerShell into the search bar.
Choose the PowerShell icon from the search result and run it as administrator.
The command line interface of PowerShell is shown in blue. Type Get-ComputerInfo and then hit Enter.
Get-ComputerInfo
When you run the command, the entire computer specifications will be displayed in the PowerShell interface itself.
For Mac
We all know how secretive Apple is about its hardware specifications and the Mac is no exception to this rule. While there is no way to directly access the stats and specs (such as the motherboard model number) on the Mac, there is a workaround which will tell you quite a lot about your system.
The logic boards that are used on Macs are tired of the model or the serial number of the Mac itself. If you simply key in your iMac serial number on this website, you can learn lots of information about your particular Mac system.
However, for this, you need to know about the serial number of your Mac. To find this detail, click on the Apple icon on the left of your menu bar and select the option for “About This Mac’. Now, double click on the “version” to obtain the serial number for your machine.
Once you have the serial number of your Mac system, just enter it into the website that we mentioned above, and you will be able to preview the information about your Mac (including motherboard number, available card slots, etc.)
Read also: How to Choose The Best Laptop For Music Production
For Linux
Just like Windows, there is a dedicated System Information tool in Linux – Ubuntu that goes by the name HardInfo. You can easily preview all the specifications related to your system, including the motherboard model number using this tool.
To access it, you can search for the hardinfo package in the Software Center, or you can open it via the Command Line. To open hardinfo from the Command Line, follow these simple steps:
Open the Dash by clicking on the Ubuntu icon on the upper left of your screen, type in “Terminal” and press Enter. Or, press Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard to open the Command Line. Once the terminal is open, enter the command below and press Enter to open up the HardInfo tool.
sudo apt-get install hardinfo
Once you have the System Information tool open on Linux, you can preview the motherboard manufacturer and model by navigating to the Device -> DMI page from within the tool.
Alternatively, you can use third-party tools such as GPU-G or Ishw-gtk to preview information about your system on Ubuntu as well. You will need to download them from their websites and install them on your system so that you can preview the information related to your motherboard.
FAQs About Motherboard
What is the main use of a motherboard?
A motherboard is an important electronic component of a computer system. It provides the connections and interfaces necessary to relate external devices with the CPU, memory, and other components on the board.
Do motherboards come with a CPU?
Motherboards do not come with CPUs. The CPU is a separate component that is usually purchased separately.
What are the different types of motherboards?
There are two main types of motherboards: a desktop motherboard and a server motherboard. A desktop motherboard is a general one that is suitable for personal computer use, while a server motherboard is best for business or industrial purposes.
What does Form Factor mean in the motherboard?
Form factor refers to the physical dimensions of a motherboard. It is best seen as the shape of the board to best fit into a case. The most common form factors include ATX and Micro-ATX for desktop computer purposes and industrial sizes such as AT, BTX, and LPX for industrial purposes.
Conclusion
The motherboard model number of your computer is a very important specification that will tell you a great deal about your system. If you are looking to update your system drivers or are looking to upgrade your system’s hardware soon, then you will need to know the motherboard model number of your computer.
However, while you can always open up your computer’s case to look at the motherboard model, it is not the most feasible way of achieving this task. Operating systems such as Windows, Mac, and Linux have built-in tools for providing you with this information.
In this article, we have highlighted exactly how you can make use of these utilities for finding out the motherboard specifications of your computer system.
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