How to determine the motherboards

chipset.
Question:
How to determine the motherboards chipset.

Answer:
Manual
The manual is always going to be the quickest and easiest way to determine what chipset
your motherboard uses. If you have any documentation that came with your motherboard
it is recommended you first refer to that documentation.
Windows Identification
If you are looking for the chipset of the motherboard and are running Microsoft Windows
95, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000, or Windows XP you can find the chipset
information under the 'System devices' category in Device Manager. The chipset of the
motherboard will likely be ALI, AMD, Intel, NVidia, VIA, or SIS. However, this
information will only be seen if the chipset drivers are installed in the computer properly.
Note: If you are attempting to identify your chipset because you need to install drivers
for the chipset often a motherboard and/or computer will come with a CD that has the
proper chipset drivers on it. If you do not have a CD that will install these drivers you
will need to continue to the next step to identify the chipset and download the chipset
drivers from our motherboard page.
Motherboard identification
If you do not have any product documentation the next best method of determining the
type of chipset the motherboard has is to identify the type of motherboard installed in the
computer. Additional information about how to identify the motherboard can be found on
document CH000504. Once the motherboard and model of motherboard has been
identified you can visit the motherboard manufacturers page for online documentation or
a software utility to determine the chipset. A listing of motherboard manufacturers can be
found on our motherboard links section.

Additional information:
• See our dictionary chipset definition for additional information about chipsets as
well a listing of chipsets.

• See our motherboard driver page for a listing of motherboard drivers and chipset
drivers.
 • See document CH000504 for determining the type of motherboard in the
computer.

Computer motherboard links

LOCAL DESCRIPTION
BIOS Listing of computer BIOS manufacturers and links.
Section of our site that contains a basic explanation about the computer
Computer bus bus as well as a listing of computer bus speeds. Page includes ISA, PCI,
AGP and other computer bus information.
Motherboard Local support information and help about computer motherboards.
THIRD-PARTY DESCRIPTION
An excellent site containing detailed information on all motherboard
Form factors.org
form factors.
A fantastic site that contains extensive information about computer
Motherboards.org
motherboards.
PCI Database A great listing of PCI vendors and vendor ID's.
PCI Special Interest Group page which contains extensive information
PCISIG
about the PCI bus.
COMPANIES DESCRIPTION
Abit Abit company information.
Acer Acer company information.
Adex Electronics Adex Electronics company information.
Albatron Albatron company information.
Amptron Amptron company information.
AOpen AOpen company information.
Asrock Asrock company information.
Asus Asus or ASUSTeK company information.
Biostar Biostar company information.
Chaintech Chaintech company information.
DFI DFI company information.
ECS ECS company information.
Epox Epox company information.
FIC FIC company information.
Foxconn Foxconn company information.
Gemlight Gemlight company information.
General Standards General standards company information.
Gigabyte Gigabyte company information.
Intel Intel company information.
Iwill Iwill company information.
Leadtek Leadtek company information.
Matsonic Matsonic company information.
Micro-Star company information. Manufacturer of computer
Micro-Star
motherboards.
MSI MSI company information. Manufacturer of computer motherboards.
PCChips PCChips Bit 3 company information.
Sapphire Technology Sapphire Technology company information.
SBS Bit 3 SBS Bit 3 company information.
SBS Technologies SBS technologies company information.
Shuttle Shuttle company information.
Soltek Soltek company information.
Soyo Soyo company information.
Supermicro Supermicro company information.
Systran Systran company information.
Tundra Tundra company information.
Tyan Tyan company information.
XFX XFXcompany information.