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Motherboard Identification

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by jasminder2

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How do I find the motherboard id on an HP computer that I purchased a couple of years ago. I purchased it from Wal-Mart, and it had the OS partitioned on it, no disks, and no info on any of the hardware that it was manufactured with. I need to id the motherboard so I know the max processor speed, and max memory capacity I can upgrade to.

13 replies

by oz_media

Before you go swapping or upgrading hardware, ensure that the system manufacturer supports it.

The best place to find such info is from the manufacturer. If the BIOS doesn't support the ew hardware you could be SOL. Some manufacturers, HO/Compaq included will custom write BIOS to check hardware on boot and foreign hardware (from their OWN OEM BIOS version) will not work.

If you are clear for upgrades (HO may supply other boxes with the same MOBO, check the specs o see what they are using on them) in which case Nelark will help.

You can also just pull the cover off the box and it is usually printed in 3/4" letters on it somewhere. ASUS etc. followed by model number.

by shockwave

for windows, try sisoft sandra 2005. u can get it on majorgeeks.com and search sandra. I think it's the best computer identification software around.

by jamesrl

has a plate on the back with a serial number and model number. Once you have that you can go onto HP's website and get the specific information - manuals etc.

I haven't seen any information about being able to upgrade the processor - and the BIOS doesn't have a manual setting for the processor either. The online manual did give me the information for RAM upgrades.

James

by jasminder2

James, When I called HP some time back, they told me that support for the specific computer was no longer avail since it was out of production. I haven't tried your method yet. I'll give it a shot.

by oldphart

If you have problems that may be solved with a bios upgrade you can go to http://www.esupport.com/biosagent/index.cfm?refererid=40.
They have a free scan program that will help you figgure out if a bios upgrade is necessary. you can also let a tech know what little things that you'r pc is doing. you will then recieve an e-mail with a toll free number to talk to a tech and he will make a recomendation. A bios download will cost about 65.00 and it may well be worth it.
As an aside the company used to be part ov Via and still does work on their systems bios's

by oz_media

HP often customizes the default BIOS fro the build, as do many OEM's to keep them proprietary. It is always better to use the BIOS from the site or archives.

If you post back with a model number I'll see if I can find the latest HP update for you. When they stop support, you can still get the last BIOS and driver updates, and the online manual (which is probably just buried in the archives) will tell which motherboard is in it.

You can just post the model number (and serial if you can find it on a sticker somewhere)or email it to me through my peer contact link if you prefer.

I'll dig around their archives abbit and see what's left.

by jamesrl

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericDocument?lc=en&cc=us&docname=bph06794

If your bios is like mine(later HP Pavillion), you are stuck with the processor you have. There is no option to work with another processor.

Your Maximum RAM is limited to 512, which frankly is a what I recommend for good operations of XP, especially if you take advantage of things in SP2 like the firewall. Its 2 slots of PC 133 SDRAM, so I would buy 2 256 MB DIMMs. If your comp has the original 128MB of RAM, no wonder its feeling slow.

James

by oz_media

Thanks to James, for picking up on it.

Sorry to Jas, I forgot I'd asked for it and wasn't tracking the thread close enough.

Hope you managed to get you answers.

OM

by jamesrl

I bought a refurbished HP myself last fall - HP logo on the front, but the model number not on the front name plate. I had to do what Jas did, go to the back and look at the plate.

It was I'd say a mixed experience.

Yes, you get a legal licensed copy of XP Home with it, but its HP's build(with SP1) and it is full of demoware, free software I don't want etc. Some of it I take pains to remove(Backweb for example). I have taken the liberty of creating a CD with SP2, and some basic tools so that if I have to system restore from scratch I don't have to download from the net all the tools I use - AVG, Spybot, Ad Aware, Open Office, Tweak UI etc. I highly recommend that for anyone with an HP system. I also recommend deleting any software you don't need, it speeds the system up alot to remove some of the drivers for the demoware.

Jas' HP doesn't have an AGP slot - mine does and I certainly wouldn't buy any computer without one(unless its got PCI Express). I also notice the low end Dells don't have an AGP slot. This may not be a big deal if you spend most of your time in a text processor, but if you watch the odd video, play a few games, adding even an inexpensive 3rd party AGP card will enhance the experience.

On the other hand I did get good value - for $500 Cdn I got a PC with a P4 processor(1.6 Mhz), 256 K RAM, 60 GB HD, XP Home, a CDRW, a DVD ROM and tons of software including XP home. When I look at the $429 Cdn Dell offering(Celeron, plain CD Rom, no DVD ROM) its a good deal, and the price on my HP has come down after Christmas.

James

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