How to Identify BIOS Chip on Motherboard?

This article discusses various methods you can use to identify the BIOS chip on your motherboard, provide step-by-step instructions for each method, and explain why it’s crucial. By the end of this post, you should better understand how to identify BIOS chip on motherboard. Let’s get started!

Key Takeaways

• Knowing the location and type of BIOS chip on your motherboard is crucial for hardware troubleshooting.
• Identifying potential issues and upgrading the BIOS chip can be made easier by locating and identifying the chip accurately.
• There are various methods available to locate and identify the BIOS chip, and following these methods can lead to a successful identification process.

Identifying BIOS chip on motherboard: Methods here

There are several methods by which you can identify the BIOS chip on the motherboard. They are described below: 

Method 1: Manually Look for the BIOS Chip

Step 1: Near motherboard’s center

• The BIOS chip is usually located near the center of the motherboard and is typically square, although some have rectangular shapes.

• The chip can vary in size but will generally be between 8-20mm wide and 8-20mm tall. It will have a specific model number printed on it.

• Additionally, you may find the version of the BIOS installed on your system and other information about the BIOS written on the chip itself.

Step 2: Near the other components.

• If you’re having trouble locating the chip, look for other components on the motherboard, such as the RAM slots, CPU sockets, or expansion slots.

• These components are often clustered around the BIOS chip, so if you see one of them, you should be able to spot the chip nearby.

Step 3: Retrieve the chip’s information.

• Once you’ve found the BIOS chip, you can use the information printed on it to check your BIOS’s version and model number.

• You can then compare this information to what’s listed in your documentation to ensure it’s the right one for your system.

Method 2: Check the Documentation

One way to identify the BIOS chip on your motherboard is to check your system documentation. Depending on the type of motherboard you have, the documentation may contain a detailed diagram of the components in the system. This should help you quickly identify the BIOS chip and its location.

In some cases, the documentation may even provide a list of all the hardware components that are included in your system, which can help you easily find the BIOS chip. Some documents may also provide specifications for your motherboard, including information on the type of BIOS chip it uses.

Finally, if your system comes with a driver CD or manual, you can also refer to that. The documentation usually contains a detailed motherboard diagram, which should enable you to locate the BIOS chip quickly. It may also include a list of all the components, including the BIOS chip, that is present in the system.

Method 5: Use System Information

One way to identify a BIOS chip on your motherboard is to use System Information. This built-in tool available on Windows can help you find out the details of your computer’s hardware, including the BIOS chip. The steps for this method are as follows: 

Step 1: Access the System Information.

• Click the Start button to open System Information.

• Type “System Information” in the search box and press Enter.

Step 2: Look for BIOS information.

• When the window opens, look for “BIOS Version/Date” in the System Summary section.

• This will tell you what version and date of the BIOS chip is installed on your motherboard.

Note: You can also use System Information to look for other information about your BIOS chip. For example, you can find out which company manufactured the chip and its model number. To do this, open System Information > select Components from the left pane > System Devices from the list > look for entries labeled as “BIOS” or “Embedded Controller”.

Method 4: Use the Command Prompt

If you’re a Windows user, you can use the Command Prompt to identify your BIOS chip. The steps for this method include as follow:

Step 1: Access the command prompt.

• To do this, open the Command Prompt by pressing the Windows + R keys and typing “cmd” in the search box.

• Then type in the following command: wmic baseboard get product,Manufacturer,version,serialnumber

Step 2: Identify the BIOS chip.

This command will list the motherboard model, manufacturer, version, and the serial number of your system. It will also provide information on the BIOS chip used on your motherboard. Look for the word “BIOS” followed by a version number to determine which BIOS chip is used on your motherboard.

Method 3: Use a Hardware Identification Tool

A hardware identification tool lets you quickly identify any BIOS chip on your motherboard. Most hardware identification tools are available as part of a third-party application. These applications usually provide detailed information about all the components in your system. In addition to identifying the BIOS chip, they can also identify other vital components such as your CPU, RAM, hard drive, and more. The steps include as follows: 

Step 1: Download Hardware Identification tools.

• Select a tool you want to choose for the process; many are available, like Atera, NinjaOne, HWMonitor, Open Hardware Monitor, etc.

• Next, go to the official website, download the software, and install the application.

Note: It’s important to note that some hardware identification tools may require you to pay a fee before you can use them. However, most of the tools available are free and provide all the information you need in just a few minutes.

Step 2: Scan and identify.

• The next step is to run the scan to get a full report of all the components in your system.

• Find the motherboard’s BIOS chips information from the report, identify its model, and note the information.

How to Update Your BIOS Version?

Updating your BIOS chip is critical to maintaining a reliable and secure computer system. By updating the BIOS, you can ensure that your computer is running the latest versions of system files and programs and take advantage of new features or bug fixes.

• Before you start, make sure that you have downloaded the correct version of the BIOS update for your motherboard model. You can find this information by searching online or by consulting the manufacturer’s website. It is essential to read the instructions included in the download package before proceeding with the update.

• The actual update process will vary depending on your motherboard model, so you should refer to the specific instructions provided by the manufacturer. In general, however, the process involves creating a bootable USB drive containing the BIOS update files, plugging it into your computer, restarting it, and following the on-screen instructions to complete the update.

• Once you have completed the update process, it is important to check that the update was successful. This can be done by entering the BIOS setup menu and ensuring that all the updated settings are in place. You can do so in the same menu if any changes need to be made.

Note: It is also recommended to check for any firmware updates for other components in your computer, such as your graphics card or hard drive. By ensuring all of your components are running the most recent versions of their firmware, you can ensure that your computer is running optimally and securely.