How to identify the CPU (processor) or the motherboard of your PC?

When you have a computer about which you don’t know much, either because it’s salvaged or because you bought it second-hand, there are 3 ways to determine what the model of processor, motherboard, graphics card, memory, etc.

• Method N°1 : Find the serial number of the PC and go to the manufacturer’s website for detailed specs.
• Method N°2 : Take your best screwdriver and disassemble the machine to inspect the components.
• And the method N°3 which is my favorite: Using a little software!

How to identify the processor of a machine under Windows 11?

So under Windows 10 or Windows 11, the ultimate reference for this kind of thing is obviously CPU-Z. It is therefore a free software that will allow you to recover lots of information about the main components of your Windows PC, namely the name, number, code name, cache levels and I going to your processor.

Also all the information about the motherboard, with its chipset, brand, model, etc.

Without forgetting then the type of RAM memory present, with the size of the bars, the specifications reported by the SPD module, etc. as well as all the information concerning the graphics card present in your computer.

To download CPU-Z for Windows, go here on the official website.

How to identify the motherboard of a Linux PC?

In Linux, there is a CPU-Z clone called… CPU-X.

Hey yes, there’s an idea. Everything is almost identical in terms of interface and the open source application brings back detailed information on the type of processors you have, on the brand, model and socket of the motherboard, without forgetting the data concerning the RAM modules or the graphics card as well as the version of the Linux OS in place.

That’s wonderful ! And it works on Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, FreeBSD…etc. Everything is detailed on the project’s Github page, but to install it on Ubuntu / Debian or Mint, just open a terminal and type the following command:

sudo apt install cpu-x

Then launch the application with the command:

cpu-x

And There you go. If you’re used to using CPU-Z, you won’t be out of place with the CPU-X interface.

Download CPU-X for Linux here.

Good discovery of your gear to all!