Identifying a Motherboard from the Award BIOS String
When I turned on a fairly old PC, I received a memory test fail error as the
system started the boot process. I opened the system to look for the
motherboard model number, but couldn't find one, though I saw
"
Matsonic" stamped on the motherboard.
Since the system displayed the BIOS string at the bottom of the screen,
I thought I should be able to identify the motherboard model from that
string. The information displayed on the screen is shown below.
Award Modular BIOS v4.51PG, An Energy Star Ally
Copyright (C) 1984-97, Award Software, Inc.
Release 04/30/1998 S
PENTIUM-S CPU at 133MHz
Memory Test: 90112K OK
Award Plug and Play BIOS Extension v1.0A
Copyright (C) 1997, Award Software, Inc.
Detecting HDD Primary Master None
Memory test fail
Press F1 to continue, DEL to enter SETUP
04/30/98-537+UMC8670F-2A5LDH09C-00
The BIOS string is in the last line. I know Award is the BIOS manufacturer,
since I see "Award Plug and Play BIOS". The second to last group of dash
separated characters, "2A5LDH09C" should hopefully identify the motherboard
model. The interpretation of the BIOS string is as follows:
04/30/98-537+UMC8670F-2A5LDH09C-00
mm/dd/yy - the BIOS date in the form of month/date/year
For newer BIOS releases, you may see mm/dd/yyyy. In this case, the BIOS date is
April 30, 1998.
The next group of characters after the first dash is usually used by
the manufacturer for chipset and I/O name. In this case, I see
"537+UMC8670F"
2A5LDH09C - the next group of dash separated characters can be interpreted as
follows.
| 1st Character |
2nd Character |
3rd Character |
4th Character |
5th Character |
6th Character1 |
7th and 8th Characters |
9th and 10th Characters |
| BIOS Application |
Bus System / Topology |
CPU Type |
Chipset Manufacturer |
Chipset Name |
Flash Identifier
(optional) |
Manufacturer Code |
Model ID |
| 1 |
BIOS before v4.2 |
| 2 |
EliteBIOS v4.5x (commonly known as Award Modular BIOS 4.51PG) |
| 3 |
PowerBIOS v5.0 (Software on floppy disk) |
| 4 |
CardWare PCMCIA |
| 5 |
CAMPliant SCSI |
| 6 |
Medallion BIOS v6.00 |
| 7 |
Socket services |
| 8 |
Card services |
| 9 |
OEM card manufacturing kit |
|
1 - ISA
2 - PS/2
3 - EISA Video
4 - Other
5 - EISA / ISA
6 - SCSI
7 - PCMCIA
8 - SCSI / CAM
9 - SCSI / CAMkit
A - ISA / PCI
B - EISA / PC
C - ISA / PM
D - EISA / PM
E - PCI / PnP
|
1 - 8086 / 8088
2 - 80286
3 - 80386
4 - 80486
5 - Pentium class
6 - Pentium II/III class OR Cyrix 386
7 - Cyrix 486
8 - 386SL
9 - 386SX
A - 42
B - 80C51SL
E - EGA
U - Universal
V - VGA
|
1 - ALD
3 - Cyrix
5 - ST Micro
6 - ATI Tech
9 - Intel
D - HiNT
G - VLSI
H - Contaq
I - SiS
J - Symphony [Winbond]
K - Acer Labs Inc ALi
L - VIA
O - EFAR
R - Forex
S - AMD
T - ACC Micro
U - OPTi
V - SARC
X - UMC
|
Only useful with
chipset manufacturer
(
see complete listing ) |
| i |
Intel 12V |
| s |
SST 5V Flash ROM |
|
| A0 |
ASUSTeK Computer Inc. (Formerly Aorta
Systems |
| A1 |
ABIT Computer Corp. |
| A2 |
A-Trend Technology Co., Ltd. |
| A3 |
Aquarius Systems, Inc. (ASI) |
| A5 |
AXIOM Technology Co., Ltd. |
| A7 |
AVT Industrial Ltd. |
| A8 |
Adcom |
| AB |
Aopen Inc. |
| AD |
Amaquest Computer Corp. |
| AK |
Advantech Co., Ltd. |
| AM |
ACHME |
| AT |
ASK Technology Ltd. |
| AX |
Achitec |
| B0 |
Biostar Microtech Corp. |
| B1 |
BEK-Tronic Technology |
| B2 |
Boser Technology Co., Ltd. |
| B3 | BCM Advanced Research |
| BK |
Albatron Computer Corp. |
| C0 |
Chaintech Computer Co.,
Ltd. |
| C1 |
Clevo Co. |
| C2 |
Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd. |
| C3 | Chaintech
Computer Co., Ltd. |
| C5 |
Chaplet Systems
Inc.
|
| C9 |
CompuTrend Systems, Inc. |
| CF |
Flagpoint |
| CS |
CSS Laboratories |
| CV |
California Graphics USA
Distribution |
| D0 |
DataExpert Corp. |
| D1 | DTK Computer, Inc. (Advance
Creative Computer) |
| D2 |
Digital Equipment Corp. (Purchased by
Compaq) |
| D3 |
American Digicom Corp. |
| D4 |
Diamond Flower
Electric Instrument Co. |
| D7 |
Daewoo Telecom |
| D8 |
Nature
Worldwide Technology Corp. |
| DE |
Dual Technology
Corp. |
| DI |
Domex Computer
Services (DTC) |
| DJ |
Darter
Technology Inc. |
| DL |
Delta Electronics,
Inc. |
| E1 |
Elitegroup
Computer Co., Ltd. |
| E3 |
EFA Corp. |
| E4 |
ESPCo (Elite
Spirit Co., Ltd.) |
| E6 |
Elonex
PLC |
| EC |
ENPC Technology
Corp. |
| EO |
Evalue
Technology Inc. |
| F0 |
First
International Computer, Inc. |
| F1 |
Flytech
Group International |
| F2 |
Flexus
Computer Technology Inc. |
| F3 |
Full Yes
Industrial Corp. |
| F5 |
FuguTech |
| F8 |
Formosa
Industrial Computing, Inc. |
| F9 |
Ford Lian
International Ltd. |
| FG |
Fastfame
Technology Co., Ltd. |
| G0 |
Gigabyte
Technology Co., Ltd. |
| G3 |
Gemlight
Computer Ltd. |
| G5 |
GVC
Corp. |
| G9 |
Global Circuit
Technology |
| G9 |
C.P.
Technology Co. Ltd. |
| GA |
Giantec
Inc. |
| GE |
Globe Legate Co. Ltd |
| H0 |
PC Chips
Manufacturing2 (Hsing Tech) |
| H2 |
Shuttle
Computer Group Inc. (Holco) |
| HH |
HighTech
Information System |
| HJ |
Sono Computer Co., Ltd. |
| I3 |
Iwill
Corp. |
| I4 |
Inventa |
| I5 |
Informtech International Ltd.
|
| I7 |
Inlog
Microsystem Co Ltd |
| I9 |
ICP |
| IC |
Inventec Corp. |
| IE |
Industrial
Technology Research Institute |
| J1 |
Jetway
Information Co. Ltd. |
| J1 |
J-Mark Computer
Corp. |
| J2 |
Jamicon Electronics |
| J3 |
J-Bond |
| J4 |
Jetta
International Inc. |
| J6 |
Joss
Technology Ltd. |
| K0 |
Kapok Corp. |
| K1 |
Kaimei Corp. |
| KF |
KINPO
Electronic |
| L1 |
Lucky
Star Technology Co., Ltd. |
| L7 |
Lanner
Electronics Inc. |
| L9 |
Lucky Tiger |
| LB |
Leadtek |
| M0 |
Matra |
| M2 |
MyComp |
| M3 |
Mitac |
| M4 |
Micro-Star
International Co., Ltd. |
| M8 |
Mustek
Corp. |
| M9 |
Micro Leader Enterprises |
| MH |
Macrotek |
| MP |
Maxtium
Computer Corp. |
| N0 |
Nexcom |
| N5 |
NEC |
| NM |
NMC |
| NX |
Nexar |
| O0 |
Ocean Office
Automation Ltd. |
| P1 |
PC Chips |
| P6 |
Protech |
| P8 |
AZZA Technology Inc. |
| P9 |
Powertech |
| PA |
EPoX Computer Co., Ltd. |
| PC |
Pine Technology |
| PF |
President (Formerly Wang Labs) |
| PK |
ALD Technology Ltd. |
| PN |
Procomp Informatics Ltd. |
| PR |
Super Grace Electronics Ltd. |
| PS |
Palmax |
| PX |
Pionix |
| Q0 |
Quanta |
| Q1 |
QDI (Quantum Designs Ltd.) |
| R0 |
Rise Computer Inc. |
| R2 |
Rectron |
| R3 |
Datavan International Corp. |
| R9 |
RSAP Technology |
| RA |
RioWorks Solutions Inc. |
| S2 |
Soyo Computer Inc. |
| S3 |
Smart D&M Technology Co.,
Ltd. |
| S5 |
Holco Enterprise Co., Ltd. |
| S9 |
Spring Circle Computer Inc. |
| SA |
Seanix |
| SC |
Sukjung (Auhua Electronics Co.
Ltd.)
|
| SE |
New Tech |
| SH |
Luckytech Technology Co.
Ltd. |
| SJ |
Sowah (H.K.) Limited |
| SM |
Hope Vision, SuperPower, San Li |
| SN |
Soltek |
| SW |
S&D |
| SX |
Super Micro Computer, Inc. |
| T0 |
Twinhead |
| T4 |
Taken |
| T5 |
Tyan Computer Corp. |
| T6 |
Trigem |
| TB |
Taeli
(Techmedia) |
| TG |
Tekram |
| TJ |
Totem Technology Co., Ltd. |
| TL |
Transcend Information, Inc. |
| TP |
Taiwan Commate Computer Inc. |
| TR |
Top Star |
| TW |
T&W Electronics (CZ) Co., Ltd. |
| TX |
Tsann Kuen Enterprise Co., Ltd.
(EUPA Computer) |
| TY |
Aeton Technology Inc. |
| U0 |
U-Board |
| U1 |
Universal Scientific Industrial |
| U2 |
UHC Advanced
Integration
Research |
| U3 |
Umax |
| U4 |
Unicorn Computer
Corp. |
| U6 |
Unitron |
| U9 |
Warp Speed Ink. |
| V3 |
VTech (PC Partner Ltd.) |
| V5 |
Vision Top |
| V6 |
Vobis |
| V7 |
YKM (Dayton Micron) |
| W0 |
WinTechnologies (Edom) |
| W1 |
Well Join Industry Co., Ltd. |
| W5 |
Winco Electronics |
| W7 |
Win Lan Enterprise |
| W9 |
Weal Union Development Ltd. |
| XA |
ADLink Technology Inc. |
| X3 |
ACORP International |
| X5 |
Arima Computer Corp. |
| Y2 |
Yamashita Engineering Manuf., Inc. |
| Z1 |
Zida Technologies Ltd. |
| Z3 |
ShenZhen Zeling
Industrial Co., Ltd. |
|
Manufacturer specific |
1 This character may not be
present. If you don't see an "i" or "s" in the 6th position, then
the next two characters represent the manufacturer code.
2
PC Chips is just an OEM distributor for
Hsing Tech.
The last group of digits, which in the case of the string
"04/30/98-537+UMC8670F-2A5LDH09C-00" is "00", specify the BIOS
version with "00" representing the initial release.
If I look up the chipset code
2A5LD, I see it corresponds to the VIA Apollo VPX (VXPro+) chipset. And I do see a
Via chip next to the Award BIOS chip on the motherboard. The H0 after 2A5LD
identifies the motherboard manufacturer as
PC Chips, a distributor for
Hsing Tech.
At the
Plasma Online website, I see that the Matsonic MS-5120 motherboard uses a
VXPro+ chipset and is identical to the PC Chips M537DMA33 motherboard, so
now I may be able to find a manual at the website for one of those companies
which will tell me the maximum amount of memory the motherboard will support.
I went to the Matsonic website first.
This company does a poor job of technical support. Not only didn't they
put the model number on the motherboard, they don't provide any on-line manuals
and I couldn't find any information at all on the site for the MS-5120
motherboard.
So I then went to the USA website for PC Chips at
http://www.pcchipsusa.com.
Fortunately, this company provides a
manual for the
M537D motherboard at
http://www.pcchipsusa.com/support-discontinued-manuals.asp. However,
that manual doesn't match my motherboard, since the USB connector on
my motherboard isn't between the ISA and PCI slots as depicted in the manual,
nor do the Via chip numbers shown in the manual match the numbers on the
ones on my motherboard.
Fortunately, a
Google search did provide a link to a site with
Matsonic
manuals. The manual
for the MS-5120 motherboard indicates it can handle a maximum of 384 MB of
memory. The manual states SIMM 3,4 and DIMM1 can not be use at the same
time.
References:
-
IC Book
-
ID HW
[/pc/hardware/motherboard]
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