Motherboard Identification

[Howard]

I'm wanting to find out what motherboard I've got in my server.

CPU-Z can only tell me that the model is "8363-686A".. No manufacturer or anything. Searching on google brings up so many results from different manufacturers that it's a bit difficult to wade through.

It's a Socket A motherboard with a VIA KT133 chipset incase that's any use.

Thanks.

[Spritzup]

I had the same problem, I used SiSoft Sandra to help identify the motherboard. It at least narrowed my search down from what CPU-Z told me.

[directhex]

8363-686A kinda narrows it down to... almost every KT133 board made, unfortunately

try sandra.

really the best way in my experience involves a screwdriver & a torch

[Howard]

Didn't think of Sandra! Lol.

According to that it's a VT8363. Which again doesn't narrow it down much. I looked on the board before I built the PC and I couldn't find any identification.

[XTR]

8363 North Bridge

could be anything?

[Howard]

Just had another look. No ID on the motherboard or anything. All I can see is a "Year 2000 compliant" label, and the green northbridge heatsink has what looks like the SiS logo on it.

Edit: It's not the SiS logo, but it's a kind of S-shaped logo. Lol.

[Rabs]

Can you take a picture of the board and post it? Also of the BIOS screen when it boots (showing CPU, Ram etc).

Hopefully we may be able to shed some light on it then.

[Howard]

Took the best photos I could. It's impossible to get a good full shot of the mobo due to the size of the case and stuff in there. Server is in use so I can't take it apart or reboot or anything.

[Rabs]

Sorry to be a pain, can you tell me what it says on the bios chip?

[Spritzup]

Hey that looks like my parents old ASUS board....

[Howard]

To see what it says on the chip would require me to spend another 10 minutes taking it apart, again. Lol. I'm pretty sure it didn't say anything relevant to the ID of the board. Anything I can tell you from Sisoft Sandra?

[Rabs]

I have a hunch its a chaintech board, with the BIOS info that may confirm it.

[Rabs]

yeah do a screen grab from the motherboard section and post

Or take a picture of the bios screen when the machine boots (from cold not a restart).

[Howard]

Ok I went inside it and wrote down what it says on the BIOS chip sticker. (More effort than you might think!! )

It says:

7AJA0* - E100A
CTG9831-1 V3.0
08/31/2000 DA3A


* - That might be 7A5AO or something.. Can't read my own writing!!

[Rabs]

Chaintech print the model number on the bios chip on there motherboards, from what I can make out from your photos, it looks like 7AJA which is chaintech KT133 based board. There are multiple revisions on this board but everything (BIOS, Manual, Drivers) can be obtained below. However I would open the case again to double check before downloading and flashing the BIOS. Good luck.

EDIT: just seen your new post as I was writing this one (via email notification). The links below are correct

BIOS: http://www.chaintech.com.tw:8008/AP/...sp?model=7AJA0

Manual: http://www.chaintech.com.tw:8008/FIL...NUAL/7aja0.exe

For drivers use winxp's own and d/l the latest Via 4n1 driver pack (dont install the IDE driver though - causes nothing but bother IMHO).

EDIT: linkage for above - http://downloads.viaarena.com/driver...4IN1_V451v.zip

[Howard]

Nice one. That is one damn slow server though. Lol.
How the hell did you read that text from my photos? Lol.

I'll have a look on the net for info on the board