If you want to upgrade the RAM in your desktop PC, or if you need to download a BIOS update to fix a crashing issue, you must know the exact make and model of your motherboard. You cannot just guess, and “ASUS” or “Gigabyte” is not specific enough.
If you bought a pre-built computer, or if you threw away the original motherboard box years ago, you don’t need to physically open the computer case and use a flashlight to read the microscopic text printed on the circuit board. You can safely extract the exact manufacturer and model name directly from the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) database.
How to Safely Extract the Windows 11 Full Motherboard Model Name
You must use the Command Prompt to query the “baseboard” hardware definitions.
- Click the Start button, type cmd, and press Enter to launch the Command Prompt.
- You must type a highly specific WMI command to extract just the manufacturer and product name. Carefully type the following exact command:
wmic baseboard get product,Manufacturer - Press Enter.
The terminal will instantly output two columns of text. Under “Manufacturer,” it will list the brand (e.g., ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.). Under “Product,” it will list the highly specific model name (e.g., PRIME B450M-A II).
You can now take that exact “Product” string, copy it, and paste it into Google. This will take you directly to the manufacturer’s official support page for your specific board, allowing you to safely download the correct BIOS update or look up the exact type of DDR4 or DDR5 RAM you need to buy for a successful upgrade.