HOW TO IDENTIFY A MOTHERBOARD ?

When examining a motherboard, look for the following clues to properly identify the board:

MOTHERBOARD

•    Look for the CPU chip (i.e., 8088, 80286, 80386, etc.). This is the biggest single clue.

•    Look at the bus connectors:

                                             if there are only 8-bit connectors, it is an XT-class (8088 based) motherboard. If there are 8-bit and 16-bit bus connectors, it is an AT-class motherboard (at least an 80286-based motherboard). If there are lightbrown bus connectors that look sort of like 16-bit connectors, it's probably an EISA bus motherboard (with an 80386DX or higher CPU). If there is a small brown connector at the end of a 16-bit bus connector, that would be a VESA Local-bus (32-bit) connector. If there is a small white bus connector on the board, that would be a PCI (32/64-bit) local bus connector. These are found on 80486 and Pentium-class motherboards.


•    '386 computers use that provides room for more memory on the motherboard. Many manufacturers use proprietary devices on their motherboards that won't work on motherboards built by other companies

How to Replace the System Unit Cover

The computer should automatically detect the new card and attempt to install the device drivers needed to communicate with the card. Windows should prompt you to install the software needed to allow the card to communicate to the computer.

Replace  The System Unit Cover 

                                            

The new card should have come with a CD-Rom with device drivers and other software for the card. Simply inserted the CD-Rom in the CD-Rom drive and select the CD-Rom installation when prompted.

Test the new sound card by re-booting the computer. You should hear the Windows startup sound if the card is operational. In some cases, the new card will be operational without rebooting your computer.

Installing or upgrading your sound card is that easy. You will need a quality speaker system to take full advantage of your new sound card. Get a speaker system with a super woofer for maximum sound quality.

Those new games and your new music CD-Rom will be much more exciting with that new sound bursting from the new sound card. If you're blessed enough to have two computers, install the card in the other system, at your convenience. This will give you the added training of installing computer components.