Today's motherboard chipsets are as complex as computer processors once were.
In a computer, the "chipset" refers to the set of integrated circuits that control the communication between the different devices inside the machine. For example, the processor and video card. The chipset may also determine certain computer specifications such as the processor and memory types that can be used, or certain expansion cards that can be installed. Identify the chipset of your Dell laptop to learn more about its capabilities and limitations.
Instructions
Finding a Laptop Chipset with the Dell Support Website
1. Browse to the Dell support website using the link in the "Resources" section of this article. Click the "Start Here" button under "Support for Home Users" on the left side of the window.
2. Click the "Drivers and Downloads" link, then click "Select Model" in the window that appears.
3. Click "Laptops," then click the product line that your laptop belongs to (e.g., "XPS") and the model number (e.g., "M1210"). If you do not know the model number of your laptop, look for an emblem near the keyboard or a sticker on the bottom of the unit. Click "Confirm" after selecting the model.
4. Click the "Manuals" link on the left side of the screen, then click the "Get Manual" button.
5. Select your preferred language, then click the link to view or download the user's guide for your computer. Look for a chapter in the manual titled "Specifications" to locate the chipset for your laptop, such as "Mobile Intel 945 GM Express." If you are unable to locate this information in the user's guide for your computer or cannot find the user's guide, continue to Section 2 or 3 to learn find the chipset of your laptop with free utilities.
Finding a Laptop Chipset with PC Wizard
6. Browse to the PC Wizard website using the second link in the "Resources" section of this article and click the "ZIP package" download link.
7. Extract the file to the location of your choice and run it by launching the program "PC Wizard.exe."
8. Examine the results shown in the PC Wizard after the program scans your system. The chipset is displayed under "System Summary" near the top of the window (e.g., "Intel i945PM").
Finding a Laptop Chipset with the Intel Chipset Identification Utility
9. Download the Intel Chipset Identification Utility using the third link in the "Resources" section of this article. Run "ChipUtil.exe" to launch the utility.
10. Click the "Update" button at the bottom of the window if you receive an error stating that the utility is unable to identify all of the components in your computer.
11. Examine the results displayed after the Intel Chipset Identification utility is finished updating. The chipset is displayed at the top of the window (e.g., "Intel 440 chipset family").
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