The marking N1996 on an MSI motherboard is not a specific model number. Instead, it is an ACA supplier code indicating that the product is compliant with Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) standards and can be legally sold in Australia.
Because this code appears on a wide variety of MSI motherboards, graphics cards, and optical drives produced over several decades, there is no single "MSI N1996" manual or specification set. How to Find Your Actual Motherboard Model
To find the correct manual and technical specifications, you must identify the specific MSI model number (often formatted as MS-XXXX):
On the Board: Look for text printed directly on the PCB, typically between the expansion (PCI/PCIe) slots or near the RAM slots (e.g., MS-7336 VER:1.0).
Sticker Labels: Check for a small barcode sticker on the side of the 24-pin power connector or on the BIOS chip.
Software Method: If the computer is functional, use the Windows System Information tool (type msinfo32 in the search bar) and look for BaseBoard Product. Common Older Motherboards with N1996 Markings
If you have an older system (circa 2000s–early 2010s), the N1996 mark is frequently seen on these specific types of boards: User Manual for N1996 L-A690 Motherboard
By 2021 standards, the MSI N1996 is obsolete for daily computing, but excellent for:
By 2021, the N1996 motherboard was technologically obsolete, but still had niche uses:
Use the method in Section 1 to find the "MS-xxxx" number.
The marking N1996 on an MSI motherboard is not a specific model number. Instead, it is an ACA supplier code indicating that the product is compliant with Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) standards and can be legally sold in Australia.
Because this code appears on a wide variety of MSI motherboards, graphics cards, and optical drives produced over several decades, there is no single "MSI N1996" manual or specification set. How to Find Your Actual Motherboard Model
To find the correct manual and technical specifications, you must identify the specific MSI model number (often formatted as MS-XXXX): The marking N1996 on an MSI motherboard is
On the Board: Look for text printed directly on the PCB, typically between the expansion (PCI/PCIe) slots or near the RAM slots (e.g., MS-7336 VER:1.0).
Sticker Labels: Check for a small barcode sticker on the side of the 24-pin power connector or on the BIOS chip. 2021 Relevance: Can You Still Use This Board
Software Method: If the computer is functional, use the Windows System Information tool (type msinfo32 in the search bar) and look for BaseBoard Product. Common Older Motherboards with N1996 Markings
If you have an older system (circa 2000s–early 2010s), the N1996 mark is frequently seen on these specific types of boards: User Manual for N1996 L-A690 Motherboard Retro Gaming (Windows XP/98): Perfect for games from
By 2021 standards, the MSI N1996 is obsolete for daily computing, but excellent for:
By 2021, the N1996 motherboard was technologically obsolete, but still had niche uses:
Use the method in Section 1 to find the "MS-xxxx" number.