A chassis identification system is described which enables a motherboard in a computer system to identify a type of chassis in which the motherboard is installed. This chassis identification system is composed of a motherboard, a set of conductive fastener mounts on the motherboard, and a sensing circuit on the motherboard that is coupled to the set of conductive fastener mounts. The set of conductive fastener mounts on the motherboard are configured to accommodate different patterns of conductive fasteners which are associated with different types of chassis. Moreover, the sensing circuit on the motherboard is configured to generate a chassis identifier based on a pattern of the conductive fasteners on the chassis.