Knowing the type of your graphics card is important for many situations. Whether you want to play the latest games or work with 3D graphics, you need to know what’s in your computer. This is why many people solve the question – how do I know what kind of graphics card I have. We’ll show you the quickest ways to find out. You don’t need any special knowledge. Anyone can do it.
Quick tips:
- For Windows: device manager, DirectX Diagnostic Tool or GPU-z
- For macOS: Internal Settings
- Third Party Tools: HWiNFO, Aida64, Speccy
- Online diagnostic tools: systemrequirementslab.com
- Physical check: Opening the PC cabinet
5 Methods to Detect a Windows Graphics Card
There are several easy ways to find out what graphics card you have directly in Windows without using other programs. If you want more comprehensive information it pays to install specialized programs. If you are looking for a bug or troubleshooting, you can also find out directly in the BIOS before Windows starts. Choose the method that suits you.
Method 1: Windows Device Manager
Device Manager is a basic Windows tool that we all have at our disposal. The process is simple:
- Press Windows X
2. Select “Device Manager”
3. Expand “Graphics Adapters”
Here you will see the name of your graphics card. For example, it can be a dedicated GPU like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 or AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, or an integrated graphics card like the one in the picture.
Method 2: Windows Task Manager
A similar simple procedure for quickly finding the GPU name as with Device Manager.
- Press Windows X
- Select “Device Manager”
- Expand “Graphics Adapters”
Method 3: DirectX Diagnostic Tool (dxdiag)
DirectX diagnostic tool for games and graphics. It will show you detailed information about the GPU.
- Press Windows R
- Type “dxdiag” and press Enter
- Go to the “View” tab
Here you will find all the details about your graphics card including:
- Manufacturer name
- Model
- Memory sizes
- Driver version
Method 4: GPU-Z
If that’s still not enough for you and you’re looking for full and comprehensive information about your graphics card, install GPU-Z.
- Download GPU-Z, it’s a free tool from Techpowerup.
- Run the program
- Check the“Graphics Card” tab
This program is useful if you need to know:
- The exact version of the chip
- Core and memory clock
- Graphics card temperature
- Fan power
Method 5: Detect GPU before Windows starts in BIOS
- Turn on the PC
- Enter the BIOS: After turning on the computer, press the designated key to enter the BIOS settings. This key is usually displayed on the screen during startup when the motherboard logo is displayed (most commonly Delete, F2, F10 or Esc depending on the motherboard).
3. Go to the “Advanced” or “Information” tab .
4. Check GPU details: in the BIOS you should find a list of hardware components, including your GPU. It may be listed as “Primary Display”, “Graphics Configuration” or “GPU”, depending on the BIOS version. The name of your GPU will be displayed along with its model.
Why check the GPU in the BIOS?
Checking the GPU in the BIOS is useful in cases where:
- The operating system does not display correctly.
- When troubleshooting or diagnosing hardware problems.
- You want to verify that the system detects your GPU before running Windows or another operating system.
With these steps, you can easily find out what GPU your PC has without having to boot the operating system.
How do I find out what graphics card I have? (macOS)
If you’re running macOS, there are a number of ways to do this, but they’re all equally simple:
- About This Mac:
- Click the Apple icon in the top menu.
- Select About This Mac.
- Go to the Display or Graphics tab.
- Activity Monitor:
- Open the Activity Monitor via Spotlight (Cmd Space, type “Activity Monitor”).
- Go to the Display tab for the current video card activity.
- System Messages:
- In the System Messages application, locate the “Hardware > Graphics” section.
Third party tools: HWiNFO, Aida64, Speccy
If you’re looking for more detailed information about your graphics card, third-party tools like HWiNFO, Aida64 and Speccy are excellent choices. These programs offer comprehensive information about the hardware in your PC, including your graphics card.
- HWiNFO: This free tool provides a detailed overview of your GPU, including chip specifications, temperature, fan speeds, and power consumption. Ideal for advanced users.
- Aida64: Professional software that offers detailed diagnostic tools for all PC components. Provides extensive reporting and testing capabilities.
- Speccy: A lightweight diagnostic program that quickly shows a successful detection of the graphics card, along with information about the CPU, memory and other components.
Using these tools is easy: download and install the program of your choice, run it and get all the necessary data in the section dedicated to the graphics card.
Online diagnostic tools
If you don’t have the desire or time to install software, you can use the online diagnostic tools directly in your web browser. One of the best options is systemrequirementslab.com.
- This tool allows you to verify that your graphics card (and other components) meet the requirements for a particular game or software.
- Simply visit the website, select the application or game you want, and allow the tool to analyze your device.
Systemrequirementslab.com is an easy way to get a quick overview of your graphics card’s capabilities.
Physical check: Opening the PC case
If you want to look at the graphics card directly, you can perform a physical inspection. This method is simple, but requires caution:
- Turn off the computer and unplug it: make sure the PC is switched off and unplugged before opening the cabinet.
- Open the case: Use a screwdriver to remove the side panel of the PC case. Each cabinet has a different design, but this is usually a simple procedure.
- Identifying the graphics card: You will find the graphics card connected to the PCIe slot on the motherboard. A logo or sticker with the model designation (e.g. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060) should be visible on the card itself.
- A note about cleanliness: During this check, you can also check the condition of the fans and the cleanliness of the components. If the enclosure is clogged with dust, it is recommended to clean it with compressed air.
A physical check is particularly handy if there are display problems or if you want to replace the graphics card. Caution and care when handling the hardware are key.
Why is it important to know what kind of graphics card you have?
Knowing your graphics card model will help you:
- Game optimization: make sure your card supports the requirements of your games.
- Upgrades.
- Troubleshoot.
- Software compatibility: Determine if your card supports features such as Ray Tracing.
What to do with graphics card information?
Use this information to:
- Checking system requirements for games
- Troubleshooting graphics problems
- Upgrade planning
- Optimizing performance