If you want to play the best PC games on your rig, knowing what graphics card you have is crucial information. After all, a GPU released ten years ago will not be able to run graphically demanding modern titles. Knowing which GPU you have makes it easier to see if your rig meets the minimum requirements for a game. But how do you know which graphics card you have?
This might seem like a silly question if you’re tech-savvy, but it can be a real conundrum. Heck, there was a time when I had to research this question myself! There are always new people getting into PC gaming for the first time, so a question like this will always be relevant.
Read on for our step-by-step guide to determining which graphics card you have.
How to check which GPU you have
Determining which graphics card you have is not that difficult. There are three common ways to find your PC’s graphics card in Windows, which we’ll detail below. Note that although we are using Windows 11 for this tutorial, the same methods apply to Windows 10.
How to check which GPU you have in Device Manager
1. Open the start menu. If you’re using Windows 11, the Start menu is in the center of the taskbar. On Windows 10, it’s on the far left. Note that all of the following methods start with opening the Start menu – the quickest way to do this is usually to just press the Windows key on your keyboard.
2. Type “Device Manager” and press Enter. You’ll see an option at the top for display adapters.
3. Click the drop down arrow under Display Adapters to see the name of your GPU listed. As you can see I have an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti.
How to check which GPU you have in Task Manager
1. Open the Start menu and type “Task Manager” in the search bar. Click on it.
2. Select performance tab at the top of the window. Select “More details” if you don’t see the tabs.
3. Click GPU to see the GPU model and brand in the right corner.
1. Open the start menu and type “dxdiag” in the search bar.
2. Press Enter to open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool. This brings up several tabs at the top of the window. Click Show.
3. Search for “Manufacturer” and “Chip type” to see your GPU.
How to Check Which GPU You Have in Windows Settings
1. Open the Start menu, type “Settings” and press Enter. This brings up Windows Settings.
2. Click on “System” and then on “Display”. Display is usually the first option listed. On Windows 10, you’ll probably already see its settings when you click on it.
3. Scroll down under “Multiple displays” in Windows 10 or “Related settings” in Windows 11. Select “Advanced View”.
4. You will see your GPU listed under “View Information”.
For more Windows tips, check out our guide to upgrading to Windows 11 from Windows 10 if you’re ready for Microsoft’s latest operating system. Also be sure to read how to speed up the Windows 11 room, as well as how to set up multiple desktops in Windows 11.
