Your graphics card or GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) is one of the most important components of your PC. It handles all the complex graphical computations and renders the images and videos that you see on your monitor. Identifying your exact GPU model is important to determine compatibility with games, VR headsets, video editing software, and for troubleshooting performance issues.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to check and identify the make, model, and specifications of the GPU in your Windows PC.
Table of Contents
Check GPU in Task Manager
The quickest way to see your GPU name and model is through the Task Manager:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
- Go to the Performance tab
- Expand the GPU section
You will see the name, manufacturer, dedicated GPU memory, encoder/decoder usage etc.
Task Manager GPU
Identify GPU in DXDIAG
DXDIAG is a detailed system information tool that shows complete GPU details:
- Press Windows key + R
- Type dxdiag and press Enter
- Go to the Display tab
Under the Device section, you can see the GPU name, manufacturer, approximate total memory, supported APIs like DirectX and OpenGL etc.
Check GPU in Device Manager
The Device Manager displays all hardware devices in your PC:
- Right click the start menu and select Device Manager
- Expand Display adapters
- Double click on the GPU device
Go to the Details tab and select Hardware Ids from the property dropdown. The PCI device ID uniquely identifies your exact GPU model.
See GPU Details in System Information
The inbuilt System Information app shows graphics card information:
- Type msinfo32 in search and open System Information
- Go to Components > Display
You can see the GPU name, memory size, driver version etc. here.
Identify GPU Using Third-Party Apps
Apps like GPU-Z and HWiNFO can show you every little detail about your graphics card:
- GPU architecture, codename
- Manufacturing process
- Exact model number
- Clock speeds, interface, bus type
- Display outputs, DirectX support
- BIOS version, release date
- Sensors for temperature, fan speeds etc.
These specialized apps give you far more technical information from the GPU hardware itself compared to the basic Windows utilities.
Check GPU Compatibility for Games
Once you have identified your graphics card model, you can check its gaming performance and compatibility:
- Search for your GPU + the game name
- See benchmark fps scores across various resolutions
- Verify if your GPU meets minimum/recommended system requirements
- Check for known issues with game drivers or optimization
This will give you realistic performance expectations and save you from surprises or disappointments.
When Facing GPU Identification Issues
In some cases, you may face difficulties identifying the GPU model:
- No GPU drivers installed initially
- Old or incorrect drivers causing conflicts
- Using integrated graphics instead of discrete GPU
- Multiple GPUs in a system
Here are some things you can try:
- Update to the latest GPU drivers from Nvidia/AMD
- Set your preferred GPU for applications in Windows settings
- Reseat the graphics card and check PCIe power connections
- Clear CMOS to reset BIOS (advanced troubleshooting)
Getting the correct GPU information is vital for choosing the right software and settings. I hope this guide has helped you easily check and identify the exact make and model of the graphics card in your Windows PC. Let me know if you have any other questions!
