How do I see which video card is installed on my computer? The average PC user rarely needs to know what is “under the hood” of the system unit. With each new version of operating systems, service information is hidden deeper and deeper behind beautiful menus and new interfaces.
However, when repairing or replacing parts, it may be necessary to know which adapter model is inside.
Content
- 1In what cases knowledge of the characteristics of a video card is required
- 2Where and how to see which video card is used on the computer
- 1Using standard operating system tools
- 1.1Using the DirectX Diagnostic Tool
- 1.2Via device manager
- 1.3Through “Additional parameters” in the properties “Screen resolution”
- 2Using programs to view characteristics
- 2.1TechPowerUp GPU-Z
- 2.2CCleaner + Speccy
- 3Alternative programs
- 1Using standard operating system tools
When is knowledge of the characteristics of a video card required?
Most often, the characteristics of a video card need to be determined when repairing or replacing a computer. Knowing the model name will be useful when updating drivers or installing specific software.
Knowing the video card model is useful for gamers – every modern game comes with a list of recommended and minimum system requirements. If your map model fits into them, you can buy the game without fear that it will not start.
Overclockers and other tech enthusiasts are looking at specifications for benchmarking and overclocking. For these professionals, even small differences in chip revision can turn a great purchase into a waste of money.
Where and how to see which video card is used on the computer
The methods below will describe viewing the characteristics of a video system using the example of OS Windows 10, as the latest and most used operating system in the world. Methods of searching for data about a video card are almost identical for the entire modern line of Windows systems, from Vista to the top ten.
Using standard operating system tools
There are four fairly simple ways to determine the video card: through the dxdiag diagnostic system, using the device manager, in the properties of the video adapter and by the device ID, which can be recognized in several ways. These methods are not very convenient and will not provide comprehensive information about the graphics subsystem. But if all you need is the name of the video card, then standard tools will be the simplest solution to the problem.
Using the DirectX Diagnostic Tool
DxDiag, or DirectX Diagnostic Tool, is a standard Microsoft Windows component that works with a set of DirectX libraries. In it you can find basic testing tools and characteristics of multimedia subsystems (video card, sound, monitor).
The diagnostic system is started through the command line. Press Win + R and type dxdiag in the menu that appears.
Start window of the Windows built-in system for diagnostics of computer components DirectX
The required characteristics are located on the “Display” tab, on the “Device” panel. On the right – information about the DirectX library and installed drivers.
Here you can see not only data about the type of video card, but also the version of the installed drivers
The information appears only after the system detects the adapter, so if the driver is not installed successfully or if an outdated device is used, the name may not appear. Dxdiag may display incorrect data if you install a new video card with an outdated operating system and drivers.
Via device manager
Searching through the device manager is an easy way to quickly find out your graphics card model without unnecessary details. To open the window, right-click on the “This PC” icon, then click on “Manage”.
The easiest and fastest way to find out which video card is on your PC is device manager
The manager can be accessed by typing devmgmt.msc at the command line. To invoke the command line, press the Win + R keyboard shortcut.
The ability to use the command line is useful not only for determining the type of video card
Once inside, find the drop-down Video Adapters tab. If a video driver is already installed on the computer, then the device will be signed with its full name.
If the correct video drivers are installed, you will immediately see the model name of your video card
If the device is not signed, you can find out its belonging by the equipment ID. Right click on the video adapter and go to Properties – Details. In the window that appears, switch the “Property” selector to “Equipment ID”.
This is how you can determine the type of your video card, if the drivers are not yet installed, or outdated / incorrect ones are installed.
Then type in the ven and dev values on the devid.info/ru site, which will display the video card corresponding to the marking.
Through the “Advanced options” in the properties “Screen resolution”
In the third example, the command line is not needed, but you have to click the mouse a little. Right click on the desktop.
Clicking the right mouse button on the desktop will bring up such a menu
We pass by the NVIDIA control panel (which will appear if the drivers are installed correctly), and click on “Display Settings”.
In the “Display” menu, at the very bottom you will see the line “Graphics adapter properties”, here you go
Then go to the side menu item “Display” and click on “Properties of the graphics adapter”.
Here you will see all the data about your video card
Here you will find basic information about the video card, monitor and go through the “Properties” button in the menu with the hardware ID.
Using programs to view characteristics
Programs that collect and compose detailed information about the hardware are especially loved by overclockers – enthusiasts who are engaged in “overclocking” components in excess of factory limits. Due to a very large demand among both electronics hobbyists and professional testers, there are several excellent applications on the software market for viewing the characteristics of a video card.
TechPowerUp GPU-Z
Without exaggeration, a legendary program that has been improving for over a decade. Huge hardware base, work with temperature and voltage sensors, built-in logging system with writing to a file with a size of 5 megabytes. Works very quickly and on any hardware.
GPU-Z is a tool with which you can get complete information about the type and characteristics of your video card
The first tab shows basic information about the video card. Here you can find:
- model of the video card and its manufacturer;
- name and characteristics of the GPU;
- the amount of built-in video memory, its model and manufacturer;
- current frequency of the processor and video memory;
- number of shader and pixel chips, rendering speed;
- bus width and data transfer rate;
- version and release date of the driver, its digital signature;
- Availability of NVIDIA SLI, OpenGL, CUDA, PhysX and Direct Compute technologies.
Including information about the modes of operation of your video adapter at the moment
The second tab contains information on the load of the video card, fan speed, temperature, voltage and electricity consumption.
Advanced contains additional information such as video card BIOS settings or interaction with Direct / Vulcan libraries. The data here is for IT-professionals and advanced users, they will most likely not be useful to you.
Finally, in Validation, you can bind a specific version of the program to e-mail so that the user can confirm his data on the hardware at any time. Registration is optional, all the functionality of the program is available without it.
CCleaner + Speccy
This program is also many years old, but it specializes not in collecting information, but in clearing garbage data from the system.
Collecting your PC’s configuration data is not the main task for which CCleaner is designed. But, nevertheless, this information is available here
The program in the first window shows basic information about the computer: processor, RAM size, video card. For those who are not enough, Pinform has released a second product: Speccy.
Previously, Speccy was part of the CCleaner system as a data analysis utility for the system – CCleaner positioned itself as a working tool for a tester and a computer wizard, which fixes most problems without additional software. But over time, Speccy grew into something more, becoming a separate program.
All information about your system can be found using this program
By switching through the side menu, you can find detailed information about the operating system, main devices, peripherals and network. This is how the graphics page looks like:
As you can see, there is a lot of data on your graphics adapter here.
In general, both applications are quite convenient. CCleaner is useful for getting general information and cleaning garbage, Speccy – for collecting detailed data on hardware.
Alternative programs
Let’s take a quick look at the alternative software.
- The first on the list is the former leader in collecting statistical information about the computer, the AIDA64 program (formerly called Everest), which has been developed since 1995. Unfortunately, the developers spent too many resources on the fight against piracy and too little on development, which allowed competitors to catch up and largely overtake Aida. AIDA64 is distributed in shareware mode: 30 days for trial, then the program will stop working. Despite its partial payment and cumbersomeness, AIDA is one of the best programs for testing / collecting information about PCs, and definitely deserves our recommendation.
- 3DMark, a massive tester application for assessing the speed of a computer and comparing it with a benchmark. He will not only talk about the characteristics of the video card, but also show several scenes that are difficult for a computer, according to the results of which he will evaluate the performance. The free version allows you to run only in standard definition, the paid version adds testing modes and allows you to change settings.
- MSI Afterburner, Riva Tuner and NVIDIA Inspector, visually different programs with a similar purpose – changing the settings of the video card. These programs will make it possible not only to view the characteristics, but also to correct them by increasing the frequency of the video chip or turning off the fan. Remember – all configuration steps are carried out at your own peril and risk, and in the event of a breakdown of the board, you will be denied warranty repair. Each of the three programs provides excellent graphical logs of CPU / memory load and temperature, which allows you to check the card during operation.
- CPU-Z, the twin brother of the GPU-Z mentioned in the review, although it specializes in the central processor, will also show basic information about the video card. The application interface is absolutely identical to GPU-Z, corrected for the data for the CPU.
Before you search and download complex software products for collecting the parameters of a video card, decide why you need it. To replace a device with a new one, standard Windows tools and the world’s largest GPUBoss site will be enough. Enter the current video card in the left field, on the right – the desired one and get visual statistics on how much the new device will be better than the old one.
If the parameters of the card are needed for repair or overclocking, use more serious software like GPU-Z, Speccy or AIDA64. Make sure you are sure of what you are doing – it is very easy to burn a video card by accidentally turning off the fan on it, overestimating the voltage or raising the frequencies too high.