It is a good idea to know which graphics card your computer has for various reasons. First, it will help to make sure that your computer meets the recommended specifications needed to play games or run applications. It is also useful if you want to keep your drivers up to date or upgrade.
The process of figuring out which graphics card (GPU) you have inside your computer is easy, but it depends on the operating system you are using. The steps to be done on Windows 10 are not the same as macOS 10.15 Catalina (and earlier). Also, the path to finding more information about your graphics card is likely to pop out again, depending on the card manufacturer. For example, AMD and Nvidia based graphics cards use their own apps for managing options. However, for the purposes of this method, I ignore the ones that prefer a few steps that are quicker and easier to follow.
What graphics card does Windows 10 PC have?
There are many ways to figure this out, but the quickest and easiest way to see what you're using for graphics is to open Device Manager, a utility built into Windows that lists all the components inside your computer. This is useful regardless of whether you're using a dedicated GPU (a standalone component that only handles graphics for your computer) or whether your PC processor provides integrated graphics. Some CPUs can handle graphics processing even without a GPU.
- Press the Windows + X keys on your keyboard, then select "Device Manager" from the popup window. Alternatively, press the Windows key, then type “device manager” and press Enter when prompted as you type.
- Find the section called “Display Adapters” and double-click on it to display what your PC uses for graphics.
In my case, I show the Nvidia RTX 2070 graphics card. If you're using integrated graphics (the graphics feature built into most CPUs, not all CPUs), it's also shown here and you'll see "Intel UHD Graphics" or something similar. The exact name may be related to the Intel CPU generation you are using. If you're using an AMD processor that supports integrated graphics, you'll see that here.
- For more information about your graphics card or integrated graphics, such as the driver you are using and the date it was installed, simply double-click on what appears under "Display Adapters". A window with multiple tabs appears. Click the "Driver" option to find the driver details.
What graphics card is on your Mac?
If you're using a Mac, the process of finding the internal graphics you're using is the same and very easy, whether it's a laptop or a desktop.
- Click on the Apple logo on the top left of your monitor, then click on “About this Mac”
- When the window opens, it is actually done. Just near the bottom of this window, just above the serial number, you will see what your computer is using for graphics. In my case, my work laptop uses Intel's Iris Plus Graphics 645.
- For more information on the graphics settings for macOS, click on “System Report…” just below the serial number in the “About this Mac” view. When you arrive, find "Graphics / Display" in the left panel and click on it.
Some Mac computers have a dedicated graphics chip in addition to the integrated graphics provided by the processor. You can view all options using the System Report Utility.
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