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Open Task Manager to see the GPU in the Performance tab
By
Jeremy Laukkonen
Jeremy Laukkonen
Writer
- Shoreline Community College
Jeremy Laukkonen is automotive and tech writer for numerous major trade publications. When not researching and testing computers, game consoles or smartphones, he stays up-to-date on the myriad complex systems that power battery electric vehicles .
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Updated on October 9, 2023
Reviewed by
Jon Fisher
Reviewed byJon Fisher
- Wichita Technical Institute
Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA-certified technologist with more than 10 years of experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek.
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In This Article
View All
In This Article
- Use Device Manager
- Use Task Manager
- Use DirectX Diagnostic Tool
- Use Windows Settings
- Frequently Asked Questions
What to Know
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc, then go to Performance > GPU.
- You can also check in Device Manager, DirectX Diagnostic Tool, and Settings.
- Integrated cards are often listed as GPU 0, added cards as GPU 1.
This article explains how to find out what kind of graphics card or GPU you have on a Windows 11 computer, with instructions for desktops and laptops. Four methods exist: Device Manager, Task Manager, the DirectX Diagnostic Tool, and the Windows Settings app.
How to Check Your Graphics Card With Device Manager
The Windows 11 Device Manager provides a list of all the devices connected to your computer. It’s useful for checking the specifics of a device, like finding out what kind of graphics card you have, but you can also use it to update drivers, add new devices, remove devices, and more.
If you have both integrated graphics and a discrete graphics card, and you have multiple displays, use either the DirectX Diagnostic Tool or the Settings app (those directions are below) to see which GPU is connected to which display.
Here’s how to check your graphics card with Device Manager:
Open the Start menu, type Device Manager, and press Enter.
Double-click Display adapters, or press the > icon.
Your graphics card will be listed here.
If your computer has integrated graphics in addition to a discrete video card, you’ll see both listings. The graphics card will typically start with NVIDIA, GEFORCE, AMD, RADEON, etc.
How to Check Your Graphics Card With Task Manager
You can also check your graphics card with Task Manager. This utility allows you to see all of the currently open apps on your computer, check performance, and more.
Here’s how to check your graphics card with Task Manager:
Click the Start menu, type Task Manager, and press Enter.
There are lots of ways to open Task Manager, like with the Ctrl+Shift+Esc keyboard shortcut.
Select the Performance tab.
Click GPU.
Your computer will have multiple GPU entries if it has both integrated graphics and a discrete graphics card. The graphics card will typically be listed as GPU 1 in that case.
Your graphics card will be shown in the upper right corner of the window.
How to Check Your Graphics Card With DirectX Diagnostic Tool
The DirectX Diagnosis tool also allows you to check what graphics card you have, in addition to a lot of other handy information if you’re trying to diagnose a display or sound problem.
Here’s how to check your graphics card with dxdiag:
Click the Start menu, type dxdiag, and press Enter.
You might get a prompt asking if you want to check if the drivers are digitally signed. Just press Yes or No.
Select the first Display tab along the top.
Locate the Manufacturer field to see the manufacturer of the GPU powering the first display, and the Chip Type field to see the exact GPU you have.
If you have more than one display, click Display 2 to see information about the graphics card powering that display.
In the second display tab, locate the Manufacturer field to see the manufacturer of the GPU powering the second display, and the Chip Type field to see the exact graphics card powering that display.
If you have a second display and more than one GPU, the second display may be powered by a different GPU. In this example, the first display is powered by the computer's integrated graphics, while the second display is powered by an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3027 card.
How Do I Find Out What Kind of Graphics Card I Have Through Settings?
You can also find out what kind of graphics card you have through the Settings app. This doesn’t check the graphics card directly, but it does tell you what kind of graphics card is currently being used to power each of your displays.
Here’s how to find your graphics card in Windows 11 Settings:
Click the Start menu, type Settings, and press Enter.
Navigate to System > Display.
Select Advanced display.
Look for Display 1: Connected to to see what graphics card is powering that display.
If you have more than one monitor, select Display 1 in the upper right corner, choose Display 2, and then repeat Step 4 to view its details.
FAQ
How do I check the graphics card in Windows 10?
You can check your graphics card in Windows 10 through the Start menu. Search for System Information, and then go to Components > Display and look under Adapter Description.
How do I update a graphics card?
To replace your current graphics card with a newer model, first make sure you get one that's compatible with your PC, including the size, connection, and power requirements. The specific instructions can differ based on the model of your computer, but generally, you'll just open the tower, remove the current card from the PCI-e slot, and install the new one. Finally, install the graphics card drivers to your PC.
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