How to Check Your PC Specs Before You Buy or Install a Game

Before you buy a game or start a big download, it helps to know what is inside your PC. This guide shows three built in ways to find your processor, memory, graphics card and Windows version, and a simple way to compare them with a game's requirements. Everything here uses tools that come with Windows.

Method 1: Settings (fast, but basic)

1. Open the Settings app from the Start menu.
2. Under System, scroll down and select About.
3. Read the processor model and the installed RAM.
4. Below that, check the Windows specifications for your version and build.

This page shows your CPU, memory and Windows version. It does not tell you which graphics card you have, so use the next method for that.

Method 2: DxDiag (best for the graphics card)

DxDiag is the DirectX Diagnostic Tool. Microsoft describes it as a tool that collects device information to help troubleshoot DirectX sound and video problems.

1. Type dxdiag in the search box on the taskbar and select it from the results.
2. The first time, it may ask whether to check that your drivers are digitally signed. Microsoft recommends answering Yes.
3. On the System tab you can see the Windows version and build, the processor and the RAM, and Microsoft points to this tab for the DirectX version.
4. On the Display tab you can see the graphics card name, its memory and the driver version. If your PC has more than one graphics chip, you may see more than one Display tab.

If you need to share your setup in a forum or with support, select Save All Information in DxDiag to create a file that is easy to send.

Method 3: System Information (more detail)

1. Type System Information in the Start menu search. If it does not appear, look in Windows Tools under All apps.
2. The System Summary opens first. It shows the processor, its number of cores and logical processors, and the RAM.
3. Open Components in the left menu. Display shows the graphics card, and Storage shows your drives.

Compare your specs with a game's requirements

1. Open the game's store page and find its system requirements. Most pages list a minimum and a recommended level.
2. Write down the key lines: processor, RAM, graphics card, storage and Windows version.
3. Compare them with what you found. Meeting the minimum means the game should start, not that it will run smoothly at high settings.
4. Check the storage line too. Our guide on how much RAM you need for gaming explains why memory matters, and choosing a graphics card by resolution helps if your card is the weak spot.
5. If you are not sure whether your CPU or GPU limits you, read CPU or GPU bottleneck.

Common mistakes

• Reading only the RAM and forgetting the graphics card.
• Comparing the minimum requirement with the recommended one and assuming both are the same.
• Using an old driver. Update it safely with our guide on how to update graphics drivers safely.
• Forgetting that laptops can have two graphics chips, a small one and a stronger one. DxDiag can show more than one.

Quick checklist

• Settings, System, About for CPU, RAM and Windows version.
• DxDiag Display tab for the graphics card and driver.
• System Information for storage and more detail.
• Save the DxDiag report if you need help from support.
• Compare each line with the game's requirements before you buy.