Your graphics card (GPU) handles all visual rendering in Windows 10 — knowing which one you have is essential for installing the right drivers and checking game or software compatibility.
Windows 10 includes several built-in tools to identify your GPU. This guide covers six methods, from the quick Device Manager lookup to the detailed DirectX Diagnostic Tool.
Quick Answer
Open Device Manager from the Start menu, expand Display adapters — your graphics card name appears immediately without needing to open any additional settings or run any commands.
How to Check Your Graphics Card in Windows 10
Method 1: Check via Device Manager
Open Device Manager from the Start menu (or press Win+X and select it), then expand the Display adapters section — all installed graphics cards appear listed directly under it.
Note: Device Manager only shows a graphics card if its drivers are installed. A card with missing drivers appears under Other devices instead of Display adapters.
Method 2: Check via the System Information App
The System Information app shows detailed hardware specs including GPU memory, driver version, and resolution. Search for System Information in the Start menu to open it.
In the left pane, expand Components and select Display — the right pane shows the graphics card name, adapter RAM, driver version, and driver date all in one place.
Method 3: Check via the Settings App
Press Win+I to open Settings, navigate to System ? Display ? Advanced display settings — this shows the name of the GPU currently driving your active monitor at the top.
Method 4: Check via Task Manager
Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager, click the Performance tab, then select GPU from the left pane — the GPU name appears at the top right of the panel.
Task Manager is also useful beyond just identifying the GPU — it shows real-time GPU utilization, VRAM usage, temperature (on some systems), and which processes are using the GPU.
Method 5: Check via Command Prompt or PowerShell
Open Command Prompt or PowerShell and run the following command — it returns the name of all installed graphics cards without opening any GUI tools or navigating any menus.
wmic path win32_VideoController get name
Method 6: Check via the DirectX Diagnostic Tool
Search for dxdiag in the Start menu and open it. The DirectX Diagnostic Tool shows the GPU name, video memory, driver version, and DirectX feature levels in a single window.
Select the Display tab for an integrated GPU or Render / Display 2 for a dedicated GPU — this is especially useful for laptops that switch between two GPUs.
When to Use Each Method
Use Device Manager for the fastest GPU name lookup. Use Task Manager when you also want to see real-time GPU load and VRAM usage while a game or application is running.
Use dxdiag when you need driver version and DirectX feature level details — useful for troubleshooting game launch errors that report DirectX or driver incompatibilities.
If you have an NVIDIA GPU, the NVIDIA Control Panel shows the exact GPU model and current driver version. AMD GPU users can find the same information in AMD Radeon Settings under System ? Software.
For in-depth GPU specs like shader cores, clock speeds, and memory bandwidth, use TechPowerUp GPU-Z — a free tool that provides the most detailed GPU breakdown available outside of manufacturer documentation.
Related Guides
These Windows system and maintenance guides cover related tasks for checking hardware, diagnosing issues, and managing system components on Windows 10.