The fastest way to check your video card on Windows

Open the Start menu, type Device Manager, and press Enter. Look for a category called Display adapters and click the arrow next to it. The name that appears is your video card — it will say something like "NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060" or "AMD Radeon RX 7600" or "Intel Arc A770".

That single line tells you the manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and the model number. You now know what video card you have. If you need more detail — like how much memory it has or what driver version is installed — Device Manager shows that too, but the model name is what matters for most purposes.

If you see something like "Microsoft Basic Display Adapter" or "Intel UHD Graphics 630", your computer is using integrated graphics — a video processor built into your CPU rather than a separate card. That is still a video card; it just lives on the motherboard instead of in a slot.

Key Takeaways

  • Device Manager on Windows shows your video card model in seconds — open Start, type Device Manager, and expand Display adapters.
  • The name you see (like RTX 4060 or Radeon RX 7600) is enough to identify your card for most purposes, including checking if it can run a game or software.
  • Integrated graphics (Intel UHD, AMD Radeon integrated) are built into your CPU and will show up in Device Manager just like a separate card.
  • If you need the driver version or memory amount, right-click the card name in Device Manager and select Properties.

How to check on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top left, select About This Mac, and look at the window that opens. Under the Graphics line, you will see your video card name — usually something like "Apple M2" (if you have an Apple Silicon Mac) or "AMD Radeon Pro 5500M" (if you have an Intel Mac with a discrete card).

Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, M3, and newer) have graphics built into the chip itself, so there is no separate video card to find. Intel Macs may have either integrated Intel graphics or a separate AMD card, depending on the model year and which MacBook Pro or iMac you own.

How to check on Linux

Open a terminal and run the command lspci | grep -i vga. The output will show your video card name and sometimes the driver it is using. On some systems you may need to run lspci | grep -i display instead if the first command returns nothing.

If you want more detail about the driver version and memory, run glxinfo | grep "OpenGL renderer" to see what the system reports to graphics programs. Different Linux distributions organize this information differently, so the exact command may vary depending on what you are running.

What to do if Device Manager shows nothing or an error

If you open Device Manager and the Display adapters category is missing or shows a yellow exclamation mark, your video card driver is not installed or is broken. This usually means Windows cannot talk to your video card properly, which can cause games to run slowly or crash.

The fix is to install or reinstall the driver. Go to the website of your card's manufacturer — NVIDIA.com, AMD.com, or Intel.com — read the driver for your exact card model and Windows version, and run the installer. After it finishes, restart your computer and check Device Manager again.

If you do not know which manufacturer made your card, you can sometimes find a clue on the physical card itself if you open the computer case, or you can search online for your computer model plus "video card" to see what came in it from the factory.

Why you might need to know your video card

Game publishers and software makers list the video cards they support or require. Before you buy a game or install heavy graphics software, you can check whether your card is on that list. Your video card is also the first thing to check if games are running slowly or crashing.

If you are troubleshooting a problem — a game will not start, video playback is choppy, or your screen flickers — knowing your exact card model helps you search for solutions online or explain the problem to someone who can help.

The difference between integrated and discrete graphics

A discrete graphics card is a separate piece of hardware that plugs into your motherboard. It has its own memory and processor, so it can handle demanding graphics work without slowing down the rest of your computer. Most gaming PCs and high-end workstations have discrete cards.

An integrated graphics processor is built into your CPU and shares your computer's main memory. It is slower than a discrete card but uses less power and takes up no extra space, so it is common in laptops, office computers, and budget desktops. If Device Manager shows "Intel UHD Graphics" or "AMD Radeon Graphics" (without a model number like RTX or RX), you have integrated graphics.

Both count as your video card. The difference matters mainly if you are trying to run demanding games or video editing software — integrated graphics can do it, but usually slower and with lower settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my video card is good enough for a specific game?

Find the game's system requirements on its store page or official website. It will list the video cards it supports or recommends. Search for your card name in that list. If your card is not listed but is newer than the ones shown, it will usually work fine. If it is older, the game may run but at lower frame rates or graphical settings.

What if I see two video cards in Device Manager?

Some laptops and gaming PCs have both integrated graphics and a discrete card. Windows can switch between them to save power or boost performance. Both will show up in Device Manager. The discrete card (NVIDIA or AMD with a model number) is the more powerful one and handles demanding tasks; the integrated card handles everyday work.

Can I upgrade my video card if it is integrated?

No. Integrated graphics are soldered to the CPU, so you cannot remove or replace them. You can only upgrade by replacing the entire CPU. If you need better graphics performance and have integrated graphics, adding a discrete card is usually not possible in a laptop, but it may be possible in a desktop depending on the power supply and motherboard.

Why does my video card name look different in different places?

Manufacturers use different names for the same card in different contexts. Device Manager shows the official name, but games or websites might call it by a shorter nickname or include extra details. An RTX 4060 is always an RTX 4060, but you might see it listed as "GeForce RTX 4060" or "NVIDIA RTX 4060" elsewhere. They are the same card.

Do I need to update my video card driver?

Drivers update regularly to fix bugs, improve performance, and support new games. You can check for updates by right-clicking your card in Device Manager, selecting Properties, and looking at the driver version. Then visit your manufacturer's website to see if a newer version is available. Updating is optional but often worth doing if you play new games or experience problems.