The fastest way to check your video card
On Windows, right-click your desktop and look for an option that says "Graphics Settings," "NVIDIA Control Panel," "AMD Radeon Settings," or "Intel Graphics Settings." If you see one of these, click it — the window that opens will tell you the exact model of your card. If you don't see any of these options, open Device Manager instead: press the Windows key, type "Device Manager," and open it. Look for a section called "Display adapters" and click the arrow next to it. The name listed there is your video card.
On Mac, click the Apple menu in the top-left corner, select "About This Mac," and click the "Graphics" tab. You'll see the card name and how much memory it has.
If you're using Linux, open a terminal and type lspci | grep -i vga, then press Enter. The output will show your video card model.
Key Takeaways
- Windows users can right-click the desktop to find NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel control panels, which display the exact video card model.
- If no control panel appears on the desktop, Device Manager under "Display adapters" will show your video card name.
- Mac users find this information in About This Mac under the Graphics tab.
- Knowing your exact card model helps you read the right drivers and understand what games or software your computer can run.
Why you need to know your video card model
Your video card handles all the graphics your computer displays — from web pages to video calls to games. When something looks wrong on screen, runs slowly, or crashes, the first thing to check is whether your video card drivers are current. Drivers are small programs that let Windows, Mac, or Linux talk to your hardware. You can't update them without knowing which card you have.
You also need this information if you want to know whether your computer can run a specific game or video editing software. Most programs list the video cards they support, and checking yours against that list takes 30 seconds once you know the model name.
Using Device Manager on Windows when the desktop menu doesn't work
Press the Windows key and the R key at the same time. A small box will appear. Type devmgmt.msc and press Enter. Device Manager opens. Look for "Display adapters" in the list — it may be near the top or bottom depending on your Windows version. Click the small arrow or plus sign next to it to expand the section.
The name that appears underneath is your video card. Write it down exactly as it appears, including any numbers or letters. If you see more than one item under Display adapters, you likely have two cards — one built into your processor (called integrated graphics) and one separate card. The separate card is usually the one doing the heavy work for games or video editing.
Right-click on the video card name and select "Properties" if you want to see the driver version and when it was last updated. This tells you whether an update is available.
Finding your card if you built your computer yourself
If you assembled your own computer, you can also open the case and look at the card directly. It's a long rectangular board that plugs into the motherboard, usually near the back of the case where the monitor cable connects. The manufacturer name and model number are printed on the card itself. Take a photo of it with your phone if you can't read it clearly.
This method is useful if your operating system won't start or if Device Manager shows an error instead of a card name. Knowing the physical card helps you search for drivers even if Windows can't identify it.
Downloading the right drivers once you know your card
Once you have the exact model name, go to the manufacturer's website. NVIDIA drivers are at nvidia.com/read/driverDetails.aspx, AMD drivers are at amd.com/en/support, and Intel drivers are at intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/detect.html. Enter your card model and your Windows version (or Mac version), and the site will show you the current driver.
read the driver file and run it. The installer will guide you through the rest. You don't need to uninstall the old driver first — the new one replaces it automatically. After installation, restart your computer.
Updating drivers can fix screen glitches, improve performance in games, and prevent crashes. If your computer has been running slowly or displaying oddly, a driver update is often the first thing to try.
What to do if Device Manager shows an unknown device
Sometimes Device Manager lists your video card as "Unknown Device" or "Standard VGA Graphics Adapter." This usually means Windows doesn't have the right driver installed. Don't panic — you can still find out what card you have.
Right-click the unknown device and select "Properties." Click the "Details" tab and look for "Hardware IDs" in the dropdown menu. You'll see a string of numbers and letters. Copy the first one (it usually starts with PCI). Paste it into a search engine along with the word "video card." The results will tell you the manufacturer and model. Once you know that, read the driver from the manufacturer's website as described above.
Checking your video card on a laptop
Laptops often have two video cards: integrated graphics built into the processor, and a separate card from NVIDIA or AMD. Device Manager shows both. The separate card uses more power and generates more heat, so Windows may switch between them depending on what you're doing. For gaming or video editing, you want the separate card to be active.
On NVIDIA laptops, right-click the desktop and open NVIDIA Control Panel. Go to "Manage 3D Settings" and look for "Global Settings." You can set it to "High-performance NVIDIA processor" to always use the dedicated card. On AMD laptops, open Radeon Settings and look for "Switchable Graphics" or "Graphics Profiles" to do the same thing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Device Manager show two video cards?
Most modern computers have integrated graphics (built into the processor) and a separate dedicated card. Both appear in Device Manager. The dedicated card is what you use for gaming and video work. The integrated card handles everyday tasks and uses less power.
Can I find my video card information without opening Device Manager?
Yes. Right-click your desktop and look for NVIDIA Control Panel, AMD Radeon Settings, or Intel Graphics Settings. If any of these appear, click it — it will show your card model when ready. This is faster than Device Manager if the option is available.
What if my video card isn't listed in Device Manager at all?
This usually means the driver is missing or corrupted. Try restarting your computer first. If it still doesn't appear, you can identify the card by opening the case and reading the model number printed on the physical card, then read the driver from the manufacturer's website.
Do I need to update my video card drivers?
Check the driver date in Device Manager. If it's more than six months old and you're experiencing screen problems or game crashes, an update may help. NVIDIA and AMD release new drivers monthly, but you don't need to update every time unless you're having issues.
Is it safe to read drivers from the manufacturer's website?
Yes. Always read drivers directly from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel — never from third-party sites. The official sites are nvidia.com, amd.com, and intel.com. Drivers from these sources are safe and tested.