The fastest way to check your graphics card

On Windows, right-click on your desktop and look for an option that says "NVIDIA Control Panel," "AMD Radeon Settings," or "Intel Graphics Settings." If you see one of these, click it — the program will tell you your card's name and model number on the first screen you see. If you don't see any of these options, your computer has integrated graphics (a graphics processor built into your CPU rather than a separate card).

On Mac, click the Apple menu in the top left, select "About This Mac," then click "System Report." In the window that opens, click "Graphics/Displays" on the left side. Your graphics card name appears under "Chipset Model."

If the right-click method doesn't work on Windows, or you want to double-check what you found, use the Device Manager method below — it works on every Windows computer and takes about one minute.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users can right-click the desktop and open NVIDIA Control Panel, AMD Radeon Settings, or Intel Graphics Settings if one appears — the card name is shown when ready.
  • If no graphics program appears on the right-click menu, your computer has integrated graphics built into the processor rather than a separate card.
  • Device Manager on Windows shows your graphics card under "Display adapters" and works on every computer, even if no graphics program is installed.
  • Mac users find graphics information in System Report under "Graphics/Displays" by clicking the Apple menu and selecting "About This Mac."

Using Device Manager on Windows

Device Manager is a built-in Windows tool that lists every piece of hardware in your computer. Right-click the Windows Start button (the Windows logo in the bottom left corner) and select "Device Manager" from the menu that appears. If "Device Manager" doesn't show up, type "Device Manager" into the search box next to the Start button and click the result.

In the Device Manager window, look for a category called "Display adapters" and click the arrow or plus sign next to it to expand the list. The name of your graphics card appears underneath. Write down the full name — it will look something like "NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060" or "AMD Radeon RX 7600" or "Intel Iris Xe Graphics."

If you see two items under "Display adapters," you likely have both integrated graphics and a separate graphics card. The separate card is usually the one with a brand name like NVIDIA or AMD. The integrated graphics might say "Intel UHD Graphics" or "AMD Radeon Graphics."

Using the Settings app on Windows 11

Windows 11 includes a dedicated display settings page. Click the Start button, type "Display settings," and press Enter. Scroll down to the bottom of the window and click "Advanced display." Near the bottom of that page, you'll see "Display adapter properties." Click it.

A new window opens showing your graphics card name under "Adapter Name" at the top. You'll also see how much memory (VRAM) your card has, listed as "Dedicated Video Memory." This method is faster than Device Manager if you're already in Settings, but Device Manager works the same way on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

What to do once you know your card

Once you have the exact name and model number, you can search for the manufacturer's website to read the latest driver software. Graphics card drivers are updates that improve performance and fix problems. NVIDIA drivers come from nvidia.com, AMD drivers from amd.com, and Intel drivers from intel.com.

You can also search your card's name online to find its specifications — how much memory it has, how old it is, and what games or programs it can run. This information helps you understand whether your computer can handle the software you want to use. If you're troubleshooting a performance problem, knowing your exact card makes it much easier to find solutions online, because you can search for problems specific to your model.

Integrated graphics vs. a separate card

Integrated graphics is a graphics processor built into your CPU. It shares your computer's main memory (RAM) and is slower than a separate graphics card, but it uses less power and takes up no extra space. Most laptops and budget desktop computers use integrated graphics. Common names include "Intel UHD Graphics," "Intel Iris Xe Graphics," and "AMD Radeon Graphics."

A separate graphics card (also called a discrete card) is a piece of hardware you can see if you open your computer case. It has its own memory, called VRAM, and handles graphics work independently from your CPU. Separate cards are faster, especially for gaming and video editing, but they cost more and use more power. They come from manufacturers like NVIDIA (GeForce line), AMD (Radeon line), and Intel (Arc line).

If you see two graphics options in Device Manager, your computer probably has both — integrated graphics for everyday tasks and a separate card for demanding work. Some laptops automatically switch between them to save battery life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my computer show two graphics cards?

Most computers have both integrated graphics (built into the CPU) and a separate graphics card. Windows lists both in Device Manager. The separate card handles demanding tasks like gaming, while integrated graphics handles everyday work. You don't need to remove either one — they work together automatically.

What if Device Manager shows "Unknown Device" or a question mark?

This usually means the driver software is missing or corrupted. Right-click the unknown device, select "Update driver," and choose "Search automatically for updated driver software." Windows will search online and install the correct driver. If that doesn't work, visit the motherboard manufacturer's website (for integrated graphics) or NVIDIA/AMD (for separate cards) and read the driver manually.

Can I tell how much memory my graphics card has?

Yes. In Device Manager, right-click your graphics card and select "Properties." Click the "Driver" tab, then "Driver Details." The amount of VRAM may appear there. On Windows 11, the Settings method shows VRAM directly. You can also search your card's model number online — the specifications page will list the memory amount.

Does knowing my graphics card help me understand if my computer is slow?

Yes. If your computer struggles with video playback, games, or design software, knowing your graphics card helps you understand whether the problem is the card itself or something else like a full hard drive or outdated driver. You can then search online for solutions specific to your card model.