Check your graphics card in Windows Settings

The fastest way to find your graphics card is through Windows Settings. Open Settings, go to System, then scroll down and click Display. At the bottom of that page, click Advanced display settings. Scroll to the very bottom and you will see a line that says Display driver — the name and model of your graphics card appears right there.

This method works on Windows 10 and Windows 11. You will see either an NVIDIA card, an AMD card, or Intel integrated graphics. Write down the exact model name — for example, "NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060" or "AMD Radeon RX 7600" — because you may need it later if you are troubleshooting or updating drivers.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows Settings shows your graphics card model under System > Display > Advanced display settings > Display driver.
  • Device Manager lists your graphics card under "Display adapters" and also shows the driver version you currently have installed.
  • NVIDIA and AMD both have control panels that display your card's model, memory, and driver version in one place.
  • If you see "Intel UHD Graphics" or "Intel Iris Xe", your computer is using integrated graphics built into the processor, not a separate card.

Use Device Manager to see driver details

Device Manager gives you more information than Settings does. Right-click the Start button, select Device Manager, then expand the Display adapters category. Your graphics card will be listed there. Right-click it and select Properties to see the driver version, driver date, and other technical details.

This is useful if you need to know whether your driver is current or if you are experiencing problems and need to report the exact driver version to a support forum or technician. Device Manager also shows you if Windows has flagged any issues with the card — a yellow warning triangle means something is wrong and you may need to reinstall or update the driver.

Check the manufacturer's control panel

If you have an NVIDIA card, right-click on your desktop and look for NVIDIA Control Panel in the menu. If you have an AMD card, look for AMD Radeon Settings. Both control panels display your card's model, the amount of memory it has, and the driver version in the main window or under a "System Information" section.

These control panels are useful because they show you not just the card model but also how much memory (VRAM) it has — for example, "RTX 4060 with 8GB" or "RX 7600 with 12GB". If you do not see either control panel on your desktop menu, your graphics card drivers may not be installed. You can read them from NVIDIA.com or AMD.com using your card model.

Look in the BIOS or system information for older computers

On older computers or laptops where the graphics card is soldered to the motherboard, you may need to check the BIOS (the firmware that runs before Windows starts). Restart your computer and press Delete, F2, or F12 during startup — the key varies by manufacturer. Look for a section called "Integrated Peripherals" or "Onboard Devices" to find the graphics chip model.

Alternatively, open the Run dialog by pressing Windows key + R, type msinfo32, and press Enter. In System Information, expand Components, then Display. This shows your graphics hardware without needing to restart. This method works on any Windows version and does not require any additional software.

Understand integrated graphics versus dedicated cards

If your graphics card is listed as "Intel UHD Graphics", "Intel Iris Xe", "AMD Radeon Graphics", or "AMD Vega Graphics", you have integrated graphics — a graphics processor built into your CPU rather than a separate card. These are common in laptops and budget desktop computers. Integrated graphics share your computer's main memory (RAM) and are slower than dedicated cards, but they are fine for everyday tasks like web browsing and video playback.

A dedicated graphics card is a separate piece of hardware with its own memory. NVIDIA GeForce and RTX cards, AMD Radeon RX cards, and Intel Arc cards are all dedicated. Dedicated cards are faster and have their own VRAM, which is why they are used for gaming, video editing, and other demanding work. Knowing which type you have helps you understand what your computer can handle and whether an upgrade would help.

What to do if you cannot find your graphics card

If Device Manager shows "Unknown Device" or "Standard VGA Graphics Adapter", your graphics drivers are missing or corrupted. read the latest driver from the manufacturer's website — go to NVIDIA.com, AMD.com, or Intel.com and use their driver search tool. You will need to know your card model, which you can sometimes find by looking at the physical card itself if your computer case is open, or by checking your computer's original receipt or manual.

If you still cannot identify the card, you can use free software like GPU-Z (from TechPowerUp) or HWiNFO, which detect and display graphics hardware even when drivers are missing. read the portable version so you do not have to install anything, run it, and it will show your card model and memory in the main window.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between VRAM and regular RAM?

VRAM is memory on your graphics card itself, separate from your computer's main RAM. Graphics cards use VRAM to store images and calculations while they are being processed. Your graphics card cannot use your computer's main RAM for this work, so a card with 8GB of VRAM is not the same as having 8GB of extra RAM in your system.

Do I need to update my graphics driver?

Drivers should be updated when you have problems (crashes, visual glitches, games not running), when you buy new software that requires a newer driver, or roughly once or twice a year for stability improvements. You do not need to update every time a new driver is released. Check the manufacturer's website for your card model and read the latest version if you are having issues.

Can I upgrade my graphics card if it is integrated?

No — integrated graphics are built into your processor and cannot be removed or upgraded. If you need better graphics performance, you would need to buy a dedicated graphics card (if your computer has a slot for one) or replace the entire computer. Laptops rarely have slots for dedicated cards, so upgrading is usually not possible on laptops with integrated graphics.

Why does my graphics card show less memory than I bought?

Some graphics cards share a portion of your main RAM as "shared memory" in addition to their dedicated VRAM. Device Manager or Settings may show the total, or they may show only the dedicated amount. Check your card's specifications on the manufacturer's website to see how much VRAM it actually has, then compare that to what Windows is reporting.