The sections below show exactly where each number is, how to do the same on a Mac or Linux, and which numbers matter when you check whether a game will run.
In a hurry? Detect my PC reads your graphics card from your browser in one click. Browsers never reveal the processor model, so you will still need the CPU name from this guide.
What you need to check a game
| Part | What to write down | Example | Why it matters for games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor (CPU) | Full model name | Core i5-12400F, Ryzen 5 5600 | Limits FPS in busy, open-world and competitive games |
| Graphics card (GPU) | Full model name and its own memory (VRAM) | RTX 3060, 12 GB | The biggest factor for FPS and graphics settings |
| RAM | Total amount, and how many sticks | 16 GB, 2 sticks | Too little RAM causes stutters; two sticks run faster than one |
| Storage | SSD or HDD, free space | SSD, 120 GB free | Loading times; many new games now require an SSD |
Windows 10 and 11
The fastest way: Task Manager
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc (or right-click the Start button and choose Task Manager).
- Click Performance on the left (on Windows 11 it is the icon that looks like a heart-rate line).
- Click each item in the list:
- CPU: the processor name is in the top-right corner. Below the graph you will see Cores and Logical processors (threads).
- Memory: the total RAM is in the top-right corner. At the bottom you will find Speed (for example 3200 MT/s), Slots used (for example "2 of 4") and Form factor (DIMM on desktops, SODIMM on most laptops).
- GPU 0 / GPU 1: the graphics card name is in the top-right corner. Dedicated GPU memory is the card's own video memory (VRAM). If you see two GPUs, read the section "If you see two graphics cards" below.
- Disk 0, Disk 1…: each drive shows whether it is an SSD or HDD.
Settings app (processor and RAM only)
Open Settings → System → About. Under Device specifications you will see Processor and Installed RAM. Recent Windows 11 updates also list the graphics card here; on older versions, use Task Manager.
DirectX Diagnostic Tool (a full report in one window)
- Press Windows key + R, type
dxdiag, press Enter. - The System tab shows your processor and memory.
- The Display tab shows your graphics card name and Display Memory (VRAM). Laptops with two graphics chips often have a second Render tab for the second one.
System Information (motherboard and more)
Press Windows key + R, type msinfo32, press Enter. Under System Summary, the BaseBoard Manufacturer and BaseBoard Product lines are your motherboard, which you need if you plan to upgrade the processor or RAM.
Want even more detail?
The free tools CPU-Z (processor, RAM type such as DDR4 or DDR5, motherboard) and GPU-Z (graphics card) show every detail. Download them only from their official websites.
Mac
- Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and choose About This Mac.
- You will see the Chip (Apple M1, M2, M3… on newer Macs) or Processor (Intel Macs), plus Memory. Intel Macs also list Graphics.
- For more detail, click More Info, then System Report, and look under Graphics/Displays and Memory.
Most PC games are made for Windows. On Apple silicon Macs, FPSVibe cannot give a reliable estimate, because games either run through translation layers or have separate Mac versions.
Linux
Open a terminal and run:
| What | Command |
|---|---|
| Processor | lscpu (look at "Model name", "CPU(s)") |
| RAM | free -h (the "total" column) |
| Graphics card | lspci -k | grep -EA3 'VGA|3D' |
| Everything at once | inxi -Fxz (install the inxi package if needed) |
If you see two graphics cards
Many laptops and some desktops show two GPUs, for example Intel UHD Graphics and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU. The first is the integrated chip inside the processor; the second is the dedicated graphics card. Games should use the dedicated one, so use that name when you check a game. Our laptop guide shows how to make sure games run on it.
Common mix-ups
- "Shared GPU memory" is not VRAM. It is normal RAM that the GPU can borrow when it runs out. Only Dedicated GPU memory counts as video memory.
- "Microsoft Basic Display Adapter" means the graphics driver is not installed. Install the driver from NVIDIA, AMD or Intel, then check again.
- Less RAM in Task Manager than you expected? A stick may not be seated properly, a slot may be faulty, or the listing was wrong. Integrated graphics also reserve a small amount, usually well under 1 GB.
- RAM speed looks low (for example 2133 or 2400 when you bought faster RAM)? The faster profile (XMP on Intel, EXPO on AMD) is probably switched off in the BIOS.
Now check your games
You have your processor, graphics card and RAM. Enter them in Can I Run It? to see whether a game runs, or in the FPS calculator to see estimated FPS at every setting. Not sure whether your processor or graphics card is the weak part? Try the bottleneck calculator.
