You need to know what graphics card do i have before installing drivers, checking game requirements, or troubleshooting display problems. Windows can show this information in several places, but the name may appear differently depending on your hardware and setup.

This guide explains how to check your GPU in Task Manager, Device Manager, Windows display settings, DirectX Diagnostic Tool, and System Information. You’ll also learn how GPU-Z can reveal more detailed hardware information, how to identify the active GPU when two are listed, and what to do if Windows shows only a generic display adapter. By the end, you’ll know which graphics card your PC uses and where to find the details you need.

Check your graphics card in Task Manager

Task Manager is the quickest starting point if you only need to identify the graphics card installed in your Windows PC. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open it. If Task Manager opens in its compact view, select More details. Then choose Performance from the left sidebar and select GPU 0 or another GPU entry.

The model name appears near the top right of the GPU panel. For example, the entry may show a name such as "NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070," "AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT," or "Intel UHD Graphics." That is the information you need when someone asks, "What graphics card do I have?"

Windows assigns labels such as GPU 0 and GPU 1 to the graphics processors it detects. These labels are not model numbers, product names, or performance rankings. A laptop might list an integrated Intel GPU as GPU 0 and a dedicated NVIDIA GPU as GPU 1, while another system could use the opposite order. Select each GPU entry and read its model name rather than relying on the number. The panel also shows usage and memory details, which can help you distinguish an integrated GPU from a dedicated card when both are installed.

Find your GPU in Device Manager

Device Manager provides a quick way to see which graphics hardware Windows recognizes. Press Windows key + X, select Device Manager, then expand Display adapters. You may see one entry, such as NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, or separate entries for integrated and dedicated graphics, such as Intel UHD Graphics and AMD Radeon RX 7600.

The name shown under Display adapters is usually the answer to "what graphics card do I have?" Record the complete model name rather than only the manufacturer. For example, "GeForce RTX" is a product family, while the number that follows identifies the specific GPU model.

A generic entry needs further investigation. If Device Manager lists Microsoft Basic Display Adapter, Windows is using a general-purpose display driver and has not identified the underlying graphics hardware by name. Do not treat "Microsoft Basic Display Adapter" as your graphics card model. It describes the driver Windows is currently using, not the physical GPU installed in the computer.

If you see that generic entry, continue to the troubleshooting section instead of using it as your GPU name. The issue may involve a missing or incorrect graphics driver, an incomplete Windows installation, or hardware that Windows is not detecting correctly. Also check whether another device appears under Display adapters, especially on laptops with both integrated and dedicated graphics.

Use Windows display settings to identify the display adapter

Open Settings and go to System > Display > Advanced display. If you use more than one monitor, choose the screen you want to check from the display selector at the top of the page. Windows labels screens with numbers; if you are unsure which is which, return to Display and click Identify. A number will appear on each screen.

On the Advanced display page, look for the adapter listed under the selected screen, then click Display adapter properties for that display. In the window that opens, select the Adapter tab and read the Adapter Type field. Check the name for each screen separately if you want to know which adapter is associated with each one.

This tells you about the selected screen's display connection, not necessarily which GPU runs every app. For example, a laptop with integrated graphics and a separate graphics card may show the integrated adapter for its built-in screen even when an app uses the separate GPU to render. If the name says "Microsoft Basic Display Adapter," Windows is showing a generic driver name rather than a useful card model.

Check GPU details with the DirectX Diagnostic Tool

Press Windows key + R, type dxdiag in the Run dialog, and press Enter. Open the Display tab and look for the Name field under Device. The Drivers section on the same tab shows information such as the driver version and date. That makes dxdiag useful when you need to confirm which adapter Windows identifies and check its driver information in one place.

Before deciding a laptop has only one GPU, inspect every relevant tab across the top of the window. Some systems show more than one Display tab; others also show a Render tab. Each can identify a different graphics adapter. For example, a laptop might list its integrated graphics under Display and a separate GPU under Render. If you stop at the first Display tab, you could miss the second adapter.

The tabs you see depend on the system, so the absence of a Render tab does not, by itself, tell you whether another GPU is installed. Check the Name field on each available Display and Render tab, then compare the entries rather than assuming every tab refers to the same device.

Find the adapter in System Information

Windows System Information provides another built-in way to confirm the adapter when Device Manager or Display settings does not make the result clear. Press Windows + R, type msinfo32, and press Enter. In the left pane, expand Components, then select Display. The right pane shows the display adapter details, including the adapter name and other hardware information.

Look for the field that identifies the adapter itself. For example, an entry such as Intel UHD Graphics 630 names the integrated GPU, while an entry showing an NVIDIA GeForce or AMD Radeon model identifies that discrete card. The exact wording depends on the hardware and driver installed.

Do not identify a graphics card from a memory figure alone. System Information may show values for adapter memory, shared system memory, or total available graphics memory. A laptop using integrated graphics can reserve part of the computer's regular RAM for graphics, so its displayed memory number may not match the physical GPU's dedicated memory. Two adapters can also show similar memory amounts while having different model names and capabilities. Use the adapter name as the primary identification, and treat memory fields as supporting details. This is especially useful when a system has both integrated and discrete graphics and Windows displays more than one adapter entry.

Use GPU-Z for more detailed hardware identification

If Windows shows only a basic adapter name, TechPowerUp GPU-Z can provide a more complete hardware profile. It is an optional third-party utility, so use it when you need details such as the GPU model, memory type, bus interface, BIOS version, or driver information rather than only an answer to "what graphics card do I have."

Download GPU-Z from the official TechPowerUp source. Avoid unfamiliar download sites that may bundle installers or provide an altered copy. After opening the utility, stay on the Graphics Card tab and read the Name field near the top. This is the model name you can use when checking specifications, driver downloads, or upgrade compatibility. For example, a system may identify a card as "GeForce RTX 4070" rather than displaying only a generic "NVIDIA adapter" label.

GPU-Z can detect more than one graphics adapter, including integrated graphics and a separate desktop or laptop GPU. If the name shown is not the card you expected, use the GPU selector near the top of the window to switch between detected adapters. Check each entry individually, since the memory and bus details will differ between the integrated and dedicated GPUs. This is particularly useful on laptops, where both adapters may be active.

Work out which GPU you have when two are listed

A computer can have more than one graphics processor. This is especially common on laptops, which often combine integrated graphics built into the processor with a separate, discrete GPU. The integrated chip usually handles everyday desktop work, while the discrete GPU may take over for games or demanding creative applications. A desktop can also show two GPUs if it has integrated graphics enabled alongside an installed graphics card.

First, separate two different questions: which GPUs are installed, and which GPU is currently being used. Windows Task Manager may list both devices under the Performance tab, even when only one is rendering a particular application. The display connected to your computer may also be driven by one GPU while a game is assigned to the other. Seeing two entries does not mean both are handling every task at the same time.

To identify each device, open Task Manager, select Performance, and choose each GPU entry. Read the model name shown in the panel. GPU-Z provides the same check with more detailed hardware information, including the device name for each adapter. For example, one entry may identify Intel integrated graphics and another may identify a discrete GeForce GPU. Do not assume the first entry is the faster one. Compare the model names, then check the app's assigned GPU separately when troubleshooting performance.

What to do if Windows shows only a generic adapter

Microsoft Basic Display Adapter is Windows' fallback display driver. It does not identify your graphics card as a Microsoft device or confirm the GPU model. Windows may show it when the manufacturer's driver is missing, corrupted, or unable to recognize the hardware correctly.

Before choosing a driver, use another identification method covered above. For example, check the GPU entry in Task Manager's Performance tab or run DirectX Diagnostic Tool with dxdiag, then compare the name with the card installed in your PC. If the result still looks generic, inspect the physical card for a manufacturer and model label, or check the computer manufacturer's specifications for a prebuilt system.

Do not install a driver based only on "Microsoft Basic Display Adapter" or on a guessed model name. NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel packages are not interchangeable, and a wrong selection may fail to install or leave you with limited display performance. Identify the manufacturer and exact model first, then use the GPU driver update guide for the correct package and installation steps.

If you are fitting a new card, see the graphics card installation guide. If you are checking an existing card's health, see the GPU temperature guide.

Confirm what graphics card you have

Start with Task Manager if you only need the model name. Its GPU entries can quickly show whether your system has integrated graphics, a discrete card, or both. If Windows lists more than one GPU, identify each by its model name and remember that the GPU installed in the system may not be the one handling every display or application. A generic entry such as Microsoft Basic Display Adapter is not a reliable identification, so confirm the hardware with another Windows tool or GPU-Z before installing drivers. Once you know the model, use the GPU driver update guide for the correct software. If you are installing a new card, see the graphics card installation guide. For an existing card, the GPU temperature guide can help you check its health.