Whether you don’t know the specifications of your Windows PC or you’ve simply forgotten them, you can quickly look them up. Programs and features can only run if you have the minimum required specs, so looking them up will help you know if you can install and run something on your PC.
Luckily, finding the spec for your PC is pretty straightforward. Even if you’ve changed or upgraded parts, it will still show up. In this article, we’ll show you how to find your spec for different Windows versions.
How to Check Your PC Specs in Windows 10
There are four ways on how to find your spec on a Windows 10 PC.
Control Panel
With a few mouse clicks, you can reveal details about your CPU, installed RAM, and the version of Windows you are running. Follow these steps:
- Open the Start menu by clicking the Windows icon in the bottom left corner.
- Type “Control” in the search bar.
- Select “Control Panel.”
- Click on “System.”
You’ll see all of your specs displayed. To open this Control Panel page faster, hit the Windows key + Pause Break key.
Settings
In Settings, you can find comparable information and some additional facts regarding the version of Windows you’re using. To do so, follow these steps:
- Select “Settings” from the Start menu.
- Click on “System.”
- Select “About.”
You’ll see the CPU, system memory (RAM), architecture (32-bit or 64-bit), and pen and touch capabilities under the “Device specifications” section. You’ll see the following software specs in the “Windows specifications” section:
- Edition — Indicates which Windows 10 edition you have (Pro, Home).
- OS build – Indicates the Windows release’s technical build number. The first five numbers reflect the version, and anything after the period denotes the most recent quality update put on the device.
- Installed on – Indicates when the most recent feature update was installed.
- Version — Displays the current Windows release on the PC and the version updates with each semi-annual update you apply.
- Experience — Displays the service feature pack that has been installed on the device.
System Information
Windows’ System Information archives far more extensive information about your computer. To access this information, follow these steps:
- Open the Start menu.
- Type “system information” in the search bar.
- The majority of the information you want can be found on the first page, in the System Summary node. You can also click on each node in the left sidebar to get more details.
- To view information about your video card, go to “Components” and then “Display.”
DirectX Diagnostic Tool
The DirectX Diagnostic Tool, or DxDiag, is a Windows program that provides precise information about the graphics card and audio devices installed on your PC. To check these specs, the steps are:
- Open the Start menu.
- Type “dxdiag” in the search bar.
- To view comprehensive graphic card specs, go to the “Display” page. You can also check your audio information by clicking the “Sound” tabs. The “System” tab includes the same information as the other tabs.
How to Check Your PC Specs on a Windows 11 PC
There are five ways to check your Windows 11 PC spec.
System Properties
Because it is simple, this is favored by most users on a Windows 11 PC. Follow the steps below to find out your specs:
- Right-click on “This PC” on your desktop.
- Select “Properties.”
This will display basic information about your PC in a new window. Details such as Windows 11 OS version, system CPU, installed memory (RAM), system type (32 or 64-bit OS), computer name, and so on can be found here.
Settings
- Open the Start menu and select “Settings.”
- Go to “System.”
- Choose “About.”
This will open a window displaying your device’s specs. The specifications include the device name, CPU, installed RAM, device ID, product ID, system type, and touch screen information. You may also see Windows details such as edition, version, installation date, and OS build as you scroll down.
CMD
- Launch the command prompt. To do so, hit Window + R. This will launch the RUN window.
- Type “cmd” and hit “Enter.”
- Type in the following command in the prompt: systeminfo
- Press “Enter.”
System Information
This method uses the RUN window again. The steps are the following:
- Hit Window Key + R.
- Type in the following command: msinfo32
- Press “Enter.”
This approach will provide far more thorough information on your system than the other ways listed above.
PowerShell
- Open the Start menu and search for “PowerShell.”
- Click on the PowerShell icon and select “Run as administrator.”
- Type in the following command: Get-ComputerInf
- Hit “Enter.”
When you run the command, the PowerShell interface will display the entire device’s characteristics.
How to Check Your PC Specs Windows 8?
To find out the specs on your Windows 8 PC, you’ll have to open the System panel. This can be done in a couple of ways.
One way is through the Charms bar. To do so, follow these steps:
- Open Charms bar.
- Select “Settings.”
- Go to “Pc info.”
These steps will display the System panel. You can view the CPU you have, how much installed memory (RAM) you have, and what type of system you have on the System panel (32-bit or 64-bit). You’ll also see what edition of Windows you’re running at the top of the screen and your computer’s name at the bottom.
Another way is to open the Control Panel. To do so, the steps are:
- Open the Charms bar and go to “Settings.”
- Select “Control Panel.”
- Open “System.”
Look in the System panel’s left-side menu to see your graphics card. You’ll find a link to “Device Manager” at the top of the menu. Click on it to launch the feature.
The Device Manager displays a list of all of your devices.
Click “Display adapters” to see the info about your graphics card. You’ll see all of your installed graphics cards, including the integrated graphics on your motherboard. To get additional information about a graphics card, right-click it, select “Properties,” and the “Details” tab.
If you want to find out about the hard drive you have, follow these steps:
- Open the Charm bar and search for “Optimize.”
- Select “Defragment and optimize your drives” to go to the “Optimize Drives” tool.
How to Check Your PC Specs on a Windows 7 PC
Similar to the Windows versions already mentioned, you have more than just one way to check your PC specs on Windows 7.
One way is to use the Keyboard shortcuts. Press the Windows button and the Pause Break key at the same time. This shortcut will launch a window displaying your system information, including a list of specifications.
Another straightforward way to get your computer’s specifications is to right-click on your desktop’s Computer icon. A menu will appear, with a “Properties” option at the bottom. When you click on “Properties,” a window containing your computer’s specifications will open.
You can also use the Control Panel. To do so, the steps are:
- Open the Start menu and select “Control Panel” from the options.
- Go to “System and Security.”
- Select “System.”
When you enter the Control Panel, click on “Hardware and Sound” rather than “System and Security” if you want specifications for the various devices connected to your PC. The “Hardware and Sound” tool assists in new hardware installation, configuring hardware linked to your computer, and determining the specifications of your existing devices.
A few simple specifications are available via File Explorer. Even though the other ways we’ve already mentioned above give you more thorough specifications, using File Explorer is a quick and straightforward approach to locate certain specifications.
When you select your hard disk in File Explorer, the lower section of your screen will show a few characteristics, such as your hard disk capacity, its free space, and your CPU specifications.
Another way is to use the Command prompt. To do so, follow these steps:
- Open the Start menu and search for “cmd.”
- Type in the following command: systeminfo.exe
- Press “Enter.”
Know Your PC
Knowing your computer’s specs can allow you to make more educated software and hardware selections. When you know the specific model of your hardware, it can also assist you to nail down technical difficulties. Additionally, it can help you in deciding if some parts are worth upgrading or not.
Do you know your PC specs? How do you usually check them? Let us know in the comment section below!
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