If you want to know if your computer can handle a certain game or run creative software smoothly or how to figure out what's wrong, one of the first things to check is your graphics card. This hardware is responsible for rendering everything you see on your screen. If things feel slow or laggy, your graphics card may be the reason.
In most cases, you can find what kind of graphics card you have pretty quickly, assuming you can power your computer on. Even if you can't, there are still a few options at hand.
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What graphics card do I have?
Knowing which graphics card you have can help you determine whether your computer can run certain games or handle creative work like video editing. It's also useful if you're considering upgrading or troubleshooting a problem.
Screenshot by Marshall Gunnell/CNET
To find your graphics card:
Open Device Manager (right-click Start > Device Manager). Look for a section called Display adapters and click the arrow next to it. You'll see your GPU listed there. If you want more details, right-click the GPU name and click Properties. This will give you information such as the manufacturer and model.
You can find which graphics card you have in other apps, too. In Task Manager, click the performance tab and then click GPU.
Screenshot by Marshall Gunnell/CNET
There are also some third-party tools out there, such as the popular TechPowerUp GPU-Z, that get the job done.
How to find your GPU if your computer won't turn on
If your computer won't turn on and you need to find your GPU, assuming you're using a laptop, your best bet is to look up the model number online or check the manual that came with the original packaging for the GPU info. Most laptops will also have a sticker telling you what kind of GPU you have, but it doesn't give any details like the model number.
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If you're using a desktop, you can open the case to check. Unplug the power, ground yourself so you don't zap anything and remove the side panel. Look for the large card plugged into the motherboard near the bottom. It'll be the one with the HDMI or DisplayPort ports. That's your GPU.
You can unscrew it and pull it out (there may be a latch holding it in place). On the card itself, there should be a label with the manufacturer name and model number.
If it turns out that your GPU is holding you back, your next step is figuring out why -- don't assume the fix is to buy a new desktop or laptop. Unless you've been dying to upgrade, you need to narrow down your performance problems to rule out your settings and your software or games.