TLE 155: Intro to ICT Part 1 Lesson 1: How to Check Computer Specs

How to Check Computer Specs – Windows 10, CPU, GPU,

Motherboard, & RAM

If you're relatively new to PCs and you want to install an application software, a
new printer or scanner or you are looking to get into PC gaming, you’re probably
asking yourself, why would I need to know the specs of my computer? Well, it’s
a good question, and the following are just a few reasons why you might need
to check.

You might be looking to upgrade your PC, and you need to know what your
current specs are so you can select the relevant upgrades. Or maybe you’re
looking at selling your PC, and you need to know the specs for your ad. There are
loads more reasons, but whatever yours is, checking your computer specs is
actually a relatively straightforward task, and we’re going to show you exactly
how.

The following will be a step by step tutorial on how to check everything from
your CPU speed right down to what memory you have and everything in
between.

Source: https://www.wepc.com/how-to/check-computer-specs/
 TLE 155: Intro to ICT Part 1 Lesson 1: How to Check Computer Specs

Checking the CPU, System Type, and What Speed It Is

The first thing most people want to know when looking into computer specs is what
processor (CPU) said computer has, and luckily for us, it’s one of the easiest bits of
information to find. If you are running Windows 10, you are two mouse clicks away from this
information.

To find what CPU your computer has, do the following:

• Right-click the windows tab in the bottom left-hand corner of your desktop
• In the menu that pops up, select, and click ‘System.’
• Under ‘Device Specifications>Processor’ you will see listed what CPU is in your
computer

As we said, this really is one of the easiest things to check on any computer.

Source: https://www.wepc.com/how-to/check-computer-specs/
 TLE 155: Intro to ICT Part 1 Lesson 1: How to Check Computer Specs

Checking Which GPU You Have

After finding out which CPU your computer is using, many will naturally want to find out which
GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) the computer has as well. You’ll be happy to know that
looking up the GPU is as easy as finding which CPU you have. However, you will need to make
one additional click.

To find what GPU your computer has, follow these steps:

• As before, right-click the windows icon in the bottom left-hand corner of your desktop
• On the menu that pops up click the ‘Device Manager’ tab
• In ‘Device Manager’ click the ‘>’ arrow next to ‘Display adapters’
• Under the drop-down, you will see the GPU that your computer is using.

Again, a straightforward task. However, it is worth mentioning that some people may
experience two options under the ‘Display Adapter’ drop-down tab, and this is nothing to be
worried about. If this is the case, then your PC has both integrated graphics and a dedicated
stand-alone graphics card — not a bad thing.

Source: https://www.wepc.com/how-to/check-computer-specs/
 TLE 155: Intro to ICT Part 1 Lesson 1: How to Check Computer Specs

The one you are looking for, though, is the dedicated graphics card, which will be the more
powerful of the two, and the one your computer uses to process graphics. This will usually be
the 2nd of the two options.

If your PC is running an Intel CPU, then you will likely have integrated graphics and is usually
‘Intel HD graphics 400’. All this means is that along with your actual GPU, your CPU has its own
built-in graphics unit. This will always be less powerful than your standalone GPU.

Your GPU is what you want when listing your PC or upgrading, and it will usually be some
variation of NVIDIA GEForce GTX 950,960, 1050, 1070, 1080, and so on. If it is AMD, then it will
be some form of Radeon R 3-9.

Source: https://www.wepc.com/how-to/check-computer-specs/
 TLE 155: Intro to ICT Part 1 Lesson 1: How to Check Computer Specs

Checking Which Motherboard You Have

Now we’re getting into slightly more difficult ground, still very achievable, only a little more
refined in terms of what you’re looking for and how to get there.
If you have a PC, then the simplest and most straightforward way to check will be to open
your computer and look at the motherboard itself, where it will have both the brand and
model number. Easy.

Unless you have an obscure motherboard, you’re going to come across either ASUS, Gigabyte,
or MSI, which is the brand name. This is usually followed by a series of numbers and letters,
which is the model number for your motherboard. If you are looking to upgrade or sell your
PC, then this is as much info as you’re going to need regarding it.
However, if you are unfamiliar with the popular motherboard brands and don’t quite
understand the numbers and letters which specify the chipset, you might find it easier
following this second route.

To find what Motherboard your computer has, do the following:

• In the windows search tab, type ‘System Information’ and press enter
• On the left-hand side of the 'System Information' box highlight the ‘System Summary’
tab
• In the list on the right-hand side look for ‘Baseboard Manufacturer’ ‘Baseboard Model’
and ‘Baseboard Name’ which gives you everything you need to know regarding your
motherboard

Source: https://www.wepc.com/how-to/check-computer-specs/
 TLE 155: Intro to ICT Part 1 Lesson 1: How to Check Computer Specs

Unfortunately for some, the information you find in these tabs is going to seem a little foreign.
To put it simply, the Baseboard Manufacturer is the brand of the motherboard. The Baseboard
Model should show the model number (chipset number), which is useful for knowing whether
you can upgrade specific hardware or not. It is worth noting that on older motherboards, this
section may say ‘not available,’ and if that is the case, you will have to physically look on the
motherboard itself. Finally, the Baseboard Name is just how the motherboard shows up on
your system. Not massively important.

Source: https://www.wepc.com/how-to/check-computer-specs/
 TLE 155: Intro to ICT Part 1 Lesson 1: How to Check Computer Specs

Checking How Much Memory (RAM) You Have

If you thought the difficulty of each task was increasing with each section, then you would be
very wrong. Checking the RAM is as easy as checking the CPU, and is on the exact same screen.
To find what RAM your computer has, simply do the following:
• Right-click the Windows tab in the bottom left-hand corner of your desktop
• Select the ‘System’ Tab from the pop-up menu
• In ‘System’ and underneath the CPU you will find how much RAM the computer is
operating with

Source: https://www.wepc.com/how-to/check-computer-specs/
 TLE 155: Intro to ICT Part 1 Lesson 1: How to Check Computer Specs

Source: https://www.wepc.com/how-to/check-computer-specs/
 TLE 155: Intro to ICT Part 1 Lesson 1: How to Check Computer Specs

Checking How Big Your Hard Drive Is

Checking your hard drive is probably the easiest thing to find as far as specs go. Most will
already know how to do this, but for people who don’t, here’s a really simple method to see
how much space you have left.
To find how much Storage your PC has, just follow these steps:
• Open a folder and click the ‘This PC’ tab on the left-hand side
• Navigate to the ‘Local Disk (C:)’ where it should say how much space your storage has
plus what is free
• Right-click the ‘Lock disk (C:)’ and select ‘Properties’ if more info is required

It’s as simple as that really. If you go into 'Properties' you will see a chart which shows total
space and free space. It will also give you an exact figure for how many bytes your storage
has, but it's the same as what you see underneath ‘Local Disk (C:).’

If you want to find out whether or not you HD is SSD or not, you can simply open up your disk
defragment and optimize drive tool. Underneath Media type, it will tell you whether it is Solid
State Drive or not. SSD would be the better of the two if you were wondering!

Source: https://www.wepc.com/how-to/check-computer-specs/
 TLE 155: Intro to ICT Part 1 Lesson 1: How to Check Computer Specs

Once You’ve Found Out What Your Computer Specs Are

OK, you’ve made it to the end, and all that's left to do is either post your ad
online with your newly discovered PC specs or decide whether or not you want
to install or upgrade anything in your current PC. If upgrading is the route you
want to take, it’s definitely worth mentioning that it isn't as simple as popping
out your GPU and replacing it with the latest and greatest.

Everything has to work in harmony with a PC, so the Motherboard must be able
to accommodate the new GPU. If it does, great! However, is the CPU powerful
enough to get the most out of it? Do you have enough RAM to run the games
and software you’ve bought the GPU for? Is the PSU powerful enough to even
run the GPU?? These are all the questions you need to ask yourself when
thinking about upgrading hardware in your PC.

Similarly, the same can be said for the CPU, RAM, and so on.

By finding out the specs of your computer, you have the tools there to either do
the research online to see what parts are compatible, or you can speak to
someone who will be able to recommend the next best step. Either way, you
have the information you need to find out what’s possible!

Source: https://www.wepc.com/how-to/check-computer-specs/