How To Check PC Specs [All Methods]

If you are planning to upgrade your PC or are about to make any improvements to it, you will need to look at your PC specs first. It is one of the essential steps to carry out before you decide how much you want to upgrade your PC.

Although it sounds like a very simple task, checking PC specs can be frustrating too. That is because the PC specs lie in different places in your PC. Fret not because we have made this task much less complex than ever. Today, we are going to discuss how to check PC steps in only a few steps. Also, make sure to check out how much your PC is worth. 

Key Takeaways

• It is important to check PC specs if you are planning to sell it or upgrade it.
• There are different methods to check each component installed on your PC.
• Some of the methods involve using built-in apps to check the specs, while others will require you to open your PC case.  
  

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RAM (Random Access Memory)

The steps are given below for the following methods through which you can easily look for the RAM that is installed on your PC.

Settings App

1. Click on the window icon on the bottom left of your desktop screen.
2. Click on the settings icon.
3. Enter the system tab.
4. Click on ‘About.’

 System Information

1. Search for ‘System Information’ in the windows search tab.
2. Look for Installed Physical Memory in the System Summary.

   

3. You will be able to look for the RAM you have in your PC besides installed physical memory.

Also Read: Wall-Mounted PC – Everything You Should Know 

Command Prompt/Prompt Shell

1. Search for the Command Prompt app/Prompt Shell in the windows search tab.
2. Type ‘system info’.
   

   

3. You will see the RAM of your PC written beside Total Physical Memory.

Task Manager

• Type Task Manager in the windows search bar.
• Enter the app.
• Click on the Performance tab you see at the top of the window.
• Click on the Memory tab.

Motherboard

One of the easiest ways to check your motherboard is by opening your computer case and simply checking it. The motherboard will be labeled with the name of its manufacturer. However, if you are a laptop user or if you do not wish to go through the hassle of opening your computer case, you can simply check your motherboard through different apps by following the given steps.

System Information

1. Click on the window icon on the bottom left of your desktop screen.
2. Search for ”System information” in the search bar.
3. You can go through the list of ‘System Summary.’ The name of the manufacturer of your motherboard that’s planted in your pc can be seen written besides ‘Baseboard Manufacturer.’ Whereas, its Model and Version are written under it.

Command Prompt/ Prompt Shell

• Look up command prompt/Prompt shell app in the windows search bar.
• Type the command written below

wmic baseboard get the product, manufacturer

• You will know the manufacturer name of your motherboard written under Manufacturer. The model of your motherboard is mentioned right below the Product.

  

Processor

Looking for the kind of processor you have is a rather easy task through these apps. Simply follow the steps we have given below.

Settings App

1. Enter your settings.
2. Click on the System tab.
3. Click on About.

You’ll find the processor you have written in the list of Device specifications.

Also, Check: How Much Does It Cost To Ship A PC? 

System Information

1. Enter the system information app by searching from the windows search bar.
2. You can find your processor in the System Summary.

Device Manager

1. Type in device manager in the windows search bar and enter the app.
2. Click on the Processor tab. It will show you the processor that’s installed on your PC.

Command Prompt/Prompt Shell

1. Enter the application.
2. Type ‘system info’.
3. As soon as the specs list drops down, you will find what you are looking for written beside “Processor.”

Task Manager

1. Get into the task manager by clicking “Ctrl+Shift+Esc.”
2. Click on the performance tab.
3. Click on CPU.

GPU

Your graphic processing unit is located in several places as well. Although, the easiest way to check it is through these apps

 Device Manager

1. Clicking on the window icon located on the bottom left of your screen.
2. Proceed to search for the Device Manager.
3. Enter the Device Manager.
4. You must now click on the Display Adapter tab. This will show you the GPU you have installed on your PC.

Task Manager

1. Enter the task manager by pressing “Ctrl+Shift+Esc.”
2. Click on the performance tab.
3. Click on GPU.

Command prompt/Prompt shell

1. Enter the command prompt/Prompt shell app.
2. Type wmic path win32_VideoController get name
   

   

3. You will be displayed with the spec of your GPU after typing in the command.

Hard Drive

Many people are also curious about the hard drive they have installed on their pc. You can check it out by using the methods we mentioned below. Also, make sure to read our guide on how many hard drives can a PC have? 

Settings App

1. Enter your Windows Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on the Storage tab.

File Explorer

1. Open your File explorer.
2. Click on the Hard Drive tab. This might be labeled as ‘local disk (C)’ or something similar.
3. Click on “Properties” in the open tab given in the bar above.

Task Manager

1. Enter the task manager by pressing “Ctrl+Shift+Esc.”
2. Click on the performance tab.
3. Click on “Disk.”

Power Supply

The ways to check your power supply are quite limited. If you have bought a customized PC, then you probably are aware of your PC’s Power Supply. You can also read our guide on single-rail vs multi-rail PSU. 

Sticker On PSU

If you are someone who has opted for a prebuilt PC, then chances are that you are unaware of the Power Supply. One of the easiest ways to check the Power Supply is by opening your computer case and seeing the sticker on your PSU case.

The sticker will look similar to the one shown in the picture above. If it is not present then you may have to check the power supply in a different way.

Checking With Volt Meter

You will need a volt meter and a paper clip to check your Power Supply. First, you will have to take out the PSU from the computer case of your PC. After you have taken it out look for the ATX connector and check whether it is 21-pin or 24-pin. You will have to take the help of the picture given below.

Take your paper clip, open and bend it into a U-shaped pin. Insert one end of your paper clip into the green port and the other into the black port. After that, turn on your PSU. Now, put the black pin of your volt meter into the black ports of your ATX connector.

Then, put the red pin in the orange port. The reading of the volt meter should be close to the one mentioned in the picture above, +3.3V. Similarly, check the other ports as well with the red pin while keeping the black pin connected to the black port of the ATX connector.

The readings according to the color should be as the ones mentioned below.

• Red port should give a reading of +5V.
• Yellow port should give a reading of +12V.
• White port should give a reading of -5V.
• Blue port should give a reading of -12V.

Cooler

By now, you have learned that most of the specs can be found using apps present on your PC. However, that is not the case for your cooler. You still don’t have to worry because we will provide you with the simplest way to check your cooler.

Assuming you have a prebuilt PC, you’ll have to search the manufacturer’s website, look for your PC, and check its specs. You will easily find your cooler in the list of specs of your PC.

Software For Checking PC Specs

Reading the methods above probably has made you realize that no single system app helps you find your PC specs in one go. There will always be a spec that you won’t be able to find. If you wish to escape this hassle, you can download third-party software which will place all the specs in one place so that you don’t have to make much effort to search for all of them. Some popular third-party software are mentioned below.

• Speccy.
• HW Monitor.
• Everest Home Edition.
• Belarc Advisor.
• Wise System Monitor.

These third-party softwares can be a great help to you. They have all the PC specs stored in one place for you. Moreover, softwares like Speccy, Wise System Monitor, and HW Monitor show you real-time information that can help you monitor the performance of your components. 

Conclusion

You are now aware of how easy it is for you to check PC specs. Someone new and unaware of how to look for these specs can take a lot of help from this guide and learn. Anyone interested in PC building will always want to look at its specs and determine whether the PC is worth its price, popularity, and whether it should be bought.

People who are into gaming are also interested in knowing the specs like RAM, GPU, cooler, and processor, as it helps them find out whether they will be able to run a specific game on their system.

To conclude, checking the PC’s specs can be extremely important for many different purposes. Moreover, specs are not limited to RAM, Motherboard, Processor, GPU, Storage, Power Supply, and coolers; they consist of many other things as well, and the person taking help from this guide knows where to look for those specs as well!