This wikiHow teaches you how to view your computer's hardware specifications, such as processor speed and memory size. Before you buy a new computer or download software that demands a lot from your processor (such as a video game), it's important to know things like how big your computer's RAM is, what the processor's speed is and what the capacity is. of the hard disk.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Using System Information in Windows
Step 1. Open Start
Click the Windows logo in the lower left corner of the screen. The Start menu will appear.
Step 2. Open the Settings
Click the gear icon in the lower left corner of the Start menu. The Settings window will now open.
Step #3. Click on System
This laptop-shaped icon is located in the top-left corner of the window.
Step #4. Click on the Info tab
This option is located in the lower left corner of the screen, although you may need to move your mouse cursor to the column on the left and scroll down to see this option.
Step 5. Scroll down to the 'Device Specifications' heading
This option is near the bottom of the screen.
Step 6. Check your computer's specifications
The "Device Specifications" section contains information about your computer's processor, RAM, and system type.
Method 2 of 3: Using Device Manager in Windows
Step 1. Understand when to use Device Manager
If you want a comprehensive, detailed list of all the hardware your computer uses, you can use Device Manager. This will come in handy when trying to figure out what proprietary hardware your computer is using.
Step #2. Open the extended Start menu
Right click on the Start icon
in the lower left corner of the screen or press ⊞ Win+X. A pop-up menu should now appear on the left side of the screen.
Step 3. Click on Device Manager
This option can be found in the pop-up menu. Doing this will open the Device Manager window.
Step 4. Find a hardware category to view
Scroll through the different categories of hardware until you find a category you want to access.
- For example, if you want to learn more about your computer's processor, double-click the heading Processors.
- Exactly what you see in the list under Device Manager may differ slightly depending on who built your computer.
Step 5. Expand the hardware category
Double click on the hardware category or click on the icon
to the left of the category to expand it. You should see at least one indented item under the category heading.
If you see a list of indented options under the hardware category, then the category is already expanded
Step 6. View the list of hardware components
Depending on the category you selected, you can see one to ten hardware items. Double-click a part to view its properties.
Make sure you don't remove or disable anything in the Device Manager without explicit instructions on how to do this, because accidentally removing something could cause your computer to stop working
Method 3 of 3: Using the Apple menu on a Mac
Step 1. Click on the Apple menu
It's the apple-shaped icon in the top left corner of the screen.
Step #2. Click About This Mac
This option is located at the top of the drop-down menu. Doing so will open the "About This Mac" window.
Step #3. Check out your Mac's specs
The About This Mac window provides information about your Mac's processor, RAM, and graphics card.
Step 4. Click System Summary…
This option is located at the bottom of the window. The System Overview window will now open.
Step 5. Open the 'Hardware' menu
Click the right-pointing arrow to the left of the "Hardware" heading in the left column of the System Summary window.
If the arrow to the left of the 'Hardware' heading points downwards, the menu is already open
Step 6. Select a hardware part to view
Under the heading Hardware you'll see a list of all of your Mac's hardware components. By clicking on it, you will see the specifications of a component in the right column of the System Overview window.
- For example, if you want to check your graphics card model, click Video/Displays.
- You click Memory to learn more about your Mac's RAM.
- Click on the heading Hardware to view the processor specifications.
Tips
- If you haven't bought the computer for which you want to see the specifications, you can usually find it on the computer's packaging, in the manual, and on the sign that comes with the computer in the store.
- If you're looking for a computer to buy on the Internet, you should be able to find a computer's specifications in the description (or title) of the item.