- To check your GPU type on Windows 10, open “Device Manager,” expand “Device Adapters,” and confirm whether you have integrated or discrete graphics.
- If the settings read “Intel HD Graphics” or “AMD Radeon(TM) Graphics,” you have at least one integrated graphics card.
On your Windows 10 computer, you can find two types of video or graphics (cards), including discrete or integrated, and in this guide, I’ll help you to identify the one your machine has.
Discrete vs. integrated GPUs
The discrete (or dedicated) GPU is a graphics processor separate from the main system’s processor (CPU). Usually, it’s a dedicated chip soldered to the motherboard or add-in card, which uses its own memory (VRAM) instead of the system’s memory (RAM) for video processing.
On the other hand, there is the integrated GPU, which can be “integrated” inside the main system’s processor, such as Intel graphics or AMD APU. The graphics can also be part of the motherboard chipset, and in both cases, typically, an integrated CPU uses a portion of the system’s memory.
Knowing the type of graphics in your system can be useful for determining how an application or game will perform on your device. Dedicated graphics are more powerful, and if your device has performance issues running an app or game, you may need to upgrade to more capable graphics.
In this guide, I will show you the steps to check whether your device uses a discrete or integrated graphics processor unit on Windows 10 without third-party software. (You can use the instructions for devices running Windows 11.)
Check graphics card type through Device Manager
To determine the exact graphics card type on Windows 10, use the steps:
-
Open Start on Windows 10.
-
Search for Device Manager and click the top result to open the app.
-
Expand the Display adapters category.
If you see more than one adapter in the list, your computer has a discrete GPU. The “Intel HD Graphics” is your integrated chip on an Intel-based system, and the second adapter is the dedicated graphics processor.
If you only have one device listed, then if it’s an “Intel HD Graphics,” you only have an integrated graphics processor.
On an AMD-based system, if under “Display adapters,” it reads “AMD Radeon(TM) Graphics,” it indicates that the graphics are integrated into the processor. If the information is more specific (like “RX 7900 XTX”), you have dedicated graphics. You always check the “Processors” category to find out the device’s processor information, and then check the AMD’s graphics cards website to determine more details about the video card. You can also check this website for laptops.
Update March 28, 2024: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].