How to Check Your PC Specs on Windows 11

Knowing how to check your PC specs on Windows 11 is one of those small skills that saves you a lot of grief. Whether you're trying to work out if a game will run, planning a hardware upgrade, comparing your machine against system requirements, or sending details to a repair shop, you need to know exactly what's inside the case.

Customers across Edinburgh, Leith, Portobello and Musselburgh ring us most weeks asking the same thing: "How do I check what processor, RAM and graphics card I've got?" The good news is Windows 11 has at least five built-in tools that will tell you everything — and you don't need to install a single thing. Here's how each one works and when to use it.

1. The Quickest Way: Settings > About

If you only need the basics — processor, installed RAM, system type and Windows edition — this is the fastest method on Windows 11.

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Click System in the left sidebar.
3. Scroll right to the bottom and click About.

You'll see your Device specifications (CPU model and speed, installed RAM, device ID, system type) and Windows specifications (edition, version, build, install date). It's perfect for quick answers but doesn't show your graphics card or storage.

2. Best for Gaming: DirectX Diagnostic Tool (dxdiag)

If you're checking whether your PC will run a game, dxdiag is the tool to reach for. It shows your processor, RAM, BIOS version, the DirectX version you have installed and — on the Display tab — your graphics card details, including the manufacturer, exact chip and dedicated VRAM.

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type dxdiag and press Enter.
3. Use the tabs along the top: System, Display, Sound and Input.

There's also a handy Save All Information button that exports the lot to a text file — useful if you're emailing details to us before bringing your machine in.

3. The Engineer's Choice: System Information (msinfo32)

For the deepest view, nothing beats System Information. It shows your motherboard make and model (under BaseBoard Manufacturer and BaseBoard Product), BIOS mode (UEFI or Legacy), Secure Boot state, virtualisation support, RAM speed, and a complete component tree you can browse.

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type msinfo32 and press Enter.
3. Look at System Summary for the headline information, then expand Components for displays, storage, network and more.

This is the tool we use first when diagnosing motherboard issues, BIOS problems or Windows 11 upgrade compatibility.

4. Real-Time View: Task Manager (Performance Tab)

Task Manager isn't just for closing frozen apps. Its Performance tab gives you a live view of every key component along with its specifications.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Click Performance in the left sidebar (you may need to click More details first).
3. Click each component — CPU, Memory, Disk, Wi-Fi/Ethernet, GPU.

Each panel shows the model, current usage, speed and useful extras: number of CPU cores and threads, RAM slots in use, drive type (SSD vs HDD) and dedicated GPU memory. If your PC feels sluggish, this is a great first stop — see our guide to speeding up a slow Windows PC for what to do with what you find.

5. Power Users: PowerShell & Command Prompt

If you'd rather get specs without clicking through menus, two short commands give you most of what you need. Right-click the Start button and choose Terminal, then try:

• systeminfo — full text dump of OS, CPU, RAM, BIOS, network and patch state.
• Get-ComputerInfo — PowerShell equivalent with structured output you can filter.
• wmic memorychip get capacity, speed, manufacturer — details for each installed RAM stick.

Pipe the output to a file with systeminfo > specs.txt if you want to email it to us before a repair appointment.

What to Do With Your Specs

Once you have your spec list, you can:

• Compare against game or software requirements — particularly the CPU, RAM, GPU and available disk space.
• Plan a sensible upgrade — the motherboard model decides which CPU and RAM speeds your machine actually supports.
• Check Windows 11 compatibility — the system type, Secure Boot status and TPM version are the usual sticking points.
• Send accurate details to a repair shop — saves a back-and-forth and helps us quote correctly.

One quick note for our Edinburgh customers: don't rely on the sticker on the side of an old PC. Hardware gets swapped, RAM gets upgraded, and the sticker rarely tells the whole story. Always check from inside Windows.

Need a Hand?

If your PC is too slow to even open Settings, or you're not sure how to interpret what System Information is telling you, we're happy to help. Whether you're in central Edinburgh, Bonnyrigg, Penicuik or Dalkeith, our team can run a full diagnostic, identify upgrade opportunities and get your machine back to its best.

Take a look at our hardware upgrade service, our software troubleshooting service, or arrange a remote support session if you'd rather not leave the house. We also offer home and office callouts right across the Lothians.

Book a repair online or drop us a message on WhatsApp and we'll get straight back to you.