What are computer specs?
To introduce the article, we thought that the first thing we should do is to introduce what these specs actually are. Computer specs simply mean the specifications of your computer. They include various components but the ones that we are going to be focussing on are CPU, GPU, Motherboard, and RAM.
Depending on your level of computer knowledge, the terms CPU and GPU may well be totally confusing to you, or you may feel like an expert on them. RAM and motherboard are a little more widely known, we guess, but even so, many people might have heard the terms but may not know exactly what they mean.
Here’s a quick rundown:
- CPU – This is the central processing unit of a computer. It is like the brain of the computer and is what puts things into action. It is the main data processor of all computers.
- GPU – This is the graphics processing unit of a computer that can process data quickly and with ease to provide images. This is essential for gaming, video editing, and more.
- RAM – This stands for random access memory which is basically the short-term memory of your computer. Data gets stored as and when your processor needs it.
- Motherboard – This is where the magic happens in the sense that this is the backbone that exists to allow all the other components of the computer to work. It needs to be totally functional for your PC to work.
We would also hazard a guess that, even if you know what the terms mean, you may not know how to find out what specific CPU, GPU, RAM, or motherboard your PC has.
You certainly won’t be alone in this, especially if you have had your computer for a long time – you might have totally forgotten its exact specs.
Why do you need to know the specs for your computer?
You may not think it is important to know the specs of your computer (or perhaps you do think it’s important, in which case – you’re right), but when it comes to wanting to upgrade your computer or sell it on, these are vital pieces of information that you will need to know about.
Upgrading your computer will mean you need to improve on the specifications for each of these components. Therefore, you need to know what they are in order to choose better.
When you are selling your computer, buyers will be interested to know what they can expect, and the best way to do this is by looking at the specs.
So, let’s find out how you can check these specs…
Just a note, we will be exploring how to find these components on a Windows 10 computer specifically. However, we will be explaining another method you can use to try to ascertain the specs of another computer.
How to Check Your CPU
One of the most important components of the computer is the CPU. In this section of the article, we are going to be teaching you how to establish what specific CPU you have and how to find it.
It really is just as simple as two clicks! Yep, really! All you have to do is locate the windows start menu icon. This should be located at the bottom left hand corner of your screen.
When you have found that simply right click on there and then find the word ‘System’. Click this and you should get a lot of information pop up.
Look for the word ‘Processor’ and this will tell you the CPU of your computer.
Super easy, isn’t it? We bet you thought it would be waaaaay more difficult than that! OK, now onto the GPU…
How to Check Your GPU
So, now we’re onto GPU. the graphics processing unit. Well, we’re sorry to say that this is going to be a little bit more difficult than finding out the CPU.
There is a specific reason for this and that is that the process involves one extra click! However, will you manage?
For real though, in just three clicks you will be able to find out your GPU. all you have to do is locate that same windows start up menu in the bottom left hand corner and right click on it.
When this opens up you should find the term ‘Device Manager and click on it. When this opens up you should see another menu with one of the terms listed as ‘Display Adaptors’.
Under this, there should be the specifications of your GPU. For example, mine is written as AMD Radeon(™) Vega 8 Graphics.
…and it really is as simple as that!
Keep in mind that depending on your computer, you may well see two options under this, one for your dedicated GPU and one for your integrated GPU. Your dedicated GPU is the one you want to determine and it is typically the second on the list.
How to Check Your Motherboard
Ummm, just give her a call, obviously…
Oh, wait motherBOARD! I see… Well, that’s even easier than checking on your actual mother!
The process of checking your motherboard is a little different from the one used to check your GPU and CPU. one option is to physically open up your computer and look at the motherboard. The manufacturer and model name should be clearly displayed.
However, many people are put off by this (rightly so) for fear that they will damage it. As well as this, it can be quite confusing as often it just looks like a jumble of letters and numbers following the name of the laptop manufacturer (e.g. Lenovo M71Z).
So, the other option is to try to locate it yourself on your laptop or desktop. To do this you can locate the Windows search bar. Into this, type something along the lines of System Information or System Settings.
Click on the System Summary button and you should be ab;e to locate some terms that say BaseBoard Manufacturer or MotherBoard Manufacturer, and the same stating the BaseBoard or MotherBoard model and name. These will give you the exact information you are looking for.
Keep in mind that this may not give you specifics, and the only way to get these may well be to look inside your computer at the motherboard itself
How to Check Your RAM
Finally we want to talk about how you can check your RAM. This is the memory you have in your computer. It is yet another super easy task.
You know how you checked the CPU of your computer? Well, it’s basically the same concept when you want to check your RAM.
All you have to do when you want to check out the RAM component of your computer is to locate that Windows start menu icon that we talked about before and give it a right hand click.
Select the menu that says system and then look on the list until it says ‘RAM’ or ‘Installed RAM’. It will likely give you a figure in gigabytes or even terabytes such as 1 TB or 32 GB.
You will also be able to find out the RAM of your computer by searching for System Information.
Easy as can be!
Other ways of checking specs
As well as these manual methods of checking out your computer specs, we just wanted to draw your attention to the use of third party hardware monitoring applications and tools.
These can be used to help you find out the specific information you need as well as monitoring the performance of your PC. some of the best of these third party apps include:
- Core Temp (this is for checking CPU)
- Speccy
- CPU-Z
- …and lastly HWInfo
Try these out today if the manual methods are not your kinda thing!