Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →To check whether your PC meets a game’s system requirements, compare the game’s official minimum and recommended specs with your computer’s Windows version, CPU, RAM, graphics card, storage, and any listed feature or security requirements. A minimum-spec match is not a promise of high frame rates or smooth play; it is a baseline to help judge compatibility.
Find the game’s official requirements
Open the game’s store listing or publisher page and note both the minimum and recommended PC requirements. Steam lists them on each game’s Store page, and Epic Games Support directs players to the game description. Use the requirements for the PC version and the relevant edition or update; do not assume another platform’s specs apply.
Keep the two tiers separate. Minimum requirements indicate the baseline the publisher lists; recommended requirements describe a higher target. Record all stated conditions, including operating system and architecture, processor, memory, graphics card, storage, DirectX or other graphics features, and any security requirements.
Find your PC’s specifications in Windows
Quick check: Settings
In Windows, open Start > Settings > System > About. This page shows your processor, installed RAM, system type (including whether Windows is 64-bit), and Windows version. Microsoft documents this route in its Windows PC specs guide. Labels can vary by Windows version; if you cannot find a setting, search for “About” from Start.
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Detailed check: System Information
Press Windows key + R, enter msinfo32, and press Enter. In System Information, the System Summary includes the operating system, processor, and installed memory. Expand Components > Display to see graphics adapter details. Epic’s PC requirements guide also describes using System Information to check the PC against the game description.
Check graphics and driver details
For a gaming-focused view of graphics information, press Windows key + R, type dxdiag, and open the Display tab. Check the adapter name and driver version or date. Microsoft describes DxDiag as a way to inspect graphics and driver information, while Steam Support uses its Display tab to identify the graphics card and driver version in its driver guidance.
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You can also open Ctrl + Shift + Esc > Performance in Task Manager to view live CPU, GPU, memory, and disk activity. These graphs show current use, not whether the hardware meets a particular game’s requirements.
Compare each requirement with the matching PC component
Compare the exact models and values shown, rather than relying on a broad label such as “Intel,” “NVIDIA,” or “gaming PC.” Include every condition the listing specifies.
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- Operating system: Check Windows edition/version and 64-bit or other architecture requirements.
- CPU: Compare the processor model. Do not infer performance from brand or model-number patterns alone; if the listed and installed CPUs are not clear equivalents, look for benchmarks that compare those specific models.
- RAM: Compare installed memory with the listed amount. Windows’ About page reports installed RAM.
- GPU: Compare the graphics card model, and VRAM or graphics feature requirements if the listing names them. Integrated graphics can be substantially less capable than a dedicated card; Steam notes integrated graphics can result in lower performance.
- Storage: Check that the required space is available on the drive where you plan to install the game.
- Other conditions: Check any listed DirectX or feature level, Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, or other software and security condition.
Steam’s DirectX and Pixel Shader guidance explains why the DirectX runtime number alone does not prove the graphics hardware supports the feature level a game needs. Check the GPU and any named feature requirement, not just the installed DirectX version.
Interpret the result without treating it as an FPS guarantee
State the outcome by tier: your PC appears to meet the minimum requirements, the recommended requirements, both, or neither. If one component falls below the minimum, the overall match is uncertain or below the listed baseline even if the other components exceed it. Steam cautions that meeting requirements alone does not mean high FPS; Epic notes that a PC just meeting minimums probably will not run at the highest settings.
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Requirements are a compatibility guide, not a performance test. Actual results can vary with resolution, graphics settings, drivers, game version, and the particular hardware configuration. Steam also warns that outdated graphics drivers can affect performance even when the video hardware meets or exceeds requirements. A DirectX runtime match or a listed GPU family is not, on its own, proof of smooth play.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check special requirements and borderline cases
Secure Boot and TPM
Some games or their anti-cheat software require Secure Boot or TPM 2.0 to be supported and enabled. Look for these conditions on the game’s store page, then check their status using Windows, Steam System Information, or your PC’s BIOS/UEFI settings. Steam explains the requirement and checking options in its Secure Boot and TPM support article. Do not assume that having compatible hardware means the features are enabled.
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Unclear CPU or GPU comparisons
If the game lists a different processor or graphics card from yours, do not decide based only on brand, generation, or model-number appearance. Find a comparison for the specific parts and, for graphics, check whether the game names a feature level or VRAM requirement. If you cannot establish an equivalent match, treat the result as uncertain rather than a definite pass.
Already own the game?
If the game launches, observe how it performs on your own PC. Steam’s in-game overlay performance monitor can display FPS, CPU, GPU, and system RAM metrics; its overlay monitor guide explains the feature. This measures a running session, not a pre-purchase guarantee, and observed results apply to the settings and conditions used.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
