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Before buying a new game, compare your system specs with the hardware requirements on the game's website
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Updated on November 15, 2023
Reviewed by
Chris Selph
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/headshot-00415ba557444a8a9b6bb139498b97c5.jpg "How to Check if a Computer Can Run a Game (2)")
Reviewed byChris Selph
Chris Selph is a CompTIA-certified technology and vocational IT teacher. He also serves as network & server administrator and performs computer maintenance and repair for numerous clients.
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In This Article
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In This Article
- Check Compatibility
- Minimum Specs Are Important
- Troubleshooting
What to Know
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager.
- Next, in the Performance tab, review the CPU, Memory, and GPU sections to see what hardware you have.
- Compare those details with the game's minimum and recommended specs on the website or physical box.
This article explains how to check if your computer can run a game by comparing your PC's specs with the game's recommended hardware requirements.
How to See if Your Computer Can Run a Game
To find out if your PC meets the demands of a particular video game, you'll need to know the requirements set by the developer and your own PC's specifications. Here's what to do:
Find the game's recommended specifications by looking at its digital store page—look for a System Requirements or similar section.
Or if you've purchased a physical copy, check the back of the box. The manual may have more information, too.
Check your computer's specs. One easy way to do that is through Task Manager: Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc, open the Performance tab, and check the CPU, Memory, GPU, and Disk tabs. Jot down what each of them say.
If you'd rather not use Microsoft's tool for this information, you can download a free system information tool. They're really helpful for stats like this.
Compare the specifications of your PC with the minimum and recommended hardware requirements for the game you want to play. If your PC matches or exceeds them, then you should have no problem playing. If it doesn't, you might run into some trouble and should consider upgrading or replacing your PC.
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Minimum Specs Are Important
Most games have both minimum and recommended hardware requirements. To just play the game at its lowest settings, you need a PC which matches or exceeds the minimum specs. PCs as good as, or better than the recommended specs, will deliver an overall better gaming experience.
It isn't always easy to tell whether your PC does match or exceed the minimum specifications, as different generations of CPUs and GPUs aren't always easily directly comparable. This becomes even more complicated when you throw laptop CPUs and GPUs into the mix, which also aren't easily comparable to their desktop counterparts.
A good rule of thumb is if your CPU and GPU are newer than the minimum specs, you can probably play the game. This is usually designated by having a higher number than that of the component recommended. For example, a GTX 1080 is newer and much better than a GTX 770, and an Intel Core i3-10400 is better than an i5-4440.
Why Won't My Computer Run a PC Game?
There are a number of reasons why your computer won't run a certain PC game. Your hardware may not be powerful enough, your drivers could be out of date, you could have malware that's affecting your PC, or there might just be a bug with the game.
Here are some tips to try to get the game working:
Check to see if your PC meets or exceeds the minimum specs using the steps above. If it doesn't, consider upgrading or tuning your computer if you can (e.g., delete unnecessary files to free up space, or clear RAM).
Update your graphics card drivers to the latest version.
Reinstall the game you want to play, but don't forget to back up any saves and settings you want to preserve.
Check the developer's blog or social media to see if there are known problems with the game which may be fixed in an upcoming patch. If there are, you might just need to wait.
Scan your computer for malware. Malware can use up valuable CPU time, making gaming difficult. Also, even if you aren't a gamer... Get rid of that malware!
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