Before buying or installing a game, compare the game’s system requirements with your actual PC specs. The important pieces are CPU, GPU, RAM, VRAM, storage space, and whether the game will run from an SSD or a slower hard drive.
These steps apply to Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs checking any game’s published requirements.
Does this affect you?
Use this if a store page lists Minimum and Recommended requirements and you are not sure whether your desktop or laptop is strong enough.
Find your PC specs
- Press Windows key + R.
- Type dxdiag and press Enter.
- On the System tab, note your CPU, installed RAM, and Windows version.
- Open the Display tab to find your graphics card name and video memory.
- Open File Explorer > This PC to check free drive space.
- Open Settings > System > Storage > Advanced storage settings > Disks & volumes to see whether the drive is an SSD or HDD.
The GPU is usually the most important gaming spec. A strong CPU paired with weak integrated graphics can still struggle badly in demanding games.
Compare against requirements correctly
- Open the game’s Steam, Epic, or publisher page.
- Find the Minimum and Recommended system requirements.
- Compare GPU first, then CPU, RAM, and storage.
- If your GPU is not listed, search your GPU model versus the listed GPU model.
- Treat Minimum as low settings and lower resolution, often around 30 FPS.
- Treat Recommended as a better target for medium or high settings around 60 FPS, though results vary by game.
For current games, 16 GB RAM is the practical baseline even when a listing says 8 GB. Windows and background apps use part of that memory before the game starts.
Watch laptop and integrated graphics traps
Laptop GPUs with names like RTX 4060 are not identical to desktop cards with the same name. Laptop versions run at lower power limits, so compare laptop benchmarks for your exact model.
If dxdiag shows Intel Iris Xe, AMD Radeon Graphics, or a similar integrated GPU with no dedicated NVIDIA or AMD card, the PC is using graphics built into the CPU. That can handle older and lightweight games but struggles with demanding titles.
VRAM matters too. A GPU that barely meets a requirement can still struggle if it has too little video memory for modern textures, especially at 1440p or 4K.
Use automatic tools carefully
Tools such as Can You Run It can scan your PC and compare it with a game database. They are useful, but still treat the result as a guideline. Game optimization, resolution, laptop power limits, and driver versions can change real performance.
Sources
- Microsoft Support – View Your PC’s Specifications in Windows (2025)
- Steam – System Requirements on Store Pages (2025)
- NVIDIA – GeForce Experience Game Ready Driver and Optimization (2025)