Identify your laptop graphics card model

Q I cannot find out what the exact model of graphics card is in my laptop. The computer was given to me, so I have few details about it. There’s an Nvidia sticker on the case but that’s as much as I know.

There are a lot of 3D games out now that I would love to play but can’t until I have the correct drivers installed. I’m not even sure the exact model of the laptop.

Matthew Parkes

A The Nvidia website has a tool that can identify the exact model of graphics card. Using your laptop, visit Nvidia’s website and click the Download Drivers link.

The first option on this page allows you to choose the driver yourself. The second option will automatically find out which graphics card you have and choose the drivers you need. Click the link for Graphics Drivers under Option 2.

The page will ask you to confirm installation of either an ActiveX control if you are using Internet Explorer, or a Java component if you are using Firefox. Safari and Chrome are not supported by this tool.

Once it has scanned your PC it will tell you exactly what card you have, even if it is not an Nvidia graphics card. For Nvidia cards it will tell you which driver you currently have installed, and recommend the latest one that will work for your card and the version of Windows you are running.

However, even with the correct drivers installed, many laptops are not best suited for playing the most demanding 3D games. Most use integrated graphics cards that simply aren’t as powerful as those in desktop PCs.

With the most detailed 3D games such as Crysis Warhead and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, most laptops will struggle even at the lowest detail settings, although there are some games that will run well.

Strategy games often run better than fast-paced action games. Civilization 4 and Sins of a Solar Empire are two games that will play well on an average laptop with an integrated graphics card. Alternatively, try older action games such as Half Life 2, which aren’t the most detailed by today’s standard but are still good fun.

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