How to Know If Your PC Can Run a Game Before Buying It
dxdiag for your specs, the store page for the requirements, then a straight side-by-side — with which single component to check first if you only have time for one.
Before buying a game, it is better to know whether your PC will be able to run it — nothing more frustrating than downloading it and finding out afterwards. There is no need to install any third-party program or browser plugin: Windows already includes everything needed to see your machine's specifications.
Check your PC's specifications
With the dxdiag tool, included in Windows.
Look up the game's requirements
On its Steam page, or the official website.
Compare piece by piece
Processor, graphics card and RAM matter most.
1. Check your PC's specifications
Press Windows + R, type dxdiag and press
Enter. A window will open with all the information you need: on the
"System" tab you will see your processor and RAM, and on the
"Display" tab your graphics card. You do not need to download
anything for this — it is a tool that is already installed.
2. Look up the game's requirements
On the game's page on Steam (or whichever store you are buying it from), scroll down to "System Requirements". You will see two columns: minimum (the game will run, but may be choppy or in low quality) and recommended (a smooth experience, with better graphics quality).
3. Compare
| Component | Your PC (dxdiag) | Where to check it in dxdiag |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Write it down here | "System" tab |
| RAM memory | Write it down here | "System" tab |
| Graphics card | Write it down here | "Display" tab |
Tip: if you have to prioritise, the graphics card is usually the component that limits modern games the most — if you are only going to look closely at one piece, make it that one.
What to do if you meet exactly the minimum requirements
The game will run, but you will probably have to lower the graphics quality (resolution, shadows, effects) from the game's own options for it to run smoothly. Meeting "minimum" is not the same as meeting "recommended" — it is playable, not the best experience.
Note: you will find websites that analyse your PC automatically (like "Can You Run It"), but they usually require installing a small program or plugin, and their results are not always 100% accurate — comparing it yourself with dxdiag, even though it takes two extra minutes, is more reliable and requires installing nothing external.
If the result is that your PC falls short, our guides on how much RAM you need and SSD versus HDD help you decide what is worth upgrading first.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I check my own computer's specifications?
Press Windows + R, type dxdiag and press Enter. It is a tool included in Windows that shows your processor, RAM and graphics card with nothing to install.
Does 'minimum requirements' mean it will run well or just barely?
It means the game will run, but probably with reduced graphics quality and no guarantee of running fully smoothly. For a comfortable experience, the ideal is to get closer to the 'recommended' requirements.
Which component usually limits the most, the graphics card or the processor?
In most modern games, the graphics card is usually the component that sets the limit before the processor does — although for games with heavy simulation or many characters on screen at once, the processor can also be the bottleneck.