Are you looking to check the specs on your Windows 10 computer? What type of RAM does your PC have? And what size is the processor? These are all things that you may wish to explore on your computer. You may also want to check PC’s specs in Windows 10 as part of the process of buying a new computer. This article shows you how to check computer specs in Windows 10. We have also made a video how to find computer specs in Windows 10. Click here to jump to the video
Quick method to find computer specs windows 10
To check computer specs on Windows 10, you need to do the following;
- Search for “This PC,” on your computer.
- Right click on the “This PC,” app.
- Click on “Properties.”
- Your computer’s specifications will now be displayed.
What information is displayed?
The following is some of the information that is displayed when you use the above method to check a computer’s specs on a Windows 10 computer;
- The Operation System Type and Version: On my computer, I have Windows 10 Home. Other Operation Systems that are available out there are Linux, macOS, Chrome OS and Ubuntu.
- The Processor: My computer runs on the Intel Pentium processor
- Processor Speed: The CPU is important when buying a new computer. You don’t want to buy a PC that has a very slow processor. Mine is clocked at 2.00GHz, which is okay from an entry-level view. I advise people not to buy anything below this.
- Installed RAM: Memory is another important consideration, particularly when buying a new computer. You don’t want to buy a PC that has too little RAM, as this will severely curtail it’s performance. Mine has 3.00GB and performance is okay but can be frustrating. So, maybe go for 4GB and above.
- System Type: Computers can either be 64 bit or 32 bit. Most modern computers are now 64 bit, so go for that when buying a new PC.
- Computer name: You can change the name of your computer.
Video showing how to check PC specs in Windows 10
The video below shows how to check computer specs in Windows 10. You will notice that there are 2 methods. The first one is the one mentioned above. It’s good at showing you basic information with your regard to your laptop or desktop’s specs. However, if you wish to go deeper, you will want to use method 2, which provides you with a lot more information.
How to find Computer Specs Windows 10: Method 2
The method outlined at the top gives you the basic information as far as how to find computer specs on Windows 10 is concerned. For those looking for more computer specs details, the good news is that there is a better method of checking out a PC’s specifications;
- Type “msinfo” in your computer’s Search bar
- Click on “System Information.”
- The “System Information,” will appear. It displays comprehensive information about your Windows 10 desktop or laptop’s specs.
What information is displayed?
The table below shows some of the information that’s displayed when you use the above method to view PC specs on Windows 10 computers.
| OS Name | Microsoft Windows 10 Home |
| Version | 10.0.18363 Build 18363 |
| Other OS Description | Not Available |
| OS Manufacturer | Microsoft Corporation |
| System Name | DESKTOP-P35SQK7 |
| System Manufacturer | Hewlett-Packard |
| System Model | HP G62 Notebook PC |
| System Type | x64-based PC |
| System SKU | XU596EA#ACQ |
| Processor | Intel(R) Pentium(R) CPU P6100 @ 2.00GHz, 1999 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 2 Logical Processor(s) |
| BIOS Version/Date | Hewlett-Packard F.48, 9/11/2011 |
| SMBIOS Version | 2.6 |
| Embedded Controller Version | 60.80 |
| BIOS Mode | Legacy |
| BaseBoard Manufacturer | Hewlett-Packard |
| BaseBoard Product | 1439 |
| Secure Boot State | Unsupported |
| PCR7 Configuration | Binding Not Possible |
| Windows Directory | C:\WINDOWS |
| System Directory | C:\WINDOWS\system32 |
| Boot Device | \Device\HarddiskVolume1 |
| Locale | United States |
| BaseBoard Version | 60.50 |
| Platform Role | Mobile |
| Hardware Abstraction Layer | Version = “10.0.18362.628” |
| User Name | DESKTOP-P35SQK7\blahblahblha |
| Time Zone | South Africa Standard Time |
| Installed Physical Memory (RAM) | 3.00 GB |
| Total Physical Memory | 2.86 GB |
| Available Physical Memory | 102 MB |
| Total Virtual Memory | 6.55 GB |
| Available Virtual Memory | 2.80 GB |
| Page File Space | 3.68 GB |
| Page File | C:\pagefile.sys |
| Kernel DMA Protection | Off |
| Virtualization-based security | Not enabled |
| Device Encryption Support | Reasons for failed automatic device encryption… |
| Hyper-V | VM Monitor Mode Extensions No |
| Hyper-V | Second Level Address Translation Extensions No |
| Hyper-V | Virtualization Enabled in Firmware No |
| Hyper-V | Data Execution Protection Yes |
Your Windows 10 PC will have different specs
The above is a summary of the specs on my Windows 10 computer. Yours will probably be slightly different. As an example, my computer’s processor, the Intel(R) Pentium(R) CPU P6100, does not have virtualization and hyper-threading. The processor is rather entry level. It’s actually a version of the Core i3 but with the virtualization and hyperthreading stripped off. It was reportedly made so that the Pentium name could be kept alive. To be frank, when I bought my computer, I didn’t know anything about checking the specs on Windows 10 computers. It’s fortunate that I bought a PC that’s actually functional.
Computer Components Explained in Detail
So, what does all the information that is given above mean? In this section, I take a look at some of the components that you are likely to come across when researching the specs on your computer. Having an understanding of what the most important components are and what they are used for is paramount, particularly if you are looking to buy a new PC.
The Operation System
I have already briefly talked about the Operation System above. My computer, like 77% of all the computers that are out there, runs on the Windows Operation System. The latest version of Windows is Windows 10. Windows 10 itself has a number of modes. My computer runs on the Windows 10 Home version. The other well known version of Windows 10 is Windows 10 Pro.
The second most popular Operation System is macOS which commands 13% of the market. Google has an OS that’s called Chrome OS. Another popular Operation System is Linux, which commands 2% of the market. You can see in the above table that my OS’ version is 10.0.18363 Build 18363. This is not something that you are probably going to be worried about, so I shall not dwell much on it.
Microsoft used to periodically bring out new versions of Windows. Thus there was Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8 etc. However, the company resolved a while back that Windows 10 will be the final version of Windows. There will not be any Windows 11 coming up any time soon!
That does not mean, however, that the OS is no longer being renewed. In fact, a few days ago, my computer got upgraded to Windows 10 version 1909. The upgrade itself is actually very big and takes several hours. In fact, if Microsoft was still following previous naming conventions, the latest version of Windows 10 would be called Windows 13 or something.
Other OS Description
If you have another Operation System on your computer, then it will show up here. Most people are not actually aware that they can have multiple operation systems on a single computer. You can, as an example, have Windows 10 AND Linux on there.
OS Manufacturer
Windows is Manufactured by Microsoft. Linux is Open Source, while Chrome OS is made by Google. Meanwhile, macOS is made by Apple.
System Name
This is your computer’s name. A computer’s name can be changed at any time. It’s nothing complicated, so I won’t draw much on it in this article.
System Manufacturer
There are many computer manufacturers out there. Mine was manufactured by HP. Other manufacturers include Lenovo, Asus, Acer, Samsung and many more.
System Model
My computer model is HP G62 Notebook PC. Again, there are countless computer models out there. My HP G62 laptop has turned out to be durable. When I bought it, I though I as going to have it only for a few years. However, the years have since gone by and I am now in my 10 and my laptop is still to suffer any major breakdowns. The only thing that I have ever need to do was to change the WiFi card. Last year, I also serviced my laptop, by opening it up and removing the dirt and lint that was threatening to clog the vents. So, overall, I have been fortunate.
System Type
I have already mentioned that CPUs can be 32 bit or 64 bit. 64 bit processors are more advanced in that they can handle more data. One of the things that you need to understand is that 32 bit computers can only take up to 4GB RAM.
64 bit computers, on the other hand, can take up to 16 exabytes of RAM. One exabyte is equivalent to one billion gigabytes. So, at 16 billion gigabytes, it’s probably more RAM than any computer will ever need.
Processor/CPU
Now, as far as computer specs are concerned, the processor is probably one of the most important components. A processor is THE computer in a computer. It is the one that carries out the logical calculations that drive a computer. This is referred to as processing. A computer’s processor is also referred to as the CPU (central processing unit).
Processor Specs
The following are the processor specs on my computer;
Intel(R) Pentium(R) CPU P6100 @ 2.00GHz, 1999 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 2 Logical Processor(s)
CPU specifications explained
I have already given a part explanation of the CPU that’s on my computer. To repeat, it’s an Intel Pentium CPU P6100. This is in the same family as the early model core i3. My CPU is clocked at 2.00GHz which is the sweet spot as far as entry level computers are concerned. It has 2 cores. Modern computers come with 4 or more cores. I purchased my computer around 8 years ago.
My CPU also has 2 logical (virtual) processors. In reality, this means I have practically 4 cores on my computer, the two actual cores and the 2 virtual processors. That’s probably why the computer has continued to perform rather well, in spite of its age.
What does it mean that a processor has multiple cores?
Processors used to have only one core. Back then, things were a bit less complicated. Software that was available during that era was designed for this one core. Today, CPUs have multiple cores. What this means is that the computer practically has a number of processors that’s similar to the number of cores. If a computer has a processor that has 2 cores, then it practically has 2 processors. If a computer has a processor that has 8 cores, then it practically has 8 processors.
Is that really the case?
In reality, things are a bit more complicated. Indeed, things are always a bit complicated when it comes to computer specs. Here is the thing, if you have a PC that has 4 cores, each of which is clocked at 2GHz, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have an 8GHz processor on there. You can check out the dynamics of what I am talking about here.
Multiple cores only work if you have the necessary software
The reality is, you can have multiple cores on your CPU, but that is really not going to be useful if the programs that you are running were designed for only one core. If that is the case, then having an 8 core processor means nothing. That’s because the computer will only be able to use one core on your CPU.
Why processor speed is important
Processor speed is something that you really need to be cognizant of when buying a computer. I have already mentioned that the process of buying my own laptop was a hit and miss affair. I didn’t know anything about processors and other computer specs.
Okay, maybe I exaggerate a little bit. I wasn’t exactly dim when it came to computers. I had been using them for a bit. However, I didn’t know anything about how to check the specs on a Windows 10 PC. I didn’t have an appreciation of the need to be aware of the computer’s specs before buying.
All that I knew was that I wanted a new computer. Wanted, not needed! And I went into a store one day and bought the one that aesthetically caught my eye.
How to choose a computer or laptop
I have a friend whose laptop was stolen a while back. Dude was very glad that thieves made off with the thing. He had been trying to come up with excuses to get rid of the gadget for quite some time? Why, well, because he didn’t bother to check the computer’s specs when making the purchase.
My friend bought a computer that had a processor of around 1.5GHz. Booting up the thing, even when new, took ages. Not only that, but even opening simple programs was nightmarish. But why do manufacturers make computers that have these types of specification.
Why manufacturers make low specs computers
You may be wondering, while trying to how to find computer specs in Windows 10, why computer manufacturers make low specs PCs. Computer manufacturers are in it for business, and there are several selling points that contribute to the development of low specs computers. The following are a few of them;
- Power savings: People want to have laptops and desktops that do not consume that much power. Unfortunately, there is a relationship between power consumption and processing speed. In most instances, a computer that has a bigger CPU will eat up more power. So, having a CPU that’s clocked at around 1.5GHz means that laptops can be produced whose batteries can last up to 8 hours. Compare that with around 3 hours on my computer, and you will understand the motivation. Unfortunately, the low processing speed can turn into 8 hours of frustration, unless you use your computer only for basic things.
- Price: There is also a relationship between a computer’s price and it’s processing speed. That’s because the processor is one of the most expensive components on a computer. So, what it means is that PCs whose specs are rather low key continue to be manufactured because they can be sold at a lower price. Again, should you choose a laptop or desktop whose specifications are low simply because it costs less, then you will be setting yourself up for long periods of frustration.
The BIOS Version
BIOS stands for Basic Input/Output System. BIOS is important when turning on computers. It is used by a computer’s CPU to turn on the PC. It’s one of the first pieces of software that run when you turn on your computer. BIOS acts as an interface between hardware on a computer and it’s Operation System. The BIOS has the following functions;
- Checking the PC’s hardware for errors.
- Finding the operation system.
Windows Directory
This is the directory in which your Operation System is installed. On my computer, that’s C:\WINDOWS. This is probably the directory where the OS will be installed on most computers.
Boot Device
The boot device is another component that you will take note of when you set out to find computer specs on Windows 10. The boot device is the device that’s used for booting up the computer. This is usually the hard drive. However, if you have multiple operation systems on your computer, you may have options when it comes to the boot device. Also note that you can boot your computer from a USB or from a CD/DVD. You would probably want to do this if you are looking to reinstall your Operation System.
How to check system specs windows 10: User Name
The user name identifies the person who is currently logged into the computer. On your computer, that will probably be your name. To be fair, this is probably not a very useful piece of information when it comes to how to check specs on Windows 10.
Installed Physical Memory (RAM)
RAM is one of the components that people are looking to find out when they set out to see computer specs on Windows 10 computers. I have already noted that RAM is an important component on your computer. It’s one of the components that determine the performance of your computer. So, we cannot talk about Windows 10 specs without talking about the RAM. But what is RAM and why is it important when it comes to Windows 10 specs?
What is RAM?
I am not going to dwell much on RAM in this article. Check out my what is RAM article if you are interested in learning more. All that I can say here is that RAM stands for Random Access Memory. It’s a type of temporary computer memory. You will often hear that RAM is volatile. What this means is that the moment you turn off your computer, everything that’s on the RAM will be wiped off. This is opposed to the memory that’s on the hard drive, which is permanent. This means if power is turned off, everything that’s on the hard drive is retained.
Why is RAM Important?
If you research how to view system specs in Windows 10, one of the things that you will realize is that RAM is an important component on computers for the simple reason that the information that’s on there can quickly be accessed by the processor. The same cannot be said of information that’s on the hard drive. So, as you are working, the information that you are working on gets stored on the RAM, from where you can access it quickly. Without RAM, computers would be clunky and difficult to use.
Best amount of RAM
I have already noted that you probably should not buy a computer whose RAM is below 4GB. Otherwise, you are going to be in for some periods of frustration. When I bought my own computer, I had no idea how to check laptop specs in Windows 10. I have already spoken about this. As a result, I bought a computer whose RAM stands at 3GB.
To be frank, the thing is good enough, considering that I am not into gaming or all that graphics intensive stuff. However, I do feel the lag once in a while. If I were to do it again, I would probably buy a PC that has 8GB RAM. In fact, I am thinking about upgrading my poor laptop to 8GB RAM. So, it’s important to know how to find PC specs in Windows 10. That way, you wont buy a computer that gives you a headache.
Available Physical Memory
One thing that you will notice is that the available physical memory is going to be different each time you open System Information. The amount available is actually going to depend on the number of programs that you have open on your computer.
How much RAM should I use?
This is a topic that I have previously covered on this site. Most people, when they begin checking system specs on Windows 10 computers, get worried upon finding that they have only a small amount of RAM available for use.
As an example, when I extracted the information in the table above, my computer only had 102MB of RAM out of 3GB of RAM available. Most people check computer specs in Windows 10 and they think they have damaged their computers or something because they have used up too much Memory.
However, that is not the case. RAM on a computer is meant to be used. Of course, you should have something for use when you suddenly open other programs. However, the fact that your computer is using up almost all of the available RAM is a good sign.
Close programs that are not in use
One way of ensuring that you do not strain your computer, as far as RAM is concerned, is by closing all programs that are not being used. Some people get carried away and they open tens of tabs on their browsers, along with other computer programs. You should only do this if you have enough amounts of RAM available.
On my computer, what I do is, I know when the programs that are open are beginning to be a drag on the performance of the CPU. As soon as I notice some lag, I close a few programs that I am not using.
Virtual Memory
You can see in the above table that my laptop has 6.55 GB Virtual Memory. To be fair, virtual memory is not something that most people will ever care about when it comes to system specs in Windows 10. Virtual Memory is important, nevertheless. But what is it?
Virtual memory is mean to compensate for shortfalls in your physical memory (RAM). Virtual memory is actually a portion of the hard drive that’s set aside to store, on a temporary basis, data that cannot be stored on the RAM.
Virtual memory is not as good as Physical Memory. The fact that it’s on the hard drive means it’s still hard to reach for the processor. So, instead of increasing the size of the virtual memory on your computer, you may want to get additional RAM if your PC permits it.
Page File Space
Another component that you are likely to come across when you set out to find system specs in Windows 10 is information about the Page File Space. But what is the Page File Space and is it important for computers.
What is a Page File?
A page file or paging file is another reserved piece of space on a computer’s hard drive that is meant to compliment the operations of the physical memory. This only goes to show how important RAM is in computing. The page file adds to the RAM by acting as storage for data that has not recently been used on a computer.
Best Page File Size on Windows 10 Computers
The really great thing about Windows 10 is that you don’t have to worry about the paging file. That’s because the Operation System automatically determines and sets the best paging file size for your computer. As you can see in the above table, my computer currently has a page file space of 3.68 GB. That means 3.68 GB on my computer’s hard drive has been set aside to compliment the RAM that’s installed on there.
How do I increase the Page File in Windows 10
If, for some reason, you decide that you want to increase the Page File on your computer, then here is how you go about doing it;
- Search for “This PC” on your computer.
- Right click on the “This PC,” icon.
- Click on “Properties.”
- Click on “Advanced System Settings.”
- Go to “Advanced.”
- Click on “Settings.”
- In “Performance Options,” click on “Advanced.”
- Under “Virtual Memory,” click on “Change.”
- You will see that you have “Automatically manage paging files for all drives,” checked.
- Uncheck this option.
- Choose the drive for which you wish to change the page file.
- Choose “Custom” size.
- Set the minimum and maximum sizes for your paging file.
- Click “Set.”
- Click on “Apply” and “OK,” on all the open windows.
Hyper-V
I am the curious type, and the moment I made my purchase, I set out to check my Windows 10 computer’s specs. To be frank, checking your system specs on Windows 10 is something that you should probably do before buying your computer. As said earlier, I knew nothing when I made my own purchase. Anyway, Hyper V is another of the specs that most people never get to hear about with regard to their PCs.
Hyper V, is probably for geeks. It allows you to run multiple virtual instances of your computer on one machine. You thus have a number of virtual machines on one PC. Each of these acts as if it is actually a separate computer. So, you can have multiple Operation Systems on your computer. As you can see in the above table, Hyper V is disabled on my Processor. If you want to check it out, you can read more on this Microsoft page.
How to check if hardware and software components are in good working order
That’s it for the system summary. However, you can see in the above screenshot that there is a still lot more information in the System Information Window. In fact, everything that we have just been talking about with regard to how to see computer specs in windows 10 was just a summary! However, to avoid taking this article to 10 thousand works, I am going to only look at the most important computer specs in this section.
Hardware Resources
If you expand on Hardware Resources in System Information, you get additional information about your computer. This includes the following;
- Conflicts/Sharing
- DMA
- Forced Hardware
- I/O
- IRQs
- Memory
Clicking on any of the above sections allows you to see whether or not the components within that particular category are in good working order. As an example, I clicked on “Memory,” and the screen in the screenshot below appeared. It shows me that all my “Memory,” components are working fine.
Components
This is another section in System Information that you can be used by those that wish to know how to find computer specs in Windows 10. As you can see in the above screenshot, the “Components,” section contains information about the following items on a PC;
- Multimedia components (audio and video codecs)
- CD-ROM
- Sound Device
- Display
- Infrared
- Input (keyboard and pointing devices)
- Modem
- Network (Adapter, Protocol, WinSock)
- Ports (Serial, Parallel)
- Storage (Drives, Disks, SCSI, IDE)
- Printing
- Problem Devices
- USB
Software Environment
The software environment is another important aspect when talking about computer specs in Windows 10. As you can see in the screenshot above, the Software Environment is composed of the following specs;
- System Drivers
- Environment Variables
- Print Jobs
- Network Connections
- Running Tasks
- Loaded Modules
- Services
- Program Groups
- Startup Programs
- OLE Registration
- Windows Error Reporting.
A Final Word
This has been a rather long article. However, it was worth it, as I sought to show you how to check specs in Windows 10. After reading this article, you should now be able to get PC specs on Windows 10 computers. Information on how to view specs on Windows 10 can be useful if you are about to buy a new computer.
The information is also for the curious. If you are like me, then you will be very interested in how to find your pc specs in Windows 10. Knowing how to check pc specs on a Windows 10 computer can also be useful if you wish to add components to your computer. You may, as a an example, wish to find how much RAM you have on your PC before buying additional Memory.
Anyway, that’s it. Feel free to leave a comment anywhere on this post.
