The Download

• Use Task Manager to check your hardware. Locate the CPU,memory,GPU, anddisk sections in thePerformancetab.
• Compare that with the game's recommended specs on its website or the physical box.
• If your PC can't handle the game, tune your computer if possible or upgrade the hardware.
  

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:

1. Find the game's recommended hardware requirements by looking at its digital store page. Look for aSystem Requirementsor similar section.

   If you've purchased a physical copy, check the back of the box. The manual may also have more information.

2. Check your computer's specs. One easy way to do that is through Task Manager. Open the tool by pressingCtrl+Shift+Esc, and then take note of the details in theCPU, Memory, GPU, and Disksections of thePerformancetab.

   

   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.

3. Compare the specifications of your PC with the minimum and recommended hardware requirements for the game you want to play.

   If your computer matches or exceeds them, then you should have no problem playing. If it doesn't, you might run into some trouble and should consider buying a new PC or upgrading its components.

Minimum Specs Are Important

Most games have both minimum and recommended hardware requirements. To play the game at its lowest settings, you need a PC that 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 matches or exceeds the minimum specifications, as different generations of CPUs and GPUs aren't always easily directly comparable. This becomes even more complicated when you consider laptop CPUs and GPUs, which also aren't easily comparable to their desktop counterparts.

Here's a good rule of thumb: 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 several 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:

1. 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. For example, delete unnecessary files to free up space or clear RAM to free up the memory to be used for the game.

2. Update your graphics card drivers to the latest version.

3. Reinstall the game you want to play, but don't forget to back up any saves and settings you want to preserve.

4. Check the developer's blog or social media to see if there are known problems with the game that may be fixed in an upcoming patch. If there are, you might just need to wait.

5. 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!