Do you own an AMD graphics card and want to know exactly which model you have? Identifying your AMD graphics card can be a tricky process if you don’t know what to look for, but it doesn’t have to be. In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn the different ways you can use to identify your graphics card, from checking the model name and number on the card itself to using software to detect the type of card installed. With the information you’ll gain from this guide, you’ll be able to quickly and easily identify your AMD graphics card and make sure you have the right drivers and other software updates to get the best performance.
How To Tell Which Graphics Card Is Being Used AMD
1. Identifying Your Graphics Card
PC manufacturers can make their own graphics card models and they may not be the same as the model you have. The GPU is the most important part of a graphics card, but some manufacturers will also use different names for this component on their cards. This is why it’s important to know which model you have before you start troubleshooting your problems.
2. Identifying Your Drivers And Software Updates
Some PC manufacturers will install custom drivers for their systems, which can confuse which drivers are compatible with your system or not. If your PC manufacturer has installed specific drivers for their system, then it’s important to know what version of that driver you’re using to avoid an issue that may prevent you from getting optimal performance from your PC components.
3. Checking For Updates In Amd Driver & System Software
All AMD devices have a built-in driver update utility that allows users to check whether there are any available updates or not without having to install any drivers. This is a quick and easy way to check if there are any available updates for your AMD graphics card.
4. Locate The Gpu On Your AMD Graphic Card
If you want to start troubleshooting your problems, it’s important to know exactly what component you have installed on your system. The GPU is the most important part of a graphics card, but some manufacturers will also use different names for this component on their cards. To find out what model of graphics card you have installed, check the label or box that came with your system or motherboard for your model number and name of the GPU.
5. Locate The AMD Logo
The AMD logo should be located on your PC’s motherboard, usually just above the CPU socket. If you’re not sure where it is, check your motherboard manual or contact your manufacturer for assistance.
6. Check Your Drivers & Software Update
If you’ve already run into problems with your system, then an update for your drivers or software may have been installed by a third party that could be causing problems. To find out if there are any updates available for your system, go to the AMD website and click on Device Manager under the Support tab. Clicking on System will open the Device Manager window and show all the devices that are currently installed on your computer and what versions of those drivers are installed.
Identifying Your AMD Graphics Card Through The Card Itself
1. Check The AMD Logo
If you can’t find the AMD logo, check your card directly. It should be on the side of the card, usually just to the left of where it plugs into your computer.
2. Locate The AMD Model Number
If you still can’t locate your model number, visit this page for a complete list of features available with each version of the graphics card and their associated model numbers. You may be able to find your version there. If not, then check this article for more information on identifying which versions of GPUs are available from other manufacturers.
3. Look For An Amd Logo At The Bottom
The bottom of most Radeon models features an AMD GPU logo as part of a holographic badge that’s made out of reflective glass with a texture that looks like brushed metal or plastic (depending on what manufacturer you’re looking at). If you don’t see or hear anything regarding a holographic logo, take that as a sign that your card is missing. Nonetheless, you can identify the bottoms of graphics cards by their shape and placement in the chassis.
4. Check For An And Logo On The Back
If you’re not seeing a holographic logo on your graphics card, then check for an AMD logo on the back of your card. Common locations include top/back side, bottom/side, or back/side. Since they can be found on any surface of the card, try each different location to see if it’s covered. Sometimes they are only visible when taken apart and some designs may have them embedded in places you can’t see even if you attempt to remove and replace parts. Generally, the design is located either near one of the plugs that go into your system or on the top right side (if facing it when laid flat). The main thing to look out for is where they are located and how they are positioned
5. Identify Your Card Through The Amd Installed Driver
Unsure if it’s a driver issue or not, but if the driver has been determined to be the issue, you can try updating different versions of the same card’s drivers to see which one works better. For example, if you have an AMD Radeon R7 260X, try installing AMD Radeon Software Crimson Edition 16.2.2 instead of just AMD Radeon Software Crimson Edition 16.2.0 (or whatever version is currently installed). If that doesn’t work then you can try another driver version or uninstall and reinstall with a different toolset such as Catalyst Control Center for Windows 8 and Windows 10.
How To Identify Your Graphics Card Using Software
1. Identify Your Card
Identifying your card through a software utility like GPU-Z is relatively easy and will help you keep tabs on which hardware you’re running. For example, if you want to see where all of your system’s memory, storage, or PCI-E cables are being used, simply install GPU-Z and run the application. You can also see what drivers your current GPU is running as shown below in this section. “Supported GPUs” under “Misc” information indicates not all of them are supported with every version of Windows (they may be compatible with the OS but that doesn’t mean they’re supported).
2. Identify Your Driver Version
For more accurate identification and to prevent conflicts, you’ll also want to use GPU-Z to check the driver version that’s installed on your graphics card as shown below:
3. Identify Your Design
If using AMD’s version of GPU-Z, there are several different symbols and icons you can use to identify your design. For example, if you see “RB” near “Recommended”, then the card is a relatively recent design and likely not compatible with games that require DirectX 10 or 11.
4. Check For Crossfire
To check for multi-GPU solutions that are supported, look at the icons next to a particular card’s name. If there are two cards being used on one system, each of them will have its icon. For example, in this screenshot below, you can see two AMD Radeon R9 290Xs are being used together:
5. More Information On Identifying Your Graphics Card
As with anything related to computers, there are some different things you’ll want to check out before purchasing. For example, what parts are used in your motherboard or motherboard compatibility issues, or whether you have an Intel processor versus an AMD processor? If you’ve read the above information and think it’s worthwhile, then click the “more” link below for more detailed reviews on GPUs from AMD and Nvidia.
Using Third-Party Software To Identify Your Graphics Card
1. Amd Overdrive
One of the best ways to find out what kind of driver you have is by using AMD Overdrive. The program will automatically download the latest drivers and let you know if they are compatible with your system. This can be done through a browser on your browser as shown below, or as an executable file that can be downloaded directly onto a flash drive or CD/DVD if you prefer.
2. Auto Driver Identifier
Another great method to determine your graphics card is by using Auto Driver Identifier which it will attempt to identify your hardware combination because it often finds successful combinations that users have used in the past like this one in Windows 8:
3. Graphics Card Information Downloader
Another free utility you can use is Graphics Card Information Downloader from Nvidia which it will provide details about both video cards and processors in your system along with some options to test for hardware conflicts or errors (helps to identify hardware incompatibilities):
4. Gpu-Z
Nvidia has its software that lets you view the details of your GPU called Geforce Experience. If you have an Nvidia card, then it may be worth checking out to see if your graphics card appears in the results as shown below (if it is not, then you have either a hybrid or AMD card [or both]). Otherwise, check our other articles on this site that show up under the “Graphics Cards” category for more information
Conclusion
When it comes to gaming, a good graphics card is essential. While CPUs and other components are important, choosing the right graphics card for your needs can make all the difference, particularly if you are into competitive gaming. With the information in this guide, you’ll be able to quickly and easily identify your AMD graphics card and make sure you have the right drivers and other software updates to get the best performance.
