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To check whether a game will run on your PC, compare the game’s current minimum and recommended system requirements with your computer’s operating system, processor, memory, graphics card, storage, and any stated graphics-feature requirements. On Windows, the built-in DirectX Diagnostic Tool (DxDiag) shows several of those details. Passing the comparison is a useful screening check—not a promise of a particular frame rate or smooth performance.
1. Find the game’s current requirements
Start with the exact game and edition you plan to play. Check its current store page or the publisher’s support page; Steam says each game’s Store page lists its system requirements. Steam Support: Troubleshooting Game Performance Issues – Software
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Write down the minimum and recommended requirements separately. Include the operating system, CPU, RAM, graphics card, storage, and any specifically named DirectX version or graphics feature. Minimum and recommended are different reference points: the former is the publisher’s stated baseline, while the latter is the more relevant comparison if you want to aim above that baseline. The listing may not promise a particular frame rate or graphics setting.
2. Find your PC’s specifications in Windows
DxDiag is built into Windows and can show the processor, installed memory, DirectX information, graphics adapter, and driver details.
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- Open Start and search for
dxdiag, or pressWindows+R, typedxdiag, and press Enter. If Windows asks whether to check for digitally signed drivers, choose the option to proceed. - On the System tab, note the operating system, processor, memory, and DirectX version. Microsoft documents the DirectX-version check here: Which version of DirectX is on your PC?
- Open the Display tab and note the graphics device name and driver version/date. Steam’s driver instructions identify this tab as a place to find those details: Steam Support: Updating Drivers.
- Check how much free storage you have in Windows Settings or File Explorer, then compare it with the game’s stated storage requirement. DxDiag does not tell you how much free disk space is available.
3. Compare the same categories
Use the full model names where possible. A GPU or CPU that sounds similar is not necessarily equivalent, and comparing only clock speed, brand, or DirectX version can be misleading.
| Check | What to compare | What a mismatch can mean |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Your Windows version or other supported OS against the game’s listed OS | The game may not install or launch on an unsupported system. |
| Processor (CPU) | Your full CPU model against the listed minimum and recommended models | Model generation and capabilities matter; clock speed alone is not a reliable match. |
| Memory (RAM) | Installed system memory against the stated capacity | Less than the listed amount means the stated memory baseline is not met; capacity alone does not predict overall performance. |
| Graphics (GPU) | The exact adapter shown in DxDiag against the listed graphics hardware | Integrated and dedicated graphics differ, and products with similar names can have different capabilities. |
| DirectX or graphics features | Any required DirectX version, feature level, or shader requirement named by the game | The installed DirectX runtime and the graphics hardware’s supported features are separate checks. |
| Storage | The game’s stated space requirement against available free space | You may need to free space or choose another drive before installation or updates. |
| Driver | Your graphics driver’s version and date against compatible updates for your hardware | An outdated driver can cause trouble even if the graphics hardware appears to meet the requirement. |
Microsoft’s DxDiag instructions help identify the installed DirectX version, but that number alone does not show whether your graphics hardware supports a game’s required feature. Check the game’s requirements and the graphics hardware’s capabilities separately. Steam Support: DirectX and Pixel Shader Requirements for Games on Steam
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4. Interpret the comparison carefully
If your PC meets the minimum requirements
That means the listed baseline is met, not that the game will deliver a particular resolution, graphics quality, or FPS. Valve cautions: “Simply meeting the system requirements does not mean you’ll have high FPS or strong in-game performance.” Results vary by game and PC; being close to the listed requirements can still be associated with launch or performance problems. Steam Support: Troubleshooting Game Performance Issues – Software Steam Support: Games do not run after ‘Preparing to Launch’
If your PC is below one or more requirements
Identify the exact shortfall—such as OS, CPU, RAM, graphics, storage, or a required feature—before deciding what to do. Do not assume a graphics-card upgrade is the answer: the limiting component may be something else, and laptops or prebuilt PCs can have restrictions on what can be upgraded. Compatibility depends on the specific PC, including its chassis and power supply.
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If you use a laptop or integrated graphics
Check the actual graphics adapter listed in DxDiag, not just the laptop model or processor brand. Many notebooks use integrated graphics, which can be less powerful than dedicated graphics; actual capability and game performance depend on the specific chip and title. If the laptop has both integrated and dedicated graphics, confirm which adapter the game is using when diagnosing poor performance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.5. If a game struggles despite meeting its requirements
- Check for a compatible graphics-driver update from NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, or your PC manufacturer, as appropriate for your hardware. Steam notes that outdated drivers can affect performance even when video hardware meets or exceeds a game’s requirements.
- On a hybrid-graphics PC, verify that the game is using the intended graphics adapter.
- Look up the game’s own support guidance for the specific launch or performance symptom.
EA’s DxDiag guide also recommends comparing a PC’s system specifications with a game’s minimum requirements: EA Help: Diagnose PC game issues using DxDiag.
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