Before you spend your money on a new PC game or a demanding piece of software, it’s crucial to know if your computer can actually handle it. Learning how to find out if your PC can run a specific game or program can save you from the disappointment of a laggy, unplayable experience. There are simple tools and websites that can automatically compare your computer’s hardware against the minimum and recommended system requirements.
Table of Contents
📋 What Are System Requirements?
Every PC game or intensive program has a list of system requirements provided by the developer. These are typically split into two categories. The ‘Minimum’ requirements are the absolute bare-minimum hardware specifications needed to get the game to run, often at the lowest graphical settings and resolution. The ‘Recommended’ requirements are what the developer suggests you have for a smooth and enjoyable experience at higher settings. Your goal is to meet or exceed the recommended specs.
💻 How to Quickly Check Your PC’s Main Specifications
To compare your hardware, you first need to know what you have. You can easily find your PC’s main components in Windows. Press the Windows key + X and select ‘System’ to see your processor (CPU) and installed RAM. For your graphics card (GPU), press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager, click on the ‘Performance’ tab, and select ‘GPU’ from the sidebar. This will show you the name of your graphics card.
🌐 How to Use an Automatic System Requirements Checker
The easiest way to check for compatibility is to use a dedicated website that does the work for you. One of the most popular and reliable is Can You RUN It? from System Requirements Lab. When you visit the site, you can search for the game or program you’re interested in. The site will then prompt you to download a small, safe detection tool that scans your hardware. It then compares your system against the game’s requirements and gives you a simple, easy-to-read report showing whether you can run it and highlighting which components, if any, are below the recommended specifications.
—
“Find Out What Your PC Can’t Run.” Computer Active, no. 716, 13-26 Aug. 2025, p. 52.
More Topics
- How to Navigate the Future of Globalization and Policy
- How ‘Telemigration’ is Changing the Global Workforce
- How the New Globalization Created an Asymmetric World
- How to Understand the New Globalization: The Great Convergence Explained
- How Global Value Chains Reshaped World Trade
- What to Do When Your PC Won’t Turn On
- How to Transfer Files Between Your PC and Phone with Nearby Share
