Nothing kills the hype faster than a 70 GB download that crashes on launch. Before you install anything, spend two minutes finding five numbers: CPU, RAM, GPU, free space and your drive type. Windows already shows all of them. No sketchy "system checker" download needed.
Step 1: CPU and RAM
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Go to System, then About.
- Read two lines: Processor (your CPU, for example an Intel Core i5 or an AMD Ryzen 5) and Installed RAM (for example 16.0 GB).
While you are there, check System type: modern games need a 64-bit operating system.
Step 2: GPU and drive type
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click the Performance tab.
- Click GPU 0 (and GPU 1 if you have one): the name in the top right is your graphics card. On gaming laptops, the dedicated card (NVIDIA GeForce or AMD Radeon) is the one that counts, not the integrated Intel or AMD graphics.
- Click each Disk: Task Manager shows whether it is an SSD or an HDD.
Want the full picture? Press Windows + R, type dxdiag and hit Enter. The Display tab shows your GPU and its dedicated memory (VRAM), which matters for games like Arknights: Endfield that ask for a GTX 1060 with 6 GB.
Step 3: free space
Open File Explorer, click This PC and look at the bar under each drive. Leave margin: some launchers ask for far more free space during install than the final game size. Zenless Zone Zero's launcher can ask for up to 110 GB free, and Arknights: Endfield wants 45 GB extra to unpack on top of its 60 GB.
Step 4: compare with the game's requirements
Every game lists two columns: minimum and recommended.
- Minimum means the game starts and is playable, usually at low settings and 30 fps.
- Recommended means the experience the developers actually designed for, often high settings at 60 fps.
Match your numbers line by line. Here are real examples from our guides:
| Game | Min RAM | Min GPU | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Entropy | 4 GB | GTX 460 class | 8 GB |
| Star Trek Fleet Command | 8 GB | Intel HD 4400 | Not published |
| Raid: Shadow Legends | 8 GB | DirectX 11 or Vulkan | 5 GB |
| Zenless Zone Zero | 8 GB | GTX 970 | 60 to 70 GB |
| Arknights: Endfield | 16 GB | GTX 1060 6 GB | 60 GB + 45 GB to unpack |
| NTE | 16 GB | GTX 1660 / RX 5600 | 70 GB |
How to read GPU names without a spreadsheet
GPU names are a mess, but two rules get you most of the way:
- Higher series, usually faster. For the cards today's free games ask for, the order is roughly GTX 1060 < GTX 1660 < RTX 2060 < RTX 3060.
- Within a series, the bigger number is faster. An RTX 3060 beats an RTX 3050; a GTX 1660 beats a GTX 1650.
Not sure where your card sits? Our GPU guide for free PC games lines up the cards that today's free games actually ask for.
If you are below the minimum
- RAM is often the cheapest fix. Going from 8 GB to 16 GB unlocks games like Endfield and NTE. See 16 GB vs 32 GB RAM.
- An SSD fixes long loads. More on that in SSD vs HDD for free PC games.
- Or pick a lighter game. Project Entropy and Star Trek Fleet Command run on modest hardware. Our list of free PC games by play style shows the RAM each one needs.
Bottom line
Settings for CPU and RAM, Task Manager for GPU and SSD, File Explorer for free space. Two minutes, five numbers, zero wasted downloads.
FAQ
Do I need to download a tool to check my specs?
What matters most: CPU, GPU or RAM?
My PC is just under the minimum. Will the game run?
How do I check specs on a Mac?
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