How Do I Know What Intel Graphics Driver I Have?
Many laptops and low-end desktop computers come with an integrated GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) built into the CPU or processor. If a computer, laptop, or notebook is powered by an Intel processor, it should have an Intel HD graphics of some sort on board.
Intel HD graphics should be sufficient for most mainstream applications such as web browsing, music/video streaming, and even play games. That’s right, depending on your Intel graphics, you can play some games but not at the highest settings. If you’re looking to play graphically-intensive games or do 3D modeling, you will need a dedicated video card from NVIDIA or AMD.
One of the most common questions that people have about integrated graphics is: How do I know what Intel Graphics Driver I have? We’re here to help. Here are some tips to identify your Intel HD graphics drivers and how to download the right drivers for it.
What are Integrated Graphics?
“Integrated” means that the graphics card is embedded with the CPU or processor. This also means that the integrated graphics device will utilize the system’s available memory. The GPU can access about 1 to 5 percent of available memory at any given time, depending on the task at hand.
While it’s not as powerful as dedicated graphics cards, integrated graphics help in keeping the cost of the system down. GPUs can easily cost hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. An integrated GPU also keeps the heat output and power usage down, effectively lengthening the system’s battery life.
Without integrated graphics, you will not be able to do tasks that involve multimedia content such as watching videos or playing games. On top of that, your computer will run slowly with a low-quality display.
How to Identify Your Intel Graphics
There are numerous ways to help you identify your Intel graphics driver version.
Method #1: Use Device Manager
Follow the steps below to identify your drivers via the Device Manager on Windows:
- Navigate to Start > Control Panel.
- Click Device Manager.
- Find the Display Adapter section and expand.
- Right-click Intel® Display Adapter and select Properties.
- Go to the Driver tab and you should see your driver version.
Method #2: Use System Information
You can also use Windows’ System Information to identify your current Intel graphics version:
- Press the Windows key + R to bring up the Run command.
- Type msinfo32 in the Run window and press Enter.
- From the left-hand side, expand the Components section and click Display.
- From here, you should see the driver version of your integrated graphics controller.
How to Update Intel Graphics Driver?
To ensure optimal performance from your integrated graphics device, it’s important you keep its driver up-to-date. For this task, we highly recommend that you use a driver utility tool like Driver Support since it’s a quick and hassle-free method to update drivers.
Follow the steps to update your Intel graphics driver using Driver Support:
- Download Driver Support and install it on your computer, following the registration steps.
- Open the Driver Support tool to perform a quick scan of your computer.
- If your Intel graphics has an available driver for an update, Driver Support will list the device after the scan and provide you with options to automatically install the correct driver.
Keep Your Integrated Graphics Updated
Do you hate experiencing issues with your computer? Driver Support provides an automated solution to keeping your drivers up to date!
