Skip to main content

What CPU do I have? Here’s how to easily check

AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D installed in a motherboard.
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

The CPU is the single most important component of any computer. Without it, you can't boot up, let alone load an operating system.

Want to know what CPU is inside your PC without taking it apart? That's no problem. Whether you have an Intel or AMD processor, a new PC or a decade old machine, if you're thinking about upgrading to one of the best processors, finding out what your current CPU is takes no time at all. In just a few clicks, you'll know everything you need to know about your PC's CPU.

Recommended Videos

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

5 minutes

What You Need

  • Desktop PC or laptop

Task manager in Windows 11.
Jon Martindale / DigitalTrends

How to check your CPU through Task Manager

Step 1: Right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager to open the task manager.

Checking the CPU in Windows Settings.
Jon Martindale / DigitalTrends

Step 2: Select the Processes tab from the left-hand menu, and if necessary, CPU from the top of the list of components.

Your processor's name and model will be listed in the top-right. You can see here that mine is one of the best AMD Ryzen CPUs, specifically the "AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D." You will also find additional information about it at the bottom of the window, including its active use, number of running processes, its base speed, cache quantities, core counts, and more. You can also use this information to check your CPU's temperature.

Checking system information in Windows 11 to find CPU name.
Jon Martindale / DigitalTrends
Checking the CPU in Windows Settings.
Jon Martindale / DigitalTrends

How to check your CPU through Windows Settings

Another benefit of know which CPU your computer has is that it can help you find the right profile if you plan to overclock your CPU.

Here's how to check which CPU you have using the Windows Settings menu.

Step 1: Open the Windows Settings menu by pressing Windows key+I.

Step 2: Select System from the left-hand menu.

Step 3: Scroll down and select About from the list of options. There you'll find your processor's name, model, and base clock speed next to Processor with additional information about your computer, and its Windows installation.

Checking system information in Windows 11 to find CPU name.
Jon Martindale / DigitalTrends

How to check your CPU through system information

Step 1: Use the Windows search bar to look for System information and select the corresponding result.

Step 2: In the window that appears, you'll find a range of information on your PC in the System Summary that's selected by default. You can find your processor name, number of cores, and base clock speed next to the Processor entry.

Now you know how to find out which CPU you have, make sure you know how to choose a CPU for your next upgrade.

Jon Martindale
Jon Martindale is a freelance evergreen writer and occasional section coordinator, covering how to guides, best-of lists, and…
What does a VPN do? Here’s what they are and how Surfshark can help
Surfshark and Windscribe prices appear in a split-screen on a PC monitor.

Between statewide site bans, some streaming services not playing all content in all areas, and the increasing worry that the US may block outside content, you may have an increasing interest in getting one of the best VPNs. Here, we're going to look at these problems and what a VPN does to help. We'll also consider how every VPN service offers different extras, creating a unique package.

It can be intense to go through each and every feature, so we'll be looking at Surfshark as a case study. One advantage of this is that Surfshark has a free trial, which is fairly unusual in the world of paid VPN services. Go ahead and tap the button below to try Surfshark on your own (again, it has a free trial) and see if it solves your problems, or keep reading to learn what a VPN does and how complimentary features (such as the ones from Surfshark) really pull the whole service together into something you can get a whole lot of mileage out of.

Read more
AMD’s most popular CPU is right around the corner
The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X between two finger tips.

AMD may soon expand its Zen 5 processor range with the Ryzen 5 9600. Typically, these budget-oriented CPUs find their homes in many PCs, gaming and otherwise, so this could be an interesting offering. How will it rank among some of the best processors? Here's what we know so far.

The information comes from X (Twitter) leaker Hoang Anh Phu, who sent out a message indicating that the AMD Ryzen 5 9600 will be available in late January. This tracks, because AMD is set to host a keynote during CES 2025 in early January, so a release date later that same month makes sense.

Read more
There’s a new way to use ChatGPT on your iPhone. Here’s how it works
Someone holding the iPhone 16 Pro with its display on.

There is a new way to access ChatGPT on Apple's iPhone and iPad. As reported by MacRumors, the latest version of the ChatGPT app makes it even easier to access the app's SearchGPT feature.

ChatGPT, a sophisticated AI chatbot developed by OpenAI, utilizes an ever-growing dataset to answer questions, write stories, summarize factual topics, translate languages, and create creative content. It is available on Apple devices through the ChatGPT app, and it is expected to be integrated into Siri in a future version of Apple Intelligence.

Read more