How to Check What Processor or CPU is in Windows PC


A processor or central processing unit (CPU), is the electronic circuitry within a computer that carries out the instructions of a computer program by performing the basic arithmetic, logic, controlling, and input/output (I/O) operations specified by the instructions.

A multi-core processor is a computer processor integrated circuit with two or more separate processing units, called cores (aka: physical cores), which each read and execute program instructions, as if the computer had several processors.

Some CPUs can virtualize two cores for every one physical core that's available, a technique known as Hyper-Threading (aka: logical processors). For example, if your CPU has 6 physical cores, it will show as having 12 logical processors with Hyper-Threading.

The clock speed of a processor is the number of instructions it can process in any given second, measured in gigahertz (GHz).

See also: Windows Processor Requirements | Microsoft Docs

This tutorial will show you different ways to check what processor or CPU is in your Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10 PC.


For a Windows 11 version of this tutorial, see:

Find CPU or Processor Specs in Windows 11



Contents

  • Option One: Check What Processor or CPU is in PC in Task Manager
  • Option Two: Check What Processor or CPU is in PC in Settings
  • Option Three: Check What Processor or CPU is in PC in Control Panel
  • Option Four: Check What Processor or CPU is in PC in System Information (msinfo32)
  • Option Five: Check What Processor or CPU is in PC in DirectX Diagnostic Tool (dxdiag)
  • Option Six: Check What Processor or CPU is in PC in Device Manager
  • Option Seven: Check What Processor or CPU is in PC in Command Prompt
  • Option Eight: Check What Processor or CPU is in PC in PowerShell






OPTION ONE

Check What Processor or CPU is in PC in Task Manager


This options is only available in Windows 10.


1 Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc).

2 In the Performance tab, you will see the CPU name and details for your computer. (see screenshot below)

Check What Processor or CPU is in Windows PC-processor_cpu_in_task_manager.jpg






OPTION TWO

Check What Processor or CPU is in PC in Settings


This options is only available in Windows 10.


1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the System icon.

2 Click/tap on About on the left side. (see screenshot below).

3 You will now see the Processor name and details for your computer under Device specifications on the right side.

Check What Processor or CPU is in Windows PC-processor_cpu_in_settings.jpg






OPTION THREE

Check What Processor or CPU is in PC in Control Panel


1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the System icon.

2 You will now see the Processor name and details for your computer under the System section.

Check What Processor or CPU is in Windows PC-processor_cpu_in_control_panel.jpg






OPTION FOUR

Check What Processor or CPU is in PC in System Information (msinfo32)


1 Press the Win + R keys to open Run, type msinfo32 into Run, and click/tap on OK to open System Information.

2 In System Summary in the left pane, you will see the Processor name and details for your computer. (see screenshot below)

Check What Processor or CPU is in Windows PC-processor_cpu_in_system_information.jpg






OPTION FIVE

Check What Processor or CPU is in PC in DirectX Diagnostic Tool (dxdiag)


1 Press the Win + R keys to open Run, type dxdiag into Run, and click/tap on OK to open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.

2 In the System tab, you will see the Processor name and details for your computer. (see screenshot below)

Check What Processor or CPU is in Windows PC-processor_cpu_in_dxdiag.png






OPTION SIX

Check What Processor or CPU is in PC in Device Manager


1 Open Device Manager.

2 Expand open Processors. (see screenshot below)

3 Under Processors, you will see the processor name and details for your computer. The CPU will be listed by the number of its logical processors.

Check What Processor or CPU is in Windows PC-processor_cpu_in_device_manager.jpg






OPTION SEVEN

Check What Processor or CPU is in PC in Command Prompt


1 Open a Command Prompt.

2 Copy and paste the command below into the command prompt, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

wmic path win32_Processor get Name,NumberOfCores,NumberOfLogicalProcessors

3 You will now see the processor name and details for your computer.

Check What Processor or CPU is in Windows PC-processor_cpu_in_command_prompt.jpg






OPTION EIGHT

Check What Processor or CPU is in PC in PowerShell


1 Open a PowerShell.

2 Copy and paste the command below into PowerShell, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

Get-WmiObject win32_Processor

3 You will now see the processor name and details for your computer.

Check What Processor or CPU is in Windows PC-processor_cpu_in_powershell.png


That's it,
Shawn Brink


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