DXDiag Display Tab Explained
The DXDiag Display tab shows your GPU name, manufacturer, dedicated VRAM, current display resolution, driver version, driver date, and DirectX feature status. Open DXDiag with Windows + R, type dxdiag, and click the Display tab. The Notes field at the bottom shows whether any GPU problems were detected.
Every Field on the DXDiag Display Tab
| Field | What It Shows | What to Do with It |
|---|---|---|
| Card Name | Commercial GPU name (e.g. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070) | Compare to game requirements; download correct driver |
| Manufacturer | GPU brand (NVIDIA, Advanced Micro Devices, Intel) | Identify which driver download page to use |
| Chip Type | Underlying GPU chip (e.g. GeForce RTX 4070) | Technical support and driver identification |
| DAC Type | Digital-to-analog converter (usually Internal DAC) | Informational — rarely relevant to troubleshooting |
| Device Type | Full Device Display Adapter (shows primary GPU role) | Confirms which GPU is serving as the display adapter |
| Approx. Total Memory | VRAM + shared system memory (combined total) | Higher-level capacity reference — use Dedicated for accuracy |
| Dedicated Video Memory | Physical VRAM on the GPU (the accurate VRAM figure) | Compare to game minimum VRAM requirements |
| Shared System Memory | RAM shared with the GPU (increases for integrated GPUs) | Relevant for integrated GPU performance |
| Current Display Mode | Resolution × refresh rate (e.g. 1920×1080 60Hz) | Confirm monitor settings are correct |
| Monitor Name | Name of your connected monitor | Identify monitor model for driver or calibration |
| Driver Name | Display driver .dll filename | Technical reference for driver identification |
| Driver Version | Exact version number of installed GPU driver | Compare against latest driver — update if outdated |
| Driver Date | Release date of the installed driver | Check for newer drivers if date is more than 6 months old |
| WHQL Logo'd | Yes or No — whether driver is Microsoft-certified | WHQL-certified drivers are more stable — prefer them |
| DDI Version | Display Driver Interface version (indicates DirectX support) | DDI 12 = DirectX 12 support |
| DirectDraw Acceleration | Enabled or Not Available | Should be Enabled on all modern GPUs |
| Direct3D Acceleration | Enabled or Not Available | Must be Enabled for 3D games and applications |
| Notes | Problem summary or No problems found | Check this first when troubleshooting GPU issues |
How to Check If Your GPU Driver Is Outdated
On the DXDiag Display tab, note the Driver Version and Driver Date. Then visit the driver download page for your GPU manufacturer:
- NVIDIA: nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx
- AMD: amd.com/en/support
- Intel: intel.com/content/www/us/en/download-center
Download and install the latest driver for your GPU model. After installing, run DXDiag again to confirm the Driver Version and Driver Date have updated.
Understanding Dedicated vs Total Video Memory
DXDiag shows two memory figures on the Display tab. The difference matters when comparing against game requirements:
- Dedicated Video Memory — the physical VRAM on your GPU. This is the accurate figure. A dedicated GPU with 8 GB VRAM will show 8192 MB here.
- Approx. Total Memory — includes shared system RAM. This number is larger but less meaningful. Game requirements always refer to dedicated VRAM, not the total.
Always use the Dedicated Video Memory figure when comparing your GPU to game specifications.