How to find out the type of graphics card my lap top contains?

geek84

Hi folks

I have an Acer Aspire 7720G laptop.

Does anyone know how to find out the type of graphics card it contains and whether or not it needs updating?

Thanks

Oblivion

Control Panel > Device Manager > Look for Display Adapters in the list, right click and Properties should tell you what model you've got.

geek84

Hi Dave

Thanks for your reply.

I have done what you suggested and it says the graphics card is a Standard VGA Graphics Adapter.

Can you be kind enough to tell me if I need top update this at any time in the future?

Thanks

mttylad

You only need to update it if its not performing well enough.

Is it giving you any problems?

How to change it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWy_lfNoRSw but only if its needed.

What are you doing on the laptop?
Browsing, email etc - or trying to use it for gaming? (and I don't mean solitaire!)

geek84

Hi mttylad

Thanks for your reply.

I'm not sure if it needs updating, but my son wants to download a game on the lap top and one of the boxes appearing on the screen says that the graphics card needs updating. Is that usual?

NiftyDigits

It's not a Standard Graphics Card Adapter. That just tells me that perhaps you don't have the nVidia Driver installed.

What is the full model number written underneath?

Are you still running Vista Premium on that machine?

Other than that, it could be that the Graphics Card is not up to the job.

How much RAM installed?

NiftyDigits

You don't 'right click' on Display Adapter', you double click' on it.

NiftyDigits

Run ACER's Hardware Detection Tool

Mobeer

Probably a NVIDIA GeForce 8xxx.

With no NVIDIA drivers installed then it will get generic drivers and appear as Standard Graphics Card Adapter.

Use the tool from NiftyDigits to confirm the model, and it is is a Geforce model then look here for drivers to install:
http://www.nvidia.co.uk/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-uk

(or try option2 in the link above to auto detect the drivers needed)

Gyro

My 7720G is an ATI Mobility Radeon HD2300

Gyro

You might have installed a later version of Windows (as I have) i.e. not Vista, and the new Windows has installed its own generic drivers.

You could try the free 'Speccy' from Piriform (who also make CCleaner) and running that may dig out your actual VGA type.

http://www.piriform.com/speccy

There ARE at least two different VGA adaptors on the 7720G if I remember right.

EDIT

Just had a look, and if you feed your 'Aspire 7720G' info into this page you should be able to download the correct driver

http://www.acer.co.uk/ac/en/GB/content/drivers

Just as an aside - I found the option of fitting a second internal hard drive very useful as well!