How Can I Tell What NIC Card I Have?

The Windows Device Manager displays every hardware component installed in a given PC. It is a great tool for identifying the manufacturer and model of your network interface card (NIC). Knowing what type of NIC you have in your machine helps you to identify network speed and the type of drivers you may need to update the card's interface.

Instructions

1. Click the Windows Start button and select "Run." Enter "sysdm.cpl" into the text box and press the "Ok" button. This opens the system properties window.

2. Click the "Hardware" tab. In this window, click the "Device Manager" button to view the list of hardware installed on your machine.

3. Scroll down to the "Network Adapters" section in Device Manager. Click the icon to expand a list of network interface cards on your machine.

4. View the list of cards. Some machines have more than one card installed, such as a local area card and a wireless adapter. The list displays each card and manufacturer name. Double-click the card you want to review, in order to see more details about the card.

References

• Microsoft: Using Device Manager