Get the graphics card model?

Question

I was wondering how I can get the graphics card model/brand from code particularly from DirectX 9.0c (from within C++ code).

Answer 1

The easiest way in DirectX is through IDirect3D9::GetAdapterIdentifier.

Just create a D3DADAPTER_IDENTIFIER9 object, pass a pointer to it to GetAdapterIdentifier. DirectX fills out the graphics card description as a string in the Description field. It also includes information on which display device the card is, and what driver version you have.

You get something like this:

• Description: "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570"
• Device: "\.\DISPLAY1"
• Driver: "nvd3dum.dll"

Answer 2

At runtime, you can query the device model and vendor:

• In OpenGL, use the command glGetString(GL_VENDOR) or GL_RENDERER or GL_VERSION to get the information you're after.

• In DirectX 9, it appears the info is in the Microsoft config system, and is queried from the device database. It's section 3 of this document, which also has example code: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb204848(VS.85).aspx Using the same system you can get such information as the amount of ram the video card has, the driver number, etc.