What is the optimal way to fetch graphics card name and info in a Windows C++ app?

Question

I'm trying to pull some information from client machines that I'd like to be formatted almost exactly as it's seen here from "dxdiag.exe":

I realize there should be an API for this type of functionality, but I've searched and searched and can't figure out library or header file I need to include to access this tool. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

For Windows Vista or later, use DXGI.

#include <dxgi.h>
#include <wrl/client.h>

#pragma comment(lib, "dxgi.lib")

using Microsoft::WRL::ComPtr;

ComPtr<IDXGIFactory1> dxgiFactory;
HRESULT hr = CreateDXGIFactory1(IID_PPV_ARGS(dxgiFactory.ReleaseAndGetAddressOf()));
if (FAILED(hr)) // ... error handling

ComPtr<IDXGIAdapter1> adapter;
for (UINT adapterIndex = 0;
     SUCCEEDED(dxgiFactory->EnumAdapters1(
               adapterIndex,
               adapter.ReleaseAndGetAddressOf()));
     adapterIndex++)
{
    DXGI_ADAPTER_DESC1 desc = {};
    hr = adapter->GetDesc1(&desc);
    if (FAILED(hr)) // ... error handling

    if (desc.Flags & DXGI_ADAPTER_FLAG_SOFTWARE)
    {
        // Don't select the Basic Render Driver adapter.
        continue;
    }

    // desc.VendorId: VID
    // desc.DeviceId: PID
    // desc.Description: name string seen above
}

You can also look at the source code for DirectX Capabilities Viewer and the sample SystemInfoUWP.

I used Microsoft::WRL::ComPtr as a C++ smart-pointer for COM.