Opengl version check windows

OpenGL, or Open Graphics Library, is a cross-platform graphics API used for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics. It’s commonly utilized in applications like video games, CAD, and virtual reality due to its ability to interact directly with the graphics hardware. Each version of OpenGL offers different features, so knowing which version you’re working with is crucial for developers and gamers alike. If you’re running Windows 11 and need to validate your OpenGL version, this article will guide you through various methods to accomplish this task.

Understanding OpenGL Versions

OpenGL has evolved through numerous versions, with each iteration introducing enhancements in functionality and performance. As of now, the latest stable version is OpenGL 4.6, which includes support for advanced rendering techniques, improved shader capabilities, and various extensions. Understanding the version of OpenGL on your system is vital for ensuring compatibility with applications or games that may utilize specific OpenGL features.

Importance of Checking OpenGL Version

1. Compatibility: Many applications require specific OpenGL versions. Knowing your current OpenGL version helps ensure compatibility.

2. Optimization: Newer versions of OpenGL include optimizations that can enhance performance in graphic-intensive applications.

3. Feature Set: Each version of OpenGL comes with a unique set of features. Identifying your version can help leverage these features for better development and user experience.

4. Troubleshooting: If you’re facing graphical issues or errors in applications, checking your OpenGL version is a critical first step in troubleshooting.

Checking OpenGL Version through Software Tools

There are multiple methods for determining the OpenGL version on a Windows 11 system. Below, we outline a few popular and effective methods.

Method 1: Using the OpenGL Extensions Viewer

The OpenGL Extensions Viewer is a third-party application that provides detailed information about the OpenGL version, supported extensions, and graphics card capabilities. Here’s how to use it:

1. Download and Install:

   • Navigate to the official website or a trusted source to download the OpenGL Extensions Viewer.
   • Install the application following the prompts.

2. Run the Application:

   • Open the OpenGL Extensions Viewer once installation is complete.

3. Check OpenGL Version:

   • Upon launching, the application will display various information about your graphics driver and hardware.
   • Look for «OpenGL Version» at the top, which shows the current version installed on your system. You’ll also see detailed information about your graphics card, supported extensions, and more.

This method provides a detailed overview of your graphics configuration along with the OpenGL version.

Method 2: Using the Graphics Card Control Panel

Most graphics card manufacturers offer control panels that can also provide information about the OpenGL version supported by your hardware. Here’s how you can check through common graphics card control panels like NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Radeon Software:

For NVIDIA Graphics Cards:

1. Right-click on Desktop:

   • Right-click anywhere on your desktop.
   • Select “NVIDIA Control Panel” from the context menu.

2. Check System Information:

   • In the NVIDIA Control Panel, click on the “Help” menu option in the top-left corner.
   • Select “System Information”.
   • A new window will open displaying detailed specifications about your graphics hardware, including the OpenGL version.

For AMD Graphics Cards:

1. Open AMD Radeon Software:

   • Right-click on the desktop and select “AMD Radeon Software” from the context menu.

2. Access System Information:

   • In the Radeon Software, click on “Settings” (gear icon).
   • Go to the “System” tab and then click on “Software” to view information about your graphics driver, including the OpenGL version.

Method 3: Using Tools like GPU-Z

GPU-Z is another lightweight utility that provides comprehensive information about your GPU and supports detailed specifications, including OpenGL version.

1. Download and Install GPU-Z:

   • Visit the TechPowerUp website and download GPU-Z.
   • Install the application following the prompts.

2. Run GPU-Z:

   • Open GPU-Z after installation.

3. View OpenGL Version:

   • The main tab will show information about your GPU. Look under the “Advanced” section for the OpenGL version, along with other graphics specifications.

This tool is particularly useful for users looking for more in-depth hardware details.

Checking OpenGL Version via Command Line

If you prefer not to install additional software, you can also check your OpenGL version using the Windows Command Prompt alongside specific commands.

1. Open Command Prompt:

   • Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
   • Type cmd and hit Enter.

2. Launch OpenGL from the Command Line:

   • Unfortunately, Windows does not come with a command-line tool to explicitly check OpenGL. You would typically have to rely on software, but if you have programming knowledge, you can create a simple C or C++ program using OpenGL commands to retrieve and print the OpenGL version.

Here’s a very simple code snippet you could use if you have a C++ development environment set up:

#include 
#include 

void display() {
    std::cout << "OpenGL Version: " << glGetString(GL_VERSION) << std::endl;
    exit(0);
}

int main(int argc, char** argv) {
    glutInit(&argc, argv);
    glutCreateWindow("OpenGL Version Check");
    glutDisplayFunc(display);
    glutMainLoop();
    return 0;
}

Compile the program with an OpenGL-capable compiler and run it. The output will show the OpenGL version currently in use.

Summary of Methods

In summary, there are several effective methods to check your OpenGL version on Windows 11:

• OpenGL Extensions Viewer: A user-friendly tool that provides comprehensive details.
• Graphics Card Control Panel: Quick access via NVIDIA or AMD control panels for specific GPU versions.
• GPU-Z: A powerful tool for in-depth GPU information.
• Command Line: Requires programming knowledge and a development environment for programming in OpenGL.

Ensure Your Drivers are Updated

It’s essential to understand that the OpenGL version you can run is often tied to your graphics driver. If you are not seeing the expected version:

1. Update Graphics Drivers:

   • Ensure you always maintain the latest version of your graphics drivers. Visit the manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) to obtain the latest drivers for your graphics card.

2. Check Compatibility:

   • Make sure your hardware supports the OpenGL version you wish to use. While many applications will use backward compatibility, you should ensure that your hardware can fully leverage the features of the latest versions.

Conclusion

Checking your OpenGL version on Windows 11 is important for gamers and developers alike to ensure compatibility, optimize performance, and take advantage of the latest graphics features. You can do this using a number of methods ranging from third-party applications to simpler tools available on your system. Always ensure your graphics drivers are up to date to have the best experience with OpenGL-enabled applications. As OpenGL continues to evolve, staying aware of your system’s capabilities can provide significant advantages in both development and gaming environments.

First thing to deal with OpenGL is to know which version you have on your operating system.

For this tutorial we will test it on Windows.

And because we are testing the OpenGL version, we will also check what is the FreeGLUT and GLEW version.

Explanation

To create code for OpenGL 3.3, you have to have a graphic card that handles OpenGL 3.3.

If you don’t know which version you have, the code below will show you this.

For example, in the video, you could see that I have a 3.3 OpenGL version.

So I can create graphics with OpenGL 3.3 but I can’t do this with OpenGL 4+.

We assume that for this tutorial you have already set up your environment, with for example Visual Studio.

The code below has been split into several functions in order to focus only on the libraries version.

Notice that you can close the application by pressing the ESC key.

The code

#include <GL\glew.h>        // the opengl library wrapped by extended features
#include <GL\freeglut.h>    // library cross-platform toolkit windows and managing input operations

#include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include <sstream>

using namespace std;

/**
* analyse the version
*/
string makeMeString(GLint versionRaw) {
    stringstream ss;
    string str = "\0";

    ss << versionRaw;    // transfers versionRaw value into "ss"
    str = ss.str();        // sets the "str" string as the "ss" value
    return str;
}

/**
* Format the string as expected
*/
void formatMe(string *text) {
    string dot = ".";

    text->insert(1, dot); // transforms 30000 into 3.0000
    text->insert(4, dot); // transforms 3.0000 into 3.00.00
}

/**
* Message
*/
void consoleMessage() {
    const char *versionGL = "\0";
    GLint versionFreeGlutInt = 0;

    versionGL = (char *)(glGetString(GL_VERSION));
    versionFreeGlutInt = (glutGet(GLUT_VERSION));

    string versionFreeGlutString = makeMeString(versionFreeGlutInt);
    formatMe(&versionFreeGlutString);

    cout << endl;
    cout << "OpenGL version: " << versionGL << endl << endl;
    cout << "FreeGLUT version: " << versionFreeGlutString << endl << endl;

    cout << "GLEW version: " <<
        GLEW_VERSION << "." << GLEW_VERSION_MAJOR << "." <<
        GLEW_VERSION_MINOR << "." << GLEW_VERSION_MICRO << endl;
}

/**
* Manager error
*/
void managerError() {
    if (glewInit()) { // checks if glewInit() is activated
        cerr << "Unable to initialize GLEW." << endl;
        while (1); // let's use this infinite loop to check the error message before closing the window
        exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
    }
    // FreeConsole();
}

/**
* Manage display (to be implemented)
*/
void managerDisplay(void)
{
    glClear(GL_COLOR_BUFFER_BIT);                // clear the screen
    glutSwapBuffers();
}


/**
* Initialize FREEGLUT
*/
void initFreeGlut(int ac, char *av[]) {
    // A. init
    glutInit(&ac, av);                                // 1. inits glut with arguments from the shell
    glutInitDisplayString("");                        // 2a. sets display parameters with a string (obsolete)
    glutInitDisplayMode(GLUT_SINGLE);                // 2b. sets display parameters with defines
    glutInitWindowSize(600, 600);                    // 3. window size
    glutInitContextVersion(3, 3);                    // 4. sets the version 3.3 as current version (so some functions of 1.x and 2.x could not work properly)
    glutInitContextProfile(GLUT_CORE_PROFILE);        // 5. sets the version 3.3 for the profile core
    glutInitWindowPosition(500, 500);                // 6. distance from the top-left screen

                                                    // B. create window
    glutCreateWindow("BadproG - Hello world :D");    // 7. message displayed on top bar window

}

/**
* Manage keyboard
*/
void managerKeyboard(unsigned char key, int x, int y) {
    if (key == 27) { // 27 = ESC key
        exit(0);
    }
}

/**
* Main, what else?
*/
int main(int argc, char** argv) {
    initFreeGlut(argc, argv);    // inits freeglut
    managerError();                // manages errors
    consoleMessage();            // displays message on the console
    
    // C. register the display callback function
    glutDisplayFunc(managerDisplay);                        // 8. callback function
    glutKeyboardFunc(managerKeyboard);

    // D. main loop
    glutMainLoop();                                    // 9. infinite loop
    return 0;
}

Conclusion

A good way to avoid searching everywhere on your operating system, which OpenGL version you have.

Great job, once again you’ve made it.

In this tutorial, learn how to check the graphics card type and OpenGL version.

Let me explain first what is OpenGL?

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, cross-platform application programming interface (API) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics. The API is typically used to interact with a graphics processing unit (GPU), to achieve hardware-accelerated rendering. OpenGL drivers are usually installed together with the rest of the graphics driver and support software (such as DirectX).

Here are the steps to check the version of OpenGL running and the type of graphics card installed on the system.

How to find graphics card information on a Windows 10 PC

To check the graphics card manufacturer and model using the Settings app, use these steps:

1. Press Windows Key + R then type “dxdiag” in the Run dialog box and click OK.

2. When the DirectX Diagnostic Tool window appears, click the Display tab.

3. Under the Device section, find out the manufacturer and processor type of the graphics card.

Картинка с сайта: windowsfreeapps.com

How to verify the supported OpenGL versions of the graphics card

The OpenGL Extensions Viewer is a free application designed by Realtech VR. The viewer displays the vendor name, the version implemented, the renderer name and the extensions of the current OpenGL 3D accelerator. Moreover, it also provides tools to update or test the graphics card driver.

To check the supported OpenGL versions of the graphic card, follow these steps:

1. Download and install the OpenGL Extensions Viewer to determine the OpenGL version on your computer.

Download OpenGL Extensions Viewer for Windows from this source.

2. Once installed, launch OpenGL Extensions Viewer.

3. Under the OpenGL section, find out the version of OpenGL running on your system.

Картинка с сайта: windowsfreeapps.com

4. In the Tasks menu, click OpenGL Report and check the supported OpenGL versions in the Core features.

See this video, to illustrate this tutorial:

Hope something helps you.