building first computer- driver installation help

[latexblanky]

Hello everyone and Merry Christmas!

I've ordered all the parts for my first gaming rig and waiting for it all to come in the mail. I know how to put everything together, but I'm a little confused about driver installation. I know the first thing I do is install vista, but I'm not completely sure what to do after that. Should I use the driver discs that came with my hardware, or should I get the latest ones off the internet? If so, how do I go about getting them and installing them?
Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!



*Edit* Sorry if this is in the wrong place >_<




Just for reference, here's all the parts:


CPU- Intel Q6600 retail


Motherboard- GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128358



GPU- Sapphire HD 4870 1gb



RAM- mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820146731



Hard Drive- Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822136320



Burner- SAMSUNG Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD Burner with LightScribe
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827151179



PSU- COOLER MASTER Real Power Pro RS-650-ACAA-A1 650W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817171023



OS- Vista Home Premium 64 bit



Case- NZXT Tempest

 

[boomerang]

I used to go to the manufacturers website for the latest drivers, but now, typically I just insert the disk that comes with the motherboard and let it do its thing. They're all pretty much automated or require little user interaction. They usually will reboot the system when needed and resume driver installations in needed too.

If you want to get the latest and greatest, go to the Gigabyte site and download them individually. Installation is just a matter of double clicking and letting the install routine go. Some folks are very concerned about the installation order of drivers. If you decide to download and install, I would install any motherboard chipset related drivers first. Others will have to respond with the minutiae related to the order of driver installation.

I usually look at the date of the current BIOS on the board at the first BIOS screen. If that date is newer than the drivers at the site, I just make the assumption that the drivers on the disk are the latest. Whether that is wrong or right, you'll still have a fully functional system.

Drivers can always be updated at a later time if newer and improved ones are available.

You want to game with this system so having the latest and greatest may be what you desire. It's a personal decision you'll have to make.