New Windows 7 build - worth installing extra drivers or not?

[Juddog]

I just installed Windows 7 Ultimate last night on my latest computer build, and noticed that with the windows updates that it didn't seem like I really had any need to install any extra drivers (other than the ATI drivers).

Is it worth installing all of the extra drivers on windows 7 when the OS seems to recognize all of the various hardware already? The reason I ask is that the last time I did a windows 7 install on my other machine, after installing the motherboard and chipset drivers, my computer actually did slightly worse in some of the benchmarks I was testing it on. So now I'm debating whether it's worth it to do the same on my latest system build.

 

[Barfo]

I've been running my current Win 7 installation since March with the drivers Windows installed/updated, except for ATI's. It feels the same as when I manually installed the most recent drivers from the manufacturers, though I didn't benchmark it.

 

[RebateMonger]

The drivers on the Win7 install DVD are maybe ten months old, so it'd be a good time to get the latest device drivers for your new PC.

 

[Nothinman]

The drivers on the Win7 install DVD are maybe ten months old, so it'd be a good time to get the latest device drivers for your new PC.

I can't understand that mentality anymore, at least for anything besides video card drivers if you're a heavy gamer since those updates generally include a lot of performance enhancements. For everything else, why bother with it if it works?

 

[Barfo]

The drivers on the Win7 install DVD are maybe ten months old, so it'd be a good time to get the latest device drivers for your new PC.

Windows update has delivered new drivers for my wi-fi dongle periodically. I guess the other devices haven't had new ones for a while.

 

[RebateMonger]

I can't understand that mentality anymore, at least for anything besides video card drivers if you're a heavy gamer since those updates generally include a lot of performance enhancements. For everything else, why bother with it if it works?

For most people, there's only four drivers that are updated:

* Video
* Sound
* NIC
* Chipset

You've got a new OS and there were definitely issues with the early Win7 video drivers. Why not take a half hour and be sure you are starting with the latest drivers? A lot can change in ten months.

It's also be a great time to update firmware on the PC, which is somethig that entails more risk. The least risk is with a new install, where there's less to lose if a problem arises:

* BIOS
* RAID controller firmware and RAID controller drivers - It's not uncommon to find IMPORTANT updates in RAID controller firmware and software that correct errors that can lead to data loss or data recovery issues.

 

[Barfo]

Except Windows Update delivers them for you?

 

[RebateMonger]

Except Windows Update delivers them for you?

Windows Update doesn't always deliver the latest, nor the best, drivers.

 

[Barfo]

Windows Update doesn't always deliver the latest, nor the best, drivers.

Maybe so, I say if he's not too obsessive about benchmarking and doesn't have any problems he'll be ok.

 

[Modelworks]

I always check with the manufacturer of the hardware. If there is new drivers there is usually a reason as they don't pay people to make new ones just because they got bored. You can usually read the release notes of most drivers to see what changed and decide if the new install is something you want.

Don't ever use drivers off of a cd/dvd unless you have no choice. They are almost always older and buggy than what is on the manufacturers site.

 

[Maximilian]

I can't understand that mentality anymore, at least for anything besides video card drivers if you're a heavy gamer since those updates generally include a lot of performance enhancements. For everything else, why bother with it if it works?

Yeah, this. If its not broken dont fix it imo. If it becomes broken or lacks a feature etc then maybe get some new drivers.

 

[JackMDS]

Windows update has delivered new drivers for my wi-fi dongle periodically. I guess the other devices haven't had new ones for a while.

Microsoft do not produce the 3rd party Drivers.

They are submitted to Microsoft by the Vendors. Many vendors do not bother to submit new Drivers if there is No terrible problem with the old drivers.

Some Drivers are never submitted to Microsoft at all. Some new Drivers might be available on the Vendor's or the OEM sites, but would Not be on Microsoft's Update system.

nVidia (as an example) periodicaly submits clean (No utility) Drivers, and go throuh the WHQL processs. However, they realse many versions that are Not submitted to Microsoft in between.

 

[sandorski]

With a Windows Install, always use the Latest Drivers. Whether you Update or not after that is up to you.

 

[KeypoX]

I just built a new system install the amd sata driver for my mobo and windows only starts 50% of the time...

With the "standard AHCI1.0 Serial ATA controller" that windows installs it works everytime.

I use all windows updated drivers except video card, and sound. It seems different systems will need different drivers.

 

[Nothinman]

For most people, there's only four drivers that are updated:

* Video
* Sound
* NIC
* Chipset

You've got a new OS and there were definitely issues with the early Win7 video drivers. Why not take a half hour and be sure you are starting with the latest drivers? A lot can change in ten months.

It's also be a great time to update firmware on the PC, which is somethig that entails more risk. The least risk is with a new install, where there's less to lose if a problem arises:

* BIOS
* RAID controller firmware and RAID controller drivers - It's not uncommon to find IMPORTANT updates in RAID controller firmware and software that correct errors that can lead to data loss or data recovery issues.

I guess I'm just spoiled by Linux and the fact that 99% of my drivers "just work" without any intervention by me. I have absolutely no idea what drivers are installed or what version they are and I shouldn't have to either.

 

[RebateMonger]

I guess I'm just spoiled by Linux and the fact that 99% of my drivers "just work" without any intervention by me. I have absolutely no idea what drivers are installed or what version they are and I shouldn't have to either.

If Linux automatically takes care of all this stuff for you, that's great. But the OP is using Windows, not Linux.

Lots of drivers and software "just work". Until they stop working because of a long-known flaw or a zero-day security vulnerability.

Adobe Reader has had many security vulnerabilities that have eventually gotten patched. But it usually "works" just fine. Until you get hit by malware taking advantage of the vulnerabilities.

A client had a Dell RAID 5 array that "just worked". Until one day a drive disappeared from the array. A call to Dell revealed that we were lucky. Their never-updated firmware/drivers that'd been "working" for years had a known problem that sometimes turned a simple single-disk dropout into a major problem requiring a full restore from backups. These kind of updates often don't show up in Windows Updates.

I don't run around updating firmware, drivers, or software every day. But it's a good idea to manually review them once in a while. And, at least, to do so when building or rebuilding a PC or server.

 

[snikt]

The only drivers I tend to update are my video and NIC. And even then I get them from the manufacturers site. But as one poster mentioned, new drivers whether from Microsoft or the manufacturer aren't always the best. I've rolled back my vid drivers several times. Damn Nvidia and their funky, unsatisfying-at-times drivers.

 

[Emulex]

sometimes the drivers microsoft give you work better - somtimes not. which is a sad statement.

 

[RebateMonger]

sometimes the drivers microsoft give you work better - somtimes not. which is a sad statement.

I never did figure out exactly what happened, but I let MS choose and install the driver for a new eSATA card (Silicon Image) on my personal SBS 2003 server one day. Something very bad happened :-( .

There are folks who say to never allow Microsoft install a driver for your hardware. I'll usually take the risk with a desktop, but nowadays I pretty much want to choose my own drivers for my servers.

 

[Juddog]

Well as an update, I attempted to retroactively add in the AHCI drivers for my hard drive and ended up corrupting my file system (supposedly you can do it after windows is installed, there are a few guides out there), so last night ended up reinstalling again from scratch using the manufacturer's AHCI drivers during the setup.

On a positive note, the SSD seems to be responding much better now, which I have no explanation as to why. I didn't think AHCI would make much of a difference on an SSD. This is using the 6G SATA port on my motherboard.

 

[ViRGE]

Well as an update, I attempted to retroactively add in the AHCI drivers for my hard drive and ended up corrupting my file system (supposedly you can do it after windows is installed, there are a few guides out there), so last night ended up reinstalling again from scratch using the manufacturer's AHCI drivers during the setup.

On a positive note, the SSD seems to be responding much better now, which I have no explanation as to why. I didn't think AHCI would make much of a difference on an SSD. This is using the 6G SATA port on my motherboard.

I don't believe drives can go over SATA 1 speeds (150MB/sec) in IDE mode, although I could be wrong.