Nvidia Chipset driver package questions

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BernardP

Golden Member
Jan 10, 2006
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I am about to start reinstalling Windows XP on a bare drive with a new Asus M3N78-VM Nvidia 8200 Integrated Graphics motherboard. I have not received the mobo yet, but while preparing a checklist of things I need to do, I realize I am confused about the chipset driver.

I have previously reinstalled Windows on a reformated drive on an existing Intel system (but not a new mobo), without installing a chipset driver. All I did was reinstall the required video, audio and LAN drivers.

I see that there is a huge chipset driver installer (525 MB) on the Asus web site (and also on the ASUS DVD that comes with the mobo). It is thus labelled:

NVIDIA nForce MCP72/78 Chipset Package Driver V18.12 (Chipset Driver V4.6.4.0)

Looking for the latest version of this on the NVidia web site, I can only find a 8200 GeForce driver (84 Mb), compatible with the the GeForce 8200, but no specific chipset driver. The chipset driver must be somewhere on the NVidia web site if Asus is able to make it available. I would like to get it from NVidia to have the latest version.

--- What are the functions of the chipset driver?
--- Is it necessary to install it?
--- What is contained in the chipset driver package to account for the difference between the 84MB video driver and the 525 MB chipset driver?

I would be grateful for an explanation


 
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BernardP

Golden Member
Jan 10, 2006
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Thanks tcsenter, very useful reply. Looking at the components, I would like to know what I have to install:

Ethernet Driver (v67.89) WHQL
Network Management Tools (v67.91) "Sedona"
SATAIDE Driver (v10.3.0.42) WHQL
SATARAID Driver (v10.3.0.42) WHQL
RAIDTOOL Application (v10.3.0.42)
SMU Driver (v1.61) WHQL
SMBus Driver (v4.69) WHQL
Away Mode Driver (v6.0.6000.107) WHQL
Installer (v6.14)

I know for instance that WinXP can manage SATA by itself. I don't need RAID. I am not sure what Away Mode is, so I suspect I don't need it. I Also think I don't need Network Management Tools, as this computer is not on a network (and XP could also handle this).

I don't know what are SMU Driver and SMUBus Driver. Are they necessary or simply an Nvidia alternative to WinXP drivers?

So in the end, I see only a need to install the Ethernet Driver for the built-in ethernet chip and maybe the SMU/SMBus drivers. Not even sure about that last one.

Obviously, the system will work (but maybe unable to connect to the internet-but I have to connect to the NVidia web site to get the latest drivers) after installing Windows and before installing chipset drivers.

Is the NVidia ethernet driver mandatory? What is the added functionality, if any of the SMU/SMBus drivers?
 
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superunknown98

Member
Oct 19, 2006
194
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You could probably skip the network managment tools, the raid driver and tool. but i would install everything else. Nvidia has spent years perfecting their Sata drivers and bus drivers, install them. They will be much faster and no less stable than the microsoft drivers.
 
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BernardP

Golden Member
Jan 10, 2006
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Nice screen name superunknown98! :)

Thanks for the comments. If anybody has other advice, you are very welcome. I'm posting this on my work computer and won't be able to reply over the weekend, since my home computer is still dead until I get my new mobo.
 
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tcsenter

Lifer
Sep 7, 2001
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Originally posted by: BernardP
Thanks tcsenter, very useful reply. Looking at the components, I would like to know what I have to install:
Click to expand...
Install IDE, SATA, ethernet, SMBus and SMU drivers. SMBus and SMU are system management interfaces and highly recommended. Then install the latest GeForce graphics driver you mentioned locating on NVIDIA's website. Don't install RAID application, network management tools, away-mode driver, and media shield (if applicable).

ASUS will most likely have an ACPI device that requires an ASUS driver. It will be listed in Device Manager as unknown device until you install the driver. Its not actually required to install any driver for this unless you intend to use any ASUS utilities or software, such as hardware monitoring, overclocking utility, hot-key support, or any other ASUS feature software, but you may not want the unknown device hanging around all the time.

If you intend to install any ASUS software, don't use the versions on the CD or from the ASUS download pages for your motherboard. Most likely, there are newer versions of those utilities or applications available on ASUS FTP server. Most hardware vendors are fairly poor at posting updates for existing products, even when they are posting newer versions for newer products.
 
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BoboKatt

Senior member
Nov 18, 2004
529
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Dang that is very useful for me as well since all my boards are Asus and I never bothered to update any of their crap as I never really found the good stuff.

thanks!
 
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