Windows 7, built-in drivers vs. vendor drivers?

[klocwerk]

Hi all,
Just built a new system (see sig) and installed Win7 to give it a test drive. I'm new to Win7 so I apologize if this is a stupid question.

It Just Works with a stock Win7 install, found all the hardware correctly and everything.
Apart from video drivers which i plan to install, should I bother installing all the vendor chipset drivers or just leave well enough alone?

 

[VirtualLarry]

If the drivers are installed and working, I don't see any reason to change them, unless the vendor drivers give you more features (like with video drivers).

 

[klocwerk]

unless the vendor drivers give you more features (like with video drivers).

I guess that's more what my question is.
Am I missing out on anything by not installing them?

Thinking more about it, I'll probably install the official audio drivers just to ensure that's up to snuff. I can't see any other areas of concern though, am I missing something?

 

[SimMike2]

There was a recent thread where someone was complaining about the Win7 RC1 working fine, but when he installed the real Win7, he got massive blue-screen errors. He tracked it down to the latest video driver he had installed. I say if it is working good, don't mess with it until you specifically have a reason for wanting better drivers.

Sometimes the reason for installing better drivers is the plain MS drivers, which some people call "mini-drivers" don't have all the functions of the real manufacturer drivers. I notice this on printers and scanners more than other hardware, but, then again, I'm not a gamer.

 

[zerocool84]

I'll always install Vendor drivers over Windows drivers cus 99% of the time the Windows drivers are older. They do have a newer driver for my for my wireless lan card which I use but for everything else I use the newer vendor drivers.

 

[CurseTheSky]

For major components like graphics card, sound card, wireless or wired network card, chipset, etc. I go directly to the manufacturer's website and download the latest, unless there's a known problem.

For minor components like keyboard, mouse, onboard components, etc. I just let Windows update find them, unless I'm specifically losing out on some functionality.

 

[JackMDS]

The drivers that are embedded in the OS are drivers submitted by the manufacturer to Microsoft before the release of Windows.

That means drivers from aroung June 2009.

Some manufacturers mean time upgraded the drivers. So trying the newest drivers from the manufacturers might be a good idea.

However the drivers that are submitted to Microsoft has to pass Microsoft's WHQL so they are Solid drivers.

The drivers that are released by the manufacturer can be better, but also at time sloppy and buggy cause it is their own QA that passes them.

So if the new manufacturer's Drivers give you grief, uninstall them and let Window 7 reinstall the WHQL drivers.

.