Are Realtek Audio Drivers entirely necessary?

[Deleted member 1183967]

Hello,

Upon reinstalling Windows 8.1, I downloaded and installed my chipset and video card drivers. My audio devices are working fine, and I can easily switch between my headphones and speakers by opening the sound panel and setting whichever one as the default device. This is how I did it even with the Realtek software installed. Do I really need audio drivers? I should also note that along with my video card drivers, Nvidia HD Audio drivers were installed. I'm not sure what the functionality of those are.

Bonus question! Are ethernet drivers necessary if I'm using a wireless adapter? I am using a Medialink USB adapter, and there are also apparently some drivers on their website. Should they be installed to improve my connectivity?

Thanks,
Will

 

[clutchc]

The benefit of installing the Realtek driver is you get the latest version (online) and the sound console that enables virtual surround with speakers and headphones. http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsCheck.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=24&PFid=24&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false#High%20Definition%20Audio%20Codecs

If you never plan on connecting to an Ethernet, you can live w/o the LAN driver.

 

[Deleted member 1183967]

The benefit of installing the Realtek driver is you get the latest version (online) and the sound console that enables virtual surround with speakers and headphones. http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsCheck.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=24&PFid=24&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false#High%20Definition%20Audio%20Codecs

If you never plan on connecting to an Ethernet, you can live w/o the LAN driver.

Thank you. If I don't use virtual surround, should it be ignored?

 

[clutchc]

The benefit of installing the Realtek driver is you get the latest version (online) and the sound console that enables virtual surround with speakers and headphones. http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsCheck.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=24&PFid=24&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false#High%20Definition%20Audio%20Codecs

If you never plan on connecting to an Ethernet, you can live w/o the LAN driver.

Thank you. If I don't use virtual surround, should it be ignored?

Should?, no... could?, yes. I wouldn't enjoy games half as much w/o virtual surround. Even if you only have 2.0 or 2.1 speakers/headphones, it is amazing. You can actually tell where the attacker/action is coming from. Not just left or right.
But if you are asking is is safe to run w/o the Realtek driver, yes. Windows loads its generic version of it anyway. It just doesn't have all the extra features.

 

[Deleted member 1183967]

Should?, no... could?, yes. I wouldn't enjoy games half as much w/o virtual surround. Even if you only have 2.0 or 2.1 speakers/headphones, it is amazing. You can actually tell where the attacker/action is coming from. Not just left or right.
But if you are asking is is safe to run w/o the Realtek driver, yes. Windows loads its generic version of it anyway. It just doesn't have all the extra features.

Ok, I think you've convinced me to download them. I'm assuming the ones from the website you link earlier are more up-to-date than the ones on the MSI website.

Last question. Going back to wireless adapters, what difference does installing the Medialink driver make (or wireless adapter drivers in general)? Perhaps increased speed or stability? Judging from the last time I used it, it just installed a monitoring application that served my no purpose whatsoever.

Thanks!

edit The download link seems to be broken, so I guess I need to download it from the MSI website.

 

[clutchc]

The link may not be broken. It has problems sometimes when you are linked to it from elsewhere. Just search for Realtek audio drivers and see if that site pops up. Then use it.

The Ethernet driver allows the Ethernet port on the back of your PC to function. Most of the time (not always) Win7 won't load a generic driver for it. But Win8 may be different. Win 8 may have drivers for the Ethernet. I can't remember. It's been awhile since I did a Win8 install. I'm not a fan.

 

[Deleted member 1183967]

The link may not be broken. It has problems sometimes when you are linked to it from elsewhere. Just search for Realtek audio drivers and see if that site pops up. Then use it.

The Ethernet driver allows the Ethernet port on the back of your PC to function. Most of the time (not always) Win7 won't load a generic driver for it. But Win8 may be different. Win 8 may have drivers for the Ethernet. I can't remember. It's been awhile since I did a Win8 install. I'm not a fan.

Yup, you were right. Downloaded and installed the audio drivers.

And, I was actually referring to the wireless adapter drivers, not the ethernet drivers.

Thanks again, and I'm sorry for all the questions. This should be the last one.

 

[clutchc]

And, I was actually referring to the wireless adapter drivers, not the ethernet drivers.

Sorry, wasn't reading it close enough, I guess. Same goes for the wireless adapter. W/o a driver, it won't work. That's not to say that Win won't find one in its database and load a generic version. In that case, you don't need to install the one from disk or website... unless there's some extra feature that the official driver has that you might find desirable.

 

[Deleted member 1183967]

Sorry, wasn't reading it close enough, I guess. Same goes for the wireless adapter. W/o a driver, it won't work. That's not to say that Win won't find one in its database and load a generic version. In that case, you don't need to install the one from disk or website... unless there's some extra feature that the official driver has that you might find desirable.

Alright. Thanks a lot for answering my list of questions! That should be all for now.