ASUS ROG Max VIII Hero, install ALL drivers from asus.com ?

[Merquise]

By the end of the week I'll have my new mobo and other parts.
I checked asus.com for the chipset driver and noticed a lot of patches.
https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/MAXIMUS-VIII-HERO/HelpDesk_Download/

I'll start by updating the BIOS to 1202, no problem there.
But then the questions begin.

Do you guys recommend downloading all patches/drivers and installing all of them?
Example: I won't be using the onboard sound, as I have a nice Soundblaster.
Should I install the realtek drivers anyway?

Same with the onboard gfx drivers. I have a nice Nvidia GTX970.
Should I install the onboard gfx drivers anyway?

I'll list all the patches.
01: Hotfix ASUS Product Registration Program V1.0.030
02: Chipset: Intel(R) Chipset Software Installation Utility
03: Chipset: Intel(R) Management Engine Interface
04: SATA driver: Asmedia SATA Controller Driver V2.0.9.1
05: SATA driver: Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology Driver Software V14.5.0.1081
06: LAN: Intel(R) Gigabit Ethernet Driver V20.2.3001.0
07: USB driver: Intel USB3.0 Controller Driver V4.0.0.36
08: USB driver: Asmedia USB3.1/3.0 Driver V1.16.24.0 (why do I have 2 USB drivers?)
09: Audio: Realtek Audio Driver V6.0.1.7629
10: VGA: Intel Graphics Accelerator Driver V10.18.15.4274


My plan was to do following: (computer not connected to internet, I have all updates on USB)
- Update BIOS
- Install Windows 7/64
- Install EVERY patch, so 01 to 10 from above list in that exact order
- Install Win7 patch/update
- Install Soundblaster drivers (onboard sound will be off in BIOS)
- Install Nvidia drivers (onboard gfx will be off in BIOS)
- Install AVG Internet Security
- Connect computer to internet
- Play Fallout 4 24/7 for the next 3 weeks of Xmas vacation.


Any suggestions?
Install ALL patches?
Change the order?
Why are there 2x USB drivers and 2x SATA drivers?

Thnx for any suggestions !

 

[Saint_Nicholas]

Not sure if I am late on this one but I was basically told 2 different things from what I am led to believe pretty qualified people.

1.) Update your BIOS to latest, basically as often as they're released - Leave the rest alone unless you actually experience issues or you know what you're doing and why you are updating.

2.) Update all of them to the latest versions - However apparently there is an order you should update the drivers in and I am not sure what that order might be but I know I have seen it posted before. It didn't take long to find it, if I can find it again I will head back here and update my reply.

 

[thdMoss]

Hi, I'm a first time builder, trying to figure out what drivers I need and where to find the latest versions as well. My build is around the Asus Z170I Pro Gaming…

I think I can answer the simple questions that can be answered by looking at the manual…

Why you may need TWO SATA drivers and TWO USB drivers… (you have 2 controllers for SATA ports and 2 controllers for USB ports…)

The M8H product page says it has 8 SATA ports (4 are shared with SATA-E). SIX of these (including the SATA-E) are controlled by the Intel Chipset, the physical ports are in GRAY. There are TWO SATA ports that are controlled by the Asmedia Chip (ASM1061?), these are in BLACK.

In your M8H Manual Page 1-7, the diagram pointes out SATA ports at location 8 and 9. On the next page 1-8, it lists them:

8. Intel® Z170 Serial ATA 6 Gb/s connectors (7-pin SATA6G_12; SATAEXPRESS12)
9. ASMedia® Serial ATA 6 Gb/s connectors (7-pin SATA6G_E12)

Similarly:
Page 2-13 of the M8H manual shows the Back I/O Panel, Note the USB 3.1 and USB 3.0 ports.

9. USB 3.1 Type-C port EC1. (These are Asmedia ports)
10. Intel® USB 3.0 ports 5 and 6

The ASM1442K supports USB3.0 and the ASM1142 chip supports USB3.1 (the red ports on the back I/O panel), requires their own driver.
Intel USB3.0 Controller Driver is needed with Win7/Win8 (not needed for Win10).

--

I assume you'll need to have the Asmedia drivers to make those ports active (USB and SATA). In Win7/Win8 you'll need the Intel (USB) probably.

I have questions about the Intel SATA drivers as well, there are no descriptions/README of what they do or if they're required. I'm not setting up RAID, do I still need to install the "Rapid Storage Technology Driver" that sounds like it's needed for RAID. What about the "Intel(R) AHCI/RAID Driver" - Do I need to install this if I'm just using a Non-RAID SSD in AHCI mode in Windows 10?

Additionally, I've looked at this forum and other sites. I'm still confused about the MEI and the INF Chipset drivers. What do they do and do I need both or just one? Some people say skip the INF. Other say both are required. The ones on the product downloads are kinda old, can I grab the newer versions off of the more recently released motherboards from Asus?

The Intel download site is confusing. I am unable/not skilled enough to find the new Chipset software there. I seem to end up at this link:

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/detect.html
"Intel® Driver Update Utility" - I assume I should probably download this and run it when all my parts arrive and I can try it out to see if it shows me the latest drivers (Chipset/LAN/SATA/VGA). Seems this might require an active Internet connection, which would necessitate NIC drivers…

On the Intel site I did find:

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/25165/Intel-Rapid-Storage-Technology-Intel-RST-RAID-Driver
Intel® Rapid Storage Technology (Intel® RST) RAID Driver
Version: 14.8.0.1042 (Latest) Date: 12/14/2015

and…

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/25620/Intel-Graphics-Driver-for-Windows-7-8-1-10-15-40-6th-Gen-
Intel® Graphics Driver for Windows® 7/8.1/10* [15.40 6th Gen]
Version: 15.40.14.4352 (Latest) Date: 12/23/2015

I should use these right? They are more recent than the ones Asus provided on the online product links.

--

I found a suggestion at Asus FAQ about driver installation order:

http://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1000670/
FAQ: Is there any suggestion procedure to install the drivers?

> The installation sequence of the drivers is important for the system efficiency.
> It is recommended to install the driver for the motherboard chipset first.
> You can refer to the suggestion sequence below:
> 1. Operation System.
> 2. The driver for the motherboard chipset.
> 3. Other drivers(such as Audio, LAN, Graphic).
> 4. The latest service pack for the Operation System.

--
Probably add BIOS/UEFI update at STEP 0, before the OS installation.

I also read on Intel's site that they recommend (some say "Standard Practice") doing the OS update/patches BEFORE chipset driver installation so it'll properly detect the right ones to use. I can't find the link to it right now, sorry. This would generally mean a connection to the Internet, and doesn't seem practical to do before NIC drivers are installed at step 3…

Hope that was of a little help. Look forward to answer by veteran builders.
Thanks for any insights. Happy New Year!