How do I properly update audio, SATA, chipset drivers etc. over pre-existing ones?

[1trusaxxon]

I recently built my computer near the end of June with the most up to date drivers at the time. My motherboard is the Asus Maximus VII HERO, running Windows 8.1 on an SSD.

At the motherboard download page, there is new drivers for the realtek audio, chipset software installation utility, BIOS, and SATA (Intel AHCI/RAID Driver Path for Windows 8.1). I already know how to update my BIOS from inside the UEFI and will only update that when i overclock my CPU.

So my main question is what is the proper way to update these drivers? Can I just download for example, the new chipset driver and run the executable? Same with SATA and audio? Or do I have to run a driver removal program (i have Driver Fusion), first and then install the new ones? I've seen both answers looking around the net, and was hoping to get a straight answer here.

I realize i could just leave them be, as everything works, but I'd like to know how to do this the right way regardless. Thanks to anyone who can answer this for me.

 

[CraigN]

To answer simply - Yes. You install the new ones just like that and it should update/remove the old ones on its own.

The only one I *might* recommend uninstalling first is the audio drivers, but that's just because I've had some wonky results from those in previous years. I haven't had any such problems on my current Maximus VI Hero though, so, take that for what it's worth.

 

[das_stig]

Personally, unless the drivers offer big improvements and system is working fine, I just wait until I'm ready for my next reinstall and then use the new drivers, keeping the last version that worked, just in case of issues.