Intel Chipset Drivers - Do I need them?

[THRobinson]

Still waiting for the mobo to arrive for my new build, and wondered, after installing Win7x64, do I need the Intel chipset drivers?

After running Win7x64 and installing all updates/SP1/etc... would it basically download all the same drivers anyways?

Or... should I install Win7x64, install the latest chipset drivers for my board, THEN install the Win7x64 updates?

Ordering the ASUS H97-Plus, since I have no plans to overclock, but might upgrade the CPU in a few years... saves myself $25+ from buying the Z97 series for features I won't use.

http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/4bhsQ7

 

[mcnumpty23]

chipset drivers first

 

[THRobinson]

So, win7 install, chipset, then updates is the way to go?

I use to do it that way, then the last 2 times I reinstalled Win7 on my current system (Asus P5Q-e) I never noticed a difference so, didn't know if the updates did the same thing or not.

Thanks.

 

[mcnumpty23]

yes

i always do chipset drivers first

old habit probably from the days when chipset drivers included graphics and network drivers--whether it really matters nowadays not sure but it doesnt hurt either

 

[THRobinson]

Exactly why I did it... network drivers and at one time USB I think. On my older ASUS P4P800-e board, there was always 1 item in device manager with an ! mark beside it unless I ran the chipset drivers... still no idea what it was or what it did, but the ! bothered me. Since Win7 I never saw a difference between using them or not, so wasn't sure if anyone still installed them unless they had a problem.