Start assembling your new setup; let me know if you need assistance with drivers.
Start assembling your new setup; let me know if you need assistance with drivers.
I assembled my rig last night using the provided parts list. Initially, I updated the BIOS on my Z97-A motherboard, activated the XMP profile for my RAM sticks, and then set up a Windows 8.1 Pro 64 installation. The system is ready but drivers are missing. I’m unsure which driver to install first—do I need both Turbo LAN or Intel Gigabit Ethernet, or just one? For a machine with your components (Z97-A, i5 4690K, G1 Gaming 970, Samsung Evo 840, WD Cav Blue), what drivers are recommended? What’s the best order to install them? Any guides or links would help a lot.
I would switch to another device, save the network driver file, attach the USB drive, connect it to a USB 2 port, set up the driver, and once installed, you could install additional drivers without a fixed sequence.
Are you certain? I remember my internet was fine after a clean install and upgrade to Windows 8.1 before adding any drivers. I believe Windows 8 has its own, so you could at least access the internet without drivers. On Windows 7, I couldn’t use the internet without an Ethernet driver. For my drivers, I usually install them in this sequence. Not sure if that’s the optimal method, but I tend to follow it so updates don’t reinstall old GPU drivers. Intel Chipset Driver, Intel Management Engine, Interface Drive, Realtek Controller, Ethernet, Media Card Reader, Realtek Media Card (yes, I still use these), Nvidia Display, Sound, and Windows Update.
The driver booster works quite well as software. I also appreciate iobit's uninstaller. Avoid any other of iobit's products. Steer clear of malware, antivirus, or system cleaners that are worse than ccleaner and can harm your PC. I tried it because it had positive reviews and it did affect my browser speed and internet performance.
These tools often try to handle too many tasks. It’s better for programs to focus on one job and do it right. CCleaner removes unnecessary files and doesn’t waste time on anything else, which is why it works so well. No one needs an internet booster or all the extra features it comes with by default. The same goes for these AVs—system cleaning isn’t necessary or useful anymore.
I typically have 3 or 4 drivers running at the same time. The three most critical ones are chipset, LAN, and USB3. Adding on-board audio increases it to four. Always install the newest drivers. If you're not sure which is the latest among several, check their release dates and version numbers.