updating drivers

do i need to go through all my devices and look for updated drivers? if not what are the main ones besides graphic card drivers to update for best / up to par performance?

 

don't fix it unless it's broken

 

With drivers, always fix it whether it's broken or not. If they release new drivers, it's because it *is* broken, whether you realize it or not.

And it's a pain for software developers to have to deal with tons of support issues from people who didn't bother to update their drivers and so complains that this brand new game crashes with their 4 year old graphics drivers.
It's also frustrating for you as a user to buy software you think is buggy, so if you can avoid that experience by keeping your system up to date, all the better.

With bios updates, I agree, don't fix it unless it's broken.

Anyway, just look up drivers for your motherboard and graphics card. Those are the main ones. (And the motherboard one typically comes bundled with misc. drivers for stuff such as the onboard sound or network chips anyway)

 

But then again, be careful because often with new drivers (especially with laptops) they break more than they fix!

Best example is AC97 drivers (sound) I've gone through SOO many headaches because of drivers for these.

 

The most efficient way is to go to the manufacutres website for the lastest drivers for your particular computer.

 

I've already shared my Wireless Driver Update story.

Dell keeps popping a window up to direct me to update the Intel Wireless Driver, and the driver update is listed at their support site.

Wireless working GREAT before driver update, Wireless BROKEN after update.

Fell for it twice over a month window, NEVER again. I had to do a System Restore both times it !$#%! it up so bad.

I have had luck with about 5 or 6 driver updates, with the new laptop, but am more weary with mass downloading and clicking on those .exe files.

Hell, half the time, after I click on the .exe new driver loading file, my E1405 isn't even listed in the system list of the install warning ! Even though the Dell site lists the update for my "System" !!

So I am more on the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" school as well. Which is probably the thoughts of the original poster.

Unfortunately, I don't have the DV2000T that they have.

Is a "Driver Pros and Cons by System" thread a solution ???

 

Yeah, aside from graphics card manufacturers, very few devices are updated "for performance". If it works the way it is supposed to, no reason to change that.

If you are having a problem, that's when you look for the driver update that may fix it. That's why most manufacturers do driver updates, to fix issues. If you have no issue, then why possibly screw things up by installing a new driver. Sometimes the ones made specifically for your machine (ie: from your manufacturer) will work best.