Question about installing Intel Chipset software

rickb278

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Out of curiosity...and I know this might sound like a dumb question.....Lets say you've installed the Intel chipsets first as you are supposed to do...then you install the rest (Intel Management Interface, graphics, SATA, Audio, Network and any other driver updates that are required).
What happens if 6 months later a newer version of the Intel Chipset software becomes available?
!. Do you install it or not?
2. If you do install a newer version of the Intel chipsets do you then have to install all your other hardware drivers ((Intel Management Interface, graphics, SATA, Audio, Network) again? i.e does it affect the previous drivers that you might have installed in a recommended installation order. The reason I ask is because I know its critical that Intel Chipsets are installed before anything else and Im not 100% sure why though I have a good idea.
Would installing a newer version of the Intel Chipsets affect any previous hardware drivers you installed or would it just make the new chipsets more compatible with any new devices you might install in the future without interfering with any previous drivers for any hardware that you have already installed?
Sorry if that sounds like a stupid question. Im just trying to get a better understanding of how the Intel Chipsets work
 

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What happens if 6 months later a newer version of the Intel Chipset software becomes available?
!. Do you install it or not?
Yes. It updates all the drivers for built in Intel devices on the Mother Board. However, if the MB contains a third party hardware such as Realtek Network controller, Renasas USB3 etc... then you have to update it separately from Realtek/Renasas if they have new drivers for them.
If you do install a newer version of the Intel chipsets do you then have to install all your other hardware drivers ((Intel Management Interface, graphics, SATA, Audio, Network) again?
Again, if the hardware from third party manufacturer then yes you'd have to update those drivers separately.
 

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So all previously installed hardware drivers will have to be installed again..such as Nvidia Graphics, Dell wireless network card, Realtek Ethernet Controller, Realtek Cardreader and Realtek High Definition Audio. Will Installing newer chipsets cause errors in Device Manager or will they just be no longer fully compatible with the newly installed Chipsets?
If so does that mean Intel Rapid Storage Technology (SATA) and Intel Management Engine Interface would not require reinstalling because they are Intel manufactured?
 

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So all previously installed hardware drivers will have to be installed again..such as Nvidia Graphics, Dell wireless network card, Realtek Ethernet Controller, Realtek Cardreader and Realtek High Definition Audio
Not necessarily so. Intel Chipset only install drivers for Intel components on the MB. Any other third party devices would have to be installed separately provided if they have a new driver for it. If they don't then you don't need to do anything.

Nvidia Graphics, Dell wireless network card, Realtek Ethernet Controller, Realtek Cardreader and Realtek High Definition Audio are not made by Intel and usually the manufacturers send the new drivers to Microsoft to incorporate into their updates and that's why sometimes you see the Optional updates from Windows Updates.
 

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I think we are getting our wires a bit crossed mate. What I was trying to say was... If I install the latest main Intel Chipset software version which is available..will it interfere with all the device drivers I installed six months ago straight after the initial main Intel Chipset software installation ?
If Im understanding you correctly I think you are saying it wont interfere with any of the existing drivers installed previously and to just update any of those non-Intel devices again whenever newer drivers become available and it will be OK?

On a separate note..A few weeks ago an update to the Intel Management Engine Interface (AMT HECI) became available..which like I say is about 6 months after I installed the main Intel Chipset and previous version of Intel Management Engine Interface (AMT HECI), graphics, audio and other drivers so I just went ahead and installed it. Was it OK to do that..I know the Intel ME Interface is not the same as the main Intel Chipsets even though the Dell Site lists it as a chipset driver. I presumed it would be OK to install it on its own because I had already installed the main Intel Chipset software six months ago
 

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With drivers, I would say it's optional whether or not you want to update. Check the list of changes and if there's some new feature you want to take advantage of or a bug fixed that's been bothering you, update. Without either of those two conditions, you're just updating for the sake of updating if you're not having any problems and there are no new features offered.

However, as others have pointed out, you can update drivers in isolation. So you can update just the Intel chipset software if you want and nothing else. The only time that isn't true is if you're doing a clean install of the OS and not from any OEM factory restore program.
 

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I think there was a bit of confusion to what I was asking in an earlier post. Ive read it back and probably didn't explain what I was asking as clearly as I could have done. So Am I right in thinking that after a clean installation of Windows 8 from Windows 8 DVD (not a factory restore image) . As long as I've installed the Intel Chipset software first (followed by the drivers for all your other devices)...I can then go ahead and install any other newer drivers as they become available in the years ahead in any order. This includes the main chipset drivers, video, audio, Intel Management Engine Interface, Intel Rapid Storage (SATA) etc.without having to worry about the order I install them in or it affecting any of the drivers I have already installed previously?
So basically, if Im understanding you all correctly..It is only that first initial Intel Chipset software installation you do immediately after a clean install of Windows that is important and has to be installed before any of the other drivers but it is a one time thing..and only applies when you first install Windows 8. After that...you can install anything in any order (including being able to update the Intel Chipset driver itself to a newer version any time you like) ?
 
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So Am I right in thinking that after a clean installation of Windows 8 from Windows 8 DVD (not a factory restore image) . As long as I've installed the Intel Chipset software first (followed by the drivers for all your other devices)...I can then go ahead and install any other newer drivers as they become available in the years ahead in any order.

Yes.

You are waaay over thinking this.
 

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