I'm thinking about upgrading my graphics card from a 9070 XT to a 5070 Ti, and I've come across mixed advice regarding driver uninstallation. Some say that using DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) is only necessary if you're experiencing issues, while others suggest that it's a good way to free up resources since old drivers might still be linked in memory. I haven't made the switch yet, so I'd love to hear some insights before I proceed!
4 Answers
I always recommend using DDU before switching GPUs, especially when you're moving from one brand to another like AMD to NVIDIA. A standard uninstall might leave behind some files and registry entries that could lead to problems later. Although you might not face issues immediately, it’s a good precaution to rule out driver conflicts.
You don't *have* to use DDU. It usually works fine even if you don’t. I swapped GPUs multiple times without uninstalling drivers and never had any problems. Just to be safe, though, it might be better to uninstall prior drivers to prevent any possible issues later on.
Oh, and if you’re switching brands, don’t forget to delete the shader cache. It helps smooth things out after a switch!
In my experience, downloading the latest drivers and just doing a normal uninstall/reinstall works perfectly fine. Sure, some people swear by DDU, but I believe its relevance has faded over time. If things don’t work out, you can always try it afterwards.
I switched from a 1080 Ti to a 9070 XT and encountered some issues after following the DDU process. I ended up reinstalling Windows to fix random crashes. Sometimes it feels like it's really hit or miss!
Honestly, I think DDU is overkill if you're sticking with the same brand. Just uninstalling normally and then installing the new drivers should work fine without all the fuss.