I recently did a clean install of Windows 11 Pro on my PC and I'm wondering about the drivers. Do I have to manually install all of them myself, especially for my graphics card and processor? If I skip this step, will my GPU or CPU not function correctly or perform below their capacity? Just for reference, my specs are an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super. Any advice would really help!
4 Answers
At a minimum, you definitely need the GPU and chipset drivers. Installing just the base drivers might get your system up and running, but for peak performance, always grab the latest from the manufacturer’s site. Generic Windows drivers might not support all the features your hardware offers.
Honestly, I find it best to install them manually. It's not hard! Just head over to your motherboard's website for chipset drivers, and for your GPU, make sure to get the latest from Nvidia. This ensures everything works as intended.
You'll definitely need to manually install the Nvidia drivers. Everything else can probably be left alone if your system seems to be running smoothly. These drivers are crucial for your GPU to bring out the best performance, as Windows may not install all the specific features and optimizations.
Windows usually installs most drivers automatically, but they might not be the latest versions. It's a good idea to check Device Manager to see if there are any unknown devices marked with question marks. If your GPU is not recognized, I suggest downloading the latest drivers directly from Nvidia's website for optimal performance. Using outdated or generic drivers can limit your hardware's capabilities.
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