What’s the cleanest way to install drivers after a full PC upgrade?

With a genuinely clean Windows install, DDU usually isn’t needed. It’s mainly useful when you’re cleaning up old graphics drivers on an existing Windows installation. Back up anything you need first, since deleting or formatting the Windows drive erases its contents.

After the new parts are installed, set up Windows, let Windows Update install the basics, then get the AMD graphics driver from AMD’s official software. Check the motherboard maker’s support page for any missing chipset, network, or audio drivers. You can skip extra utilities unless you actually need their features.

I’d keep the process simple: install Windows, run Windows Update, restart, then install the AMD GPU driver and its control software. Check Device Manager afterward. If something is still missing, get that specific driver from the motherboard manufacturer rather than installing a pile of management apps just because they’re offered.

Save the drivers you expect to need on a USB stick if the new system may not have working network access right away. The motherboard’s network driver is the one most likely to be useful for getting online.

There’s no need to keep the PC offline just to stop Windows from installing drivers. A fresh Windows install can use automatic drivers, and you can update or replace the graphics driver afterward. If you want a tidy setup, connect to the internet once Windows is installed, run updates, and then install the current AMD graphics package.

DDU is optional here, not a required step. The clean install is what removes the old Windows driver setup.

One small distinction: CPU drivers usually means the chipset driver for the motherboard platform, not a special driver for the CPU itself. Get the chipset package from the motherboard support page or the chipset vendor, then install the GPU driver. Windows may already cover networking and other basics.

Don’t install a motherboard utility just to fetch drivers if the support page has direct downloads. Those utilities can be convenient, but they aren’t necessary for a working system.