Driver updater software is one of the most consistently bad categories of PC software. Tools like Driver Booster, DriverEasy, and Snappy Driver Installer often install incorrect drivers, bundle adware, and add services that run at startup. You don’t need any of them. Here’s how to update drivers properly.
Why driver updater software is a bad idea
Driver updater tools pull from generic driver databases that aren’t always current and don’t account for your specific hardware revision. They also have a financial incentive to flag outdated drivers to push you toward paid tiers.
The correct drivers for your hardware come from one place: the hardware manufacturer’s website.
GPU drivers (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel Arc)
NVIDIA
Go to nvidia.com/drivers. Select your GPU model and OS, then download the Game Ready Driver for gaming or Studio Driver for creative work. During installation, choose Custom and check Perform a clean installation to remove old driver remnants.
For a fully clean install, use DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) first:
- Download DDU from guru3d.com
- Boot into Safe Mode (hold Shift while clicking Restart → Troubleshoot → Advanced Options → Startup Settings → Restart → F4)
- Run DDU, select GPU, click Clean and restart
- Install fresh NVIDIA drivers after reboot
Only use DDU when switching GPU brands or fixing a corrupted driver install. For routine updates, the clean installation checkbox is enough.
AMD
Download from amd.com/support. The AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition installer handles driver updates. Like NVIDIA, choose a factory reset option if you’re troubleshooting issues.
Intel Arc
Download from intel.com/arc-drivers. Intel’s driver releases for Arc have improved significantly since launch — check every 4–6 weeks.
Chipset drivers
Chipset drivers manage communication between your CPU and the rest of the motherboard — USB controllers, PCIe lanes, storage controllers. These matter more than most people realise.
- AMD (for Ryzen): Download AMD Chipset Drivers from amd.com/support. Filter by “Chipset.”
- Intel: Download the Intel Chipset Device Software from intel.com.
Update chipset drivers before GPU drivers and after any Windows major update.
Storage drivers (NVMe)
Windows ships with a generic NVMe driver that works fine for most drives, but manufacturer-specific drivers can improve performance and enable proprietary features.
- Samsung: Samsung Magician includes the Samsung NVMe driver
- Western Digital: WD Dashboard
- Seagate: SeaTools
Only install storage manufacturer software if you actually need drive health monitoring or firmware updates. The Microsoft driver is fine otherwise.
Network drivers
Get these from your motherboard manufacturer’s website (e.g., ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte, ASRock). Navigate to your specific motherboard model’s support page and download the LAN and WiFi drivers directly.
Don’t use Windows Update for network drivers — it often installs older versions.
Peripheral drivers (mouse, keyboard, headset)
Install only what you need:
- Logitech: G Hub (required for programmable buttons and DPI settings)
- Razer: Synapse (required for Chroma lighting and macros)
- SteelSeries: GG
- Corsair: iCUE
If you don’t use any programmable features, most peripherals work fine with Windows’ generic HID drivers and don’t need manufacturer software installed.
How often to update
| Driver type | Frequency |
|---|---|
| GPU | Monthly for gaming, or when a game-specific fix drops |
| Chipset | After Windows major updates, or every 6 months |
| NVMe | Only for firmware updates (check twice a year) |
| Network | When you have connection issues, not on a schedule |
| Peripherals | When a feature you need is broken |
The rule of thumb
If your system is stable and performing well, don’t update drivers. “If it ain’t broke” applies strongly here — driver updates occasionally introduce new bugs. Update GPU drivers regularly (they include game optimizations), but treat everything else as maintenance, not routine upkeep.