How to Check for the Latest Chipset Drivers
On a computer motherboard, the chipset controls all of the basic components that we take for granted. These components, depending on the computer, may include the USB ports, the hard disk controllers and the ports that the expansion cards plug into. Additionally, the chipset facilitates communication between all of these devices and the CPU. As a result, the chipset matters a great deal to the overall performance of a computer, and ensuring that your chipset drivers are kept up-to-date is vital. Use DriverMax to check your chipset drivers and download new ones if needed.
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Instructions
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Download and install DriverMax using the link in the Resources section of this article. After the application is installed, you will receive a message explaining that DriverMax needs to index all of your drivers. Click "OK." This process may take several minutes.
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Click "Finish" to launch DriverMax.
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Click the link in the bottom-left corner of the window labeled "Not registered--please click here."
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Enter a user name, your real name, your email address and select a password. Click "Next."
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Check the email address that you supplied for an email from the DriverMax team. Click the link supplied in the email to validate your account. The validation is immediate.
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Double click the DriverMax icon in the lower-right corner of the screen. It will scan your computer for driver updates. When no items are left in the area of the window labeled "Download and upload queue," the process is finished.
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Click the "Available Updates" tab. If your chipset drivers need updating, they will be shown on this list as several devices, such as "USB Root Hub," "PCI Express Root Port" and "Serial ATA Storage Controller." All of these devices will be displayed with the name of a single manufacturer. The most common chipset manufacturers are Intel, nVidia, VIA, and SiS.
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Double click on any of the chipset-related items on the list, then click the button labeled "Display updates for the selected driver only." This will bring you to the DriverMax website, where you can see the updated drivers available for the device, along with comments that have been posted by users.
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Click "Download driver" if the driver is digitally signed, and the comments from users are positive. Click the "Free user" link, and the driver will be downloaded. After it is downloaded, click "OK" to open it with DriverMax. You will be returned to the DriverMax window, and the driver will be displayed in the download and upload queue.
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Repeat steps 8 and 9 for all of the available updates shown.
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Click "Install drivers" to proceed with the installation.
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Click "Select All" if you have downloaded multiple drivers, and then click "Next."
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Remove the check from the box labeled "Install unsigned drivers without asking for confirmation," and click "Next." The driver installation will begin. This process may take several minutes. Click "Yes" to restart your computer after the drivers are installed. Your chipset drivers are now updated.
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Tips & Warnings
DriverMax is just one example of the many programs available to check for and install driver updates. Other driver updating programs may have options or features differing from those described in this article.
