Should I update my graphics card driver?

sam_farhan94 · Nov 13, 2017

I'm upgrading from a gtx 1050 to a gtx 1070. I noticed that both drivers are of the same version; 388.13.

Do I really need to update my driver?

Darkbreeze · Nov 13, 2017

Not because of the card change. Same driver for both cards. And since that is the latest version there is nothing you could update it to anyhow.

sam_farhan94 · Nov 13, 2017

So what you're basically saying is, I could just install the card and I wouldn't have to do anything?

Darkbreeze · Nov 13, 2017

Exactly. So long as you have a capable enough power supply. What is the model number of your power supply?

A power supply that has enough capacity for a GTX 1050 may not be enough for a GTX 1070. Minimum recommendation for the GTX 1050 is a good 320w PSU. For a GTX 1070 a good 500w PSU is recommended.

sizzling · Nov 13, 2017

You should still uninstall the driver and reinstall the driver with the new gpu installed. Although its the same driver it will have configured itself for the old card.

Darkbreeze · Nov 13, 2017

No, it won't have. It will be fine. I'm all for performing a clean install of drivers when it's necessary, as seen at my tutorial here:

http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2767677/clean-graphics-driver-install-windows.html

But I've changed out maybe fifty to a hundred cards that were all based on the same architecture, using the same driver packages, and never once did they require reinstalling the drivers unless you were moving from one gen to another, or from AMD to Nvidia or reverse.

I'm pretty sure we've had some disagreements in the past regarding bad advice, and once again, I think this is another case of that. However, I suppose there is nothing wrong, actually, in doing a clean install of the drivers EVERY time a new card is installed. It's just that it isn't necessary in THIS or similar cases. If different driver packages were called for it would be a different story but there is absolutely no sense in reinstalling the same drivers you already have installed unless there is currently a problem and drivers are suspected.

sam_farhan94 · Nov 13, 2017

Darkbreeze :

My psu is a 600w 80 plus bronze

sam_farhan94 · Nov 13, 2017

Darkbreeze :

No, it won't have. It will be fine. I'm all for performing a clean install of drivers when it's necessary, as seen at my tutorial here:

http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2767677/clean-graphics-driver-install-windows.html

But I've changed out maybe fifty to a hundred cards that were all based on the same architecture, using the same driver packages, and never once did they require reinstalling the drivers unless you were moving from one gen to another, or from AMD to Nvidia or reverse.

I'm pretty sure we've had some disagreements in the past regarding bad advice, and once again, I think this is another case of that. However, I suppose there is nothing wrong, actually, in doing a clean install of the drivers EVERY time a new card is installed. It's just that it isn't necessary in THIS or similar cases. If different driver packages were called for it would be a different story but there is absolutely no sense in reinstalling the same drivers you already have installed unless there is currently a problem and drivers are suspected.

Yeah that was what I was suspecting too Both drivers are literally the same driver. It's exactly why I started this thread looking for answers

Darkbreeze · Nov 13, 2017

There are about six thousand different 600w 80plus bronze PSUs out there. Maybe 200 of them can actually do anything like 600w continuous and most would be lucky to make 450-500w for a few minutes. What is the EXACT model of your power supply? It should be printed on a sticker or placard either on the back or one of the sides of your power supply. Without knowing the exact model, brands and capacities are meaningless.

sam_farhan94 · Nov 13, 2017

Darkbreeze :

It's an Aigo GT 600w 80 Plus Bronze

sizzling · Nov 13, 2017

Maybe he won't have performance issues by not reinstalling the driver but I personally have when trying this before and I have seen numerous threads over the years where its been a problem.

Darkbreeze · Nov 13, 2017

I've NEVER seen a problem going from one card model to another within the same generational family, except when there were ALREADY problems that existed due to not having done a clean install of the GPU card drivers in the first place prior to installing the FIRST card model in that family that had been in the system.

Example: If you had a GTX 960 and upgraded to a GTX 1060, but did not do a clean install first when upgrading to the GTX 1060, and THEN you went on to install a GTX 1070 because the 1060 didn't seem to give you the upgrade you thought you should have seen, it may have been due to not performing a clean install in the first place.

Same when going from one card manufacturer to another. EVERY time you switch from green to red, or red to green, you should first remove all traces of the previous driver setup and configuration using the DDU. When the same exact driver revision and same card family is in play, nothing would change, at all, by reinstalling the drivers whether you removed them first or not, UNLESS, there was already a problem before the new card was installed.

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Should I update my graphics card driver?

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