GA-X58A-UD3R Rev. 2.0- what's all this stuff from Gigabyte.com

[AlanHoward]

So I'm looking at the downloads offered on Gigabyte.com for this motherboard (see below). Do I want (need?) to get and install this stuff when I get my new computer? Or when installing Windows 7? (I suppose these or earlier versions are supplied with the motherboard, yes?) Any advise?

Thanks in advance. - ah

1. Audio: Realtek Function driver for Realtek Azalia audio chip (Including Microsoft UAA Driver in English edition) OS:Windows XP 32bit,Windows XP 64bit,Windows Vista 32bit,Windows Vista 64bit,Windows 7 32bit,Windows 7 64bit R2.51 59.38 MB 2010/08/13

2. Chipset: Intel INF installation - OS:Windows XP 32bit,Windows XP 64bit,Windows Vista 32bit,Windows Vista 64bit,Windows 7 32bit,Windows 7 64bit,Windows 2000,Windows Server 2003 32bit,Windows Server 2003 64bit - ver. 9.1.2.1007 1.19 MB 2010/04/29

3. Lan: Realtek LAN Driver - OS:Windows 7 32bit,Windows 7 64bit - ver. 7.018 3.41 MB 2010/06/04

4. Lan: Realtek Ethernet Diagnostic Utility - OS:Windows XP 32bit,Windows XP 64bit,Windows Vista 32bit,Windows Vista 64bit,Windows 7 32bit,Windows 7 64bit - ver. 1.0.0.4 3.77 MB 2010/04/29

SATA Raid:
5. : Intel SATA RAID Driver - OS:Windows XP 32bit,Windows XP 64bit,Windows Vista 32bit,Windows Vista 64bit,Windows 7 32bit,Windows 7 64bit,Windows Server 2003 32bit,Windows Server 2003 64bit -
ver. 9.​6.​0.​1014 9.43 MB 2010/09/03

6. GIGABYTE SATA2 Driver - OS:Windows XP 32bit,Windows XP 64bit,Windows Vista 32bit,Windows Vista 64bit,Windows 7 32bit,Windows 7 64bit,Windows 2000 -ver. 1.17.54.1 3.33 MB 2010/04/29

7. GIGABYTE SATA2 Preinstall driver (For AHCI / RAID Mode)
Note: Press F6 during Windows setup to read from floppy.
OS:Windows XP 64bit,Windows Vista 64bit,Windows 7 64bit -
ver. 1.17.54.1 0.19 MB 2010/04/29

8. Marvell RAID Utility (SATA3)
(Please install Marvell Console Driver before install Marvell RAID Utility)
OS:Windows XP 32bit,Windows XP 64bit,Windows Vista 32bit,Windows Vista 64bit,Windows 7 32bit,Windows 7 64bit - ver. 4.1.0.1700 36.81 MB

9. Marvell Console Driver (SATA3) OS:Windows XP 32bit,Windows XP 64bit,Windows Vista 32bit,Windows Vista 64bit,Windows 7 32bit,Windows 7 64bit ver. 1.0.0.1027 0.30 MB 2009/11/10

10. USB 3 NEC USB 3.0 Driver - S:Windows XP 32bit,Windows XP 64bit,Windows Vista 32bit,Windows Vista 64bit,Windows 7 32bit,Windows 7 64bit - ver. 2.0.4.0 5.62 MB 2010/07/22

and of course:

11. Bios: ver. FB 0.89 MB 2010/08/24

And there are a bunch of utilities offered. Are these (as have been suggested here) those to be avoided?

 

[treefrog07]

So I'm looking at the downloads offered on Gigabyte.com for this motherboard (see below). Do I want (need?) to get and install this stuff when I get my new computer? Or when installing Windows 7? (I suppose these or earlier versions are supplied with the motherboard, yes?) Any advise?

Thanks in advance. - ah

1. Audio: Realtek Function driver for Realtek Azalia audio chip (Including Microsoft UAA Driver in English edition) OS:Windows XP 32bit,Windows XP 64bit,Windows Vista 32bit,Windows Vista 64bit,Windows 7 32bit,Windows 7 64bit R2.51 59.38 MB 2010/08/13 Yes, if you are going to use the on-board sound, you will need to load this - it is the driver.

2. Chipset: Intel INF installation - OS:Windows XP 32bit,Windows XP 64bit,Windows Vista 32bit,Windows Vista 64bit,Windows 7 32bit,Windows 7 64bit,Windows 2000,Windows Server 2003 32bit,Windows Server 2003 64bit - ver. 9.1.2.1007 1.19 MB 2010/04/29 Yes, this provides the Intel chipset functions - it is the driver.

3. Lan: Realtek LAN Driver - OS:Windows 7 32bit,Windows 7 64bit - ver. 7.018 3.41 MB 2010/06/04..Yes, if you are going to use the on-board LAN - it is the driver.

4. Lan: Realtek Ethernet Diagnostic Utility - OS:Windows XP 32bit,Windows XP 64bit,Windows Vista 32bit,Windows Vista 64bit,Windows 7 32bit,Windows 7 64bit - ver. 1.0.0.4 3.77 MB 2010/04/29..Not required, but may help if you have difficulty isolating a problem with your internet connectivity.

SATA Raid:
5. : Intel SATA RAID Driver - OS:Windows XP 32bit,Windows XP 64bit,Windows Vista 32bit,Windows Vista 64bit,Windows 7 32bit,Windows 7 64bit,Windows Server 2003 32bit,Windows Server 2003 64bit -
ver. 9.​6.​0.​1014 9.43 MB 2010/09/03.. Yes, if you are going to use the on-board RAID function of the Intel chipset; otherwise no.

6. GIGABYTE SATA2 Driver - OS:Windows XP 32bit,Windows XP 64bit,Windows Vista 32bit,Windows Vista 64bit,Windows 7 32bit,Windows 7 64bit,Windows 2000 -ver. 1.17.54.1 3.33 MB 2010/04/29 Yes, if you are going to use the "other" SATA ports for RAID, otherwise no.

7. GIGABYTE SATA2 Preinstall driver (For AHCI / RAID Mode)
Note: Press F6 during Windows setup to read from floppy.
OS:Windows XP 64bit,Windows Vista 64bit,Windows 7 64bit -
ver. 1.17.54.1 0.19 MB 2010/04/29 You'll need this if you are using 6. above, but normally this is only needed for XP, press F6 to load a RAID driver from a floppy drive.

8. Marvell RAID Utility (SATA3)
(Please install Marvell Console Driver before install Marvell RAID Utility)
OS:Windows XP 32bit,Windows XP 64bit,Windows Vista 32bit,Windows Vista 64bit,Windows 7 32bit,Windows 7 64bit - ver. 4.1.0.1700 36.81 MB Yes, if you are going to RAID the HDDs on the SATA3 ports, otherwise no.

9. Marvell Console Driver (SATA3) OS:Windows XP 32bit,Windows XP 64bit,Windows Vista 32bit,Windows Vista 64bit,Windows 7 32bit,Windows 7 64bit ver. 1.0.0.1027 0.30 MB 2009/11/10 Yes, if you are using 8. above, otherwise no.

10. USB 3 NEC USB 3.0 Driver - S:Windows XP 32bit,Windows XP 64bit,Windows Vista 32bit,Windows Vista 64bit,Windows 7 32bit,Windows 7 64bit - ver. 2.0.4.0 5.62 MB 2010/07/22 Yes, if you are going to use USB3, otherwise no.

and of course:

11. Bios: ver. FB 0.89 MB 2010/08/24 Many people recommend flashing the BIOS to the most recent version. Improperly doing so (like shutting off power before the update is complete) can "brick" your board. If you haven't flashed a BIOS before, and your board functions properly without the update, read about flashing the BIOS on the internet before you do it.

And there are a bunch of utilities offered. Are these (as have been suggested here) those to be avoided? I don't know much about gigabyte's utilities, some may be useful, e.g., a system utility that shows/monitors temps and controls fan speeds from the boards fan power connectors.

see above

 

[Twoboxer]

Install the software from the provided CD. I typically install them one at a time rather than letting the software install them all. Your call.

You must install 1-3, 4 is not needed, 5 - 10 are optional depending on the features you plan to use. But better to install them now than ask why stuff you may use later doesn't work.

The other utilities should also be installed. Open each one to play with them . . . ET6 for example allows a one-click overclock or two that will work. Not optimal, but usable. If you can OC yourself, you need not use it.

They can always be uninstalled.

Do not touch the BIOS unless it fixes a problem you actually have. Pointless risk.

Hope this helps.

 

[AlanHoward]

Best answer selected by AlanHoward.

 

[jaquith]

^+1 @ treefrog07

I NEVER EVER use the CD, I ALWAYS pull the latest off the website, and BEFORE I install OS I look at the BIOS History.

Otherwise, it's like buying a GTX 480 just to use 1 year old drivers from the CD.

edit: Almost forgot NEVER use any of the Gigabyte Utilities, the ONLY one that is okay is the ON/OFF.

 

[gary789]

I've tried updating my (Win7Pro x64) chipset drivers to either the 9.1.2.1007 from Gigabyte, or the 9.1.2.1008 WHQL from station-drivers. In either case, the installation appears to complete without error, but there is no message to reboot at the end. Even after I reboot anyway, the Device Manager still shows the original 9.1.1.1026 as the driver version for the various X58 system devices (e.g. the Intel 5520/5500/X58 I/O Hub to ESI Port - 3405).

The Driver tab for the device lists Intel, 2/8/2010, 9.1.1.1026, WHQL signer. But when I click on Driver Details, it says "No driver files are required or have been loaded for this device".

Has the installation in fact failed? Does it matter? (The system is very stable, with no apparent problems.)

GA-X58A-UD3R r2.0 FB, i7-950, OCZ3G1600LV6GK

 

[cyberr]

@gary789 :

Chipset: Intel Chipset Device Software for Intel Desktop Boards can be found here :

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldID=10884

File name: INF_allOS_9.1.2.1008_PV.exe
Version: 9.1.2.1008
Date: 09/29/2010
Size: 2.73 MB
Language: Multi language




QUESTION:

I'm using AHCI with a WD SATA3 hard disk and i would like to know if i need to install Intel Rapid Storage.

On my laptop, after installation, in device manager it show: Intel(R) ICH8M-E/M SATA AHCI Controller.

So this program/driver is needed or not for properly use AHCI ?


Can be found here:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?lang=eng&changeLang=true&DwnldId=19607


File name: iata_cd.exe
Version: 10.1.0.1008
Date: 12/15/2010 Status: Latest
Size: 11.51 MB Language: Multi language



Thanks for the explanations.