Fresh Build-best method to avoid Armory Crate install and load drivers manually question

[Fakum]

I am building a new rig, primarily for gaming in (DCS) Digital Combat Flight Simulator. I have spent a lot of time doing research and the only part I have purchased so far is the CPU.   I have convinced myself after a lot of research that I was going with the ASUS ROG Strix B650E-F Gaming MOBO (MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk is still an alternative as I need a MOBO with the 5 port Audio Suite on the rear I/O). I am very hung up on any ASUS MOBO because of all this negative reading I have been doing about the “Armory Crate” Bloatware. I am understanding that I can disable it in the BIOS on my 1st powerup, then I understand I would have to have all of the MOBO drivers ready on a flash drive and install the drivers that way in order to keep that bloatware off my rig. I am NOT doing any lights, but will need some fan/pump control for the CPU AIO cooler. Is there a procedure I can follow to do this right? Thanks for any pointers.

My current parts list:

CPU: AMD 7800X3D

MOBO: ASUS ROG Strix B650E-F Gaming

RAM: G.Skill Trident Z5 NEO Series 64GB (2 x 32GB) DDR5 6000 CL30-40-40-96

SSD M.2: SK hynix Platinum P41 2TB PCIe NVMe Gen4 M.2

GPU:  RMSI Gaming GeForce RTX 4090 SUPRIM Liquid X 24G

POWER SUPPLY: FSP Hydro PTM PRO 1200W ATX 3.0 PCI-E GEN-5 80 Plus Platinum

TOWER: Corsair 5000D AIRFLOW

CPU AIO COOLER: ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280

WINDOWS 10 or 11 PRO 64BIT

[Thunderburn]

you can disable Armoury crate auto-install by disabling it in the bios

[Fakum]

yes, i am aware of that thank you, the question above is, what is the procedure for then installing the driver's manually?

"Is there a procedure I can follow to do this right? "

[paulchen2000]

You can download all needed Drivers on the Asus Webpage. There are 3rd party Apps for your RGB Control (iam using SinalRBG).

But even if you dont like to install AC, there will be a popup after the first boot on a windows 11 installation that asks you to install ac.

[MoKiChU]

Hi,

First of all I would like to notify the excellent choice of CPU that you have made with regard to your main use (DCS gaming), 3D V-Cache works wonders for DCS and MMO gaming (unmatched by Intel to date in this specific gaming use).

1) Download your drivers packages :

You need these drivers for your ASUS ROG Strix B650E-F Gaming motherboard :

[DRIVERS] AMD Chipset/RAID (3xx/4xx/5xx/6xx/TRX40)

- Intel AMD Chipset Drivers

[DRIVERS] Intel Ethernet/WiFi/Bluetooth

- Intel Ethernet Drivers (Drivers Only) :

Drivers - I225/I226

[DRIVERS] AMD|MediaTek WiFi/Bluetooth

- AMD|MediaTek WiFi Drivers (Drivers Only)

- AMD|MediaTek Bluetooth Drivers (Drivers Only)

[DRIVERS] Realtek USB Audio (Intel 5xx/6xx/7xx & AMD 5xx/6xx/TRX40)

You have an ASUS ROG SS3|DTS Sound Unbound motherboard with ALC408x codec, so :

You need Realtek USB Audio Drivers (UAD - ASUS ROG SS3-DTS) from the first post of the thread.

Follow scrupulously your CLEANUP process then your INSTALL process, for the next drivers packages that I would release, you will can directly follow your UPDATE process.

[DRIVERS] NVIDIA GeForce GPU (9xx/10xx/16xx/20xx/30xx/40xx)

2) Go in your BIOS (Del) > Advanced Mode (F7) > Tool tab > ASUS Armoury Crate > Download & Install ARMOURY CRATE app : Disabled.

3) Follow this thread : [INFORMATION] Windows 11 : Get Ready

4) Install Windows 11 by folling this process :

- Stay with your Ethernet cable plugged​

- Once you reach the sign-in page, unplug your Ethernet cable​

- Open cmd with Shift + F10 and type OOBE\BYPASSNRO (your PC will restart)​

- "I don't have Internet" > “Create One!” to create a Local account​

- Install your drivers in the order that I have listed them for you

- Plug your Ethernet cable then Activate Windows and link your Local account to your Microsoft account

- Update Windows from Windows Update & Download/Install your apps from Microsoft Store

5) You can use SignalRGB to manage your RGB stuff (multi-brand support) : [SOFTWARE] SignalRGB

[Fakum]

@MoKiChU wow, excellent! Thank you so much! The only question i have is about this RGB software mentioned. I am NOT wanting light controls, so is this still needed for maybe Fan/Pump control? Again, i dont use any of those colored lights. Thanks

[MoKiChU]

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@Fakum wrote:

@MoKiChU wow, excellent! Thank you so much! The only question i have is about this RGB software mentioned. I am NOT wanting light controls, so is this still needed for maybe Fan/Pump control? Again, i dont use any of those colored lights. Thanks

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You're welcome 😉

If you disable RGB, you effectively won't need SignalRGB. Managing your fans can be done directly from your BIOS, but if you want fans management from Windows, you can try Fan Control : https://getfancontrol.com/

[Fakum]

@paulchen2000 Thanks for the tip "But even if you dont like to install AC, there will be a popup after the first boot on a windows 11 installation that asks you to install ac." That is very good to know!

@MoKiChU Thanks for all of that critical information!

[Fakum]

@MoKiChU I was reading through the above instructions, and realized that i dont know what is meant by this?

"Follow scrupulously your CLEANUP process then your INSTALL process, for the next drivers packages that I would release, you will can directly follow your UPDATE process."

What does this Cleanup and Install process mean?

And while im here, i dont have a Microsoft account, nor do i want one. How would i skip that?

Also, when i 1st boot up, i imagine the new SSD m.2 drive will want me to select some format option? What option would be best to select?

Thanks

[MoKiChU]

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@Fakum wrote:

@MoKiChU I was reading through the above instructions, and realized that i dont know what is meant by this?

"Follow scrupulously your CLEANUP process then your INSTALL process, for the next drivers packages that I would release, you will can directly follow your UPDATE process."

What does this Cleanup and Install process mean?

---

Hi,

These are the processes visible in your motherboard category (ASUS ROG SS3|DTS Sound Unbound motherboards) in the audio drivers thread that I indicated to you previously :

@MoKiChU wrote:

[DRIVERS] Realtek USB Audio (Intel 5xx/6xx/7xx & AMD 5xx/6xx/TRX40)

You have an ASUS ROG SS3|DTS Sound Unbound motherboard with ALC408x codec, so :

You need Realtek USB Audio Drivers (UAD - ASUS ROG SS3-DTS) from the first post of the thread.

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Since you are going to perform a fresh installation of Windows, you can directly follow your INSTALL process, for the next drivers packages that I would release, you will can directly follow your UPDATE process.

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@Fakum wrote:

And while im here, i dont have a Microsoft account, nor do i want one. How would i skip that?

---

It's your choice, and in this case simply skip this step & don't link your Local account to any Microsoft account.

However, know that Microsoft allows the use of the Microsoft Store without a Microsoft user account for the apps without in-app purchases (contrary to the most apps stores won't let you through store doors without an user account), but an user account is required for the apps with in-app purchases like DTS Sound Unbound (even if you already have a license contained in your audio drivers).

So, If you use Windows without a Microsoft user account, install your applications from the UWP folder of the latest audio drivers package from your motherboard support page (Audio Drivers Package\UWP : Launch "AsusSetup.exe"), nevertheless, subsequent apps updates will be updated automatically via the Microsoft Store (with or without a Microsoft user account).

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@Fakum wrote:

Also, when i 1st boot up, i imagine the new SSD m.2 drive will want me to select some format option? What option would be best to select?

Thanks

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No you have nothing to select, it will be partitioned & formatted in NTFS by default by the Windows installer.