Bought an SSD and did a fresh install. Si I have a few different - but related - questions:
First, relevant specs:
Maximus IV Gene-Z
BIOS 3603
Window 7 Premium 64
i7 2600K
16 GB RAM
XFX ATI 6970
Samsung 840 SSD (boot)
Seagate Barracuda 2T (data)
First and foremost, what’s the best order to install drivers? Chipset, JMicron, IRST, …???
And which drivers?
Should I use Intel’s IRST Driver: 11.6.0.1030 (latest available) OR the ASUS one: 11.5.0.1207?
This goes for pretty much anything on the ASUS website, do I really need to stick with ASUS available ones when there are newer versions of Intel, Lucid, etc… on their own site, or elsewhere on ASUS (for example GameFirst V2 isn’t even available for download for the IV boards but is fully compatible)?
While “branded” with ROG and ASUS skins, they are the same program, no?
Also, as a rule, the Maximus IV Gene-Z/Gen3 drivers seem to get updated more frequently. Other then the PCIe 3.0 support, all the rest of the controllers are the same. So, what drivers are compatible/incompatible? While many are currently the same: IRST, JMicron (same JMB362 controller), Realtek, etc… they have been different in the past and just seem to get updated on the website quicker for the Gen3 models – months sometimes as if they simply forget, or can’t be bothered with, updating both pages. For example, both used the 9.2.0.1030 chipset version, but the Gen3 was updated a while before, same thing for the Intel Graphics drivers and most others.
And the software: all the ROG stuff and the AI suite, the Lucid software, Creative, etc… all updated slower but it’s the same hardware.
Speaking of the Lucid stuff, should I even install the drivers? This is my gaming system, I really don’t do ANYTHING else on it so I really don’t want/need it to “downgrade” my gfx. So is there even a need/point to Lucid for me?
So to summarize: What’s safe to update when available other than on MY download page and what should I wait on (though some NEVER get updated)? Thoughts?
Thanks, Ken
