How to Update Motherboard Drivers
Keeping your motherboard drivers up-to-date is important to ensure your computer runs smoothly and you get the full functionality from your hardware. Here are the steps to update motherboard drivers on your Windows PC:
1. Identify Your Motherboard Model
First, you need to find out what model of motherboard you have in your computer. You can do this a few different ways:
- Look in your computer’s documentation or manual that came with it when you bought it. The motherboard model should be listed there.
- Open the System Information app on your computer. To do this, type “msinfo32” in the Windows search box and hit Enter. Under the System Summary, look for the BaseBoard Product which is your motherboard model.
- Use a tool like CPU-Z which will show details on your motherboard under the Mainboard tab.
Make a note of the full model name and manufacturer.
2. Go to the Manufacturer’s Website
Once you know your motherboard model, go to the manufacturer’s website. For example, if you have an Asus motherboard, go to asus.com.
Look for the Support section and find the Downloads page for your specific motherboard model. This is where you’ll find the latest drivers available from the manufacturer.
3. Download the Latest Driver Versions
On the downloads page, look for and download the latest versions of drivers for:
- Chipset
- LAN / Ethernet
- Audio
- Any other drivers listed for your motherboard model
If you are unsure which to download, you can often find Driver Update Utilities that will detect your hardware and recommend the latest drivers. Just make sure you get them directly from the manufacturer website.
4. Install the Downloaded Drivers
Once downloaded, open and run each driver installer. Reboot your computer when prompted.
For motherboard drivers, you generally don’t need to uninstall the old driver first. The new driver installer will override the older version with the updated files.
Make sure to install the Chipset driver first before the other drivers.
5. Verify the Drivers Updated
You can check that your drivers have been updated by going back to the System Information app and looking at the driver versions listed there. Or use a tool like CPU-Z again to see the updated driver dates and versions.
Be sure to regularly check for and install new motherboard drivers as the manufacturers release them to keep your system optimized. This simple update can prevent crashes, hardware conflicts, and other issues.