Which drivers to use?

[DaKid]

When I finally put my new PC together tomorrow I'm after some help about which drivers I should use?

I'll get drivers with my mobo I presume, with my graphics card, with my sound card .... my initial thought was to install XP, then run through the install discs, starting at the motherboard. Is this wrong?

Mobo - Asus A8V Deluxe
GFX - GF3 initially then next week a Gigabyte X800XT
Sound Card - Audigy 2 ZS

What about Detonator/Catalyst Drivers? Are they better than the ones that the card manufacturer has written (and presumably optimised) for their specific card?

(Man, I'm full of questions these days ... hope no-one minds my asking)

[Lee H]

I personally download the lastest drivers for all the parts I'm going to install as these usually have better features (i.e soundstorm mixer on the nf7-s is a good example of new drivers better than old)

As for drivers for the card - I've noticed theres not that much optomisation just "branding" more than anything so the nvidia/ATi drivers will be fine

[nichomach]

Agreed, get the latest Detonators from nvidia for your GF3, but for your Radeon when you get it?

http://www.omegadrivers.net/.

[Leo]

I usually start with

1) Install Windows XP
2) Install chipset drivers (on motherboard CD)
3) Update to latest Service Patch and all critical updates from Windowsupdate
4) Latest graphics card drivers (or whichever ones u find best, newer is not always better)