Do you want to know how to update your graphics card drivers on windows 7, 8, 10 and 11? You are on the right spot to know the answer of this query.
You have PC with GPU and you want to update the drivers of your graphics card. Don’t worry, with this guide we tell you how to update the drivers of your graphics card regardless of whether it is AMD or NVidia.
It is necessary to recognize that software updates do not always bring good results. Sometimes, far from introducing performance improvements or optimizations, they worsen the performance of the computer or a component more than anything else.
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Obviously, this also applies to the drivers of your graphics card, regardless of whether it is NVidia or AMD. So should you update your GPU drivers? Read on to find out.
In this article we explain to you is it really important to update the drivers of a graphics card. On the other hand, we explain the steps you must follow in Windows to obtain the latest version of the AMD and NVidia drivers.
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Is it always Necessary to Update GPU Drivers?
Tech company development teams are always looking for ways to improve performance and fix bugs. This also applies to graphics cards from AMD and NVidia.
To take full advantage of the features of these components, it is necessary to install the drivers on the computer. Much depends on this software the final performance that the GPU will offer.
Of course, like any other program, the driver may contain errors that impair the results of the graphics card.
That’s where the updates come in, which aim to fix those bugs and squeeze even more of the GPU’s capabilities.
However, you should know that new versions of drivers sometimes come with new bugs that, far from improving performance, could worsen it.
See Also: How to choose a Good Graphics Card for Gaming
Does that mean that it is better not to update the card drivers? No, but if everything is working as it should, don’t rush to install the new version and wait until others have tested it.
This way you will avoid deploying a faulty update to a GPU that is already working properly. Of course, if the situation is the opposite, this is the problem with your graphics card, update may be the definitive solution.
Before Updating Drivers, Identify your GPU and clean Old Drivers
You may know the manufacturer of your graphics card, but not the exact model installed in your computer. Or maybe you have no idea what GPU your computer mounts.
Don’t worry! In order to get the relevant updates, you should ideally get the manufacturer’s name and the exact model. How to do it?
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With task Manager
There are some simple methods that we will explain below. The first involves heading to Task Manager.
If you don’t know how to access it, consult the guide in which we explain how to open this tool step by step. When you find yourself before her, follow these instructions:
- Open the Performance
- Access the GPU section, which shows the performance of the graphics card in real time.
- Look at the name that appears at the top right of the screen.
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With the DirectX Diagnostic Tool
Additionally, it is possible to know the manufacturer and model of your graphics card with the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.
All you have to do is open the Run dialog (keyboard shortcut Windows + R) and type dxdiag. In the pop-up window that will appear on the screen, all the information of your graphics card is shown.
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With a third Party Program
The last method that we propose to find out the data of your graphics card is to use a third-party application. A highly recommended one is AIDA64, although in this article you will find other recommendations.
How to Clean Old Drivers
Now that you have identified your GPU, ideally you should clean your current drivers before installing the new ones.
Doing so is just as positive if you want to change your NVidia GPU for an AMD or vice versa. To do so, you have at your disposal the DDU tool, specialized in this task.
See Also: How to Underclock Graphics Card AMD or NVIDIA
If you want to know how to do it step by step, consult our article DDU what it is and how to uninstall drivers correctly.
How to update your Graphics Card Drivers on Windows
Please refer to the two methods to update GPU drivers depending on your card manufacturer.
If you have an AMD GPU
In the event that you have an AMD graphics card, you should ideally go to the AMD Radeon Software. Once the software is open, follow these instructions
- Open the app settings.
- Go into the System
- Click Check for Updates and select the Recommended + Optional
- If there is a newer version, click Download and then
Obviously, if for some reason you don’t have the configuration panel for your graphics card, it’s best to manually download the drivers.
If you have an NVidia Graphics
The easiest method you have at your disposal to update the drivers of your graphics card in the event that it is NVidia is to download GeForce Experience. This tool is available on the company’s official website and its download is completely free.
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Once you have the application on your computer, you will need to create an account or log in. Then, you will have at your fingertips all the utilities that are integrated in this package.
One of the most interesting options of GeForce Experience is its automatic update system. It is located in the application settings area and is responsible for locating the latest driver releases for your graphics card.
Of course, it is also possible to check for updates manually using the Check for updates button. Although the tool will notify you every time there is a new version of the drivers, it will always ask for your consent to download and install them.
In this way, the user maintains control over this aspect and decides whether to implement the latest drivers or not. Finally, you should know that you have two installation modes:
- Quick installation. The entire process is done automatically, without the need for user intervention.
- Custom installation. Various parameters are made available to the user to determine which additional components to install.
Benefits of Updating Graphics Card Drivers
When the GPU performance is good and bug-free, updates can be dispensed with. Still, in most cases, implementing the latest versions of the software will bring you many benefits.
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The most notable is the performance improvement achieved by the manufacturer. In addition, you can get new features that you will take advantage of during your games.
And, of course, if you’re having problems with your GPU, new versions of the software provided by developers at NVidia and AMD will likely be the solution to the bugs you’re experiencing.
And you, are you one of the first to install all GPU updates or do you prefer to wait for them to be confirmed as bug-free? Leave your opinion in the comments. We read you!
Faizan Ali is a Master in Computer Sciences and has been writing content for computing, gaming and mobile technologies since 2016. He has written content for number of online magazines, websites and blogs and now writes for “the buyers trend”. Feel free to contact him for any sort of writing for your technology related blog, website or magazine.