Necessary MSI Driver/Firmware/Utility Updates?


dmlrobot

Member
Local time
11:03 AM
Posts
7
OS
Windows 11 Home
I just finished building a new system (specs included in My Computer below) and got Win 11 Home installed. When Windows update runs it launches MSI Driver Utility Installer that wants to update/load a multitude of things. I'd prefer not to put a bunch of unnecessary stuff on a new system so looking for advice on what can/should be omitted. I've bolded the items I think are probably required and the items in blue are the ones I need the most help with.
  • Intel Chipset Driver
  • Intel SVGA Drivers (assume I don't need this because I have a video card)
  • Intel WIFI Driver
  • BlueTooth Driver
  • Intel Network Drivers
  • Realtek HD Universal Driver (is this necessary or just let Windows find an audio driver?)
  • Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver (does this benefit anything other than RAID?)
  • Intel Management Engine Driver (suspect I don't need this)
  • Intel GNA Scoring Accelerator (suspect I don't need this)
  • Intel Serial IO Drivers (suspect I don't need this)
  • Intel Extreme Tuning Utility (seems like an unnecessary utility)
  • MSI Center (seems like an unnecessary utility)
  • CPU-Z MSI GAMING (seems like an unnecessary utility)
  • AIDA64 Extreme - MSI Edition (seems like an unnecessary utility)
  • Realtek Audio Control (seems like an unnecessary utility)
 
Windows Build/Version
Windows 11 Home

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-13700K
    Motherboard
    MSI MAG Z790 TOMAHAWK WIFI
    Memory
    G.Skill RipJaws S5 DDR5 (2 x 16GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming X 12G
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 27GP850 UltraGear Gaming (x2)
    Hard Drives
    SAMSUNG 980 PRO 1TB M.2 SSD 1TB (x2)
    Western Digital WD Black HDD 4TB
    PSU
    Corsair RM850x 850W
    Case
    Corsair 4000D Airflow
    Cooling
    ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 A-RGB AIO
    Keyboard
    Razer Cynosa Chroma
    Mouse
    Razer Mamba Elite
@dmlrobot


One option is let all that stuff be installed, then make a backup.

Then you can remove whatever, and you'll have a backup as a safety net.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win 11 Home ♦♦♦22631.3447 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦23H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Ghot® [May 2020]
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
    Motherboard
    Asus Pro WS X570-ACE (BIOS 4702)
    Memory
    G.Skill (F4-3200C14D-16GTZKW)
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA RTX 2070 (08G-P4-2171-KR)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC1220P / ALC S1220A
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U3011 30"
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1600
    Hard Drives
    2x Samsung 860 EVO 500GB,
    WD 4TB Black FZBX - SATA III,
    WD 8TB Black FZBX - SATA III,
    DRW-24B1ST CD/DVD Burner
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling 750W Quad EPS12V
    Case
    Cooler Master ATCS 840 Tower
    Cooling
    CM Hyper 212 EVO (push/pull)
    Keyboard
    Ducky DK9008 Shine II Blue LED
    Mouse
    Logitech Optical M-100
    Internet Speed
    300/300
    Browser
    Firefox (latest)
    Antivirus
    Bitdefender Internet Security
    Other Info
    Speakers: Klipsch Pro Media 2.1
  • Operating System
    Windows XP Pro 32bit w/SP3
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Ghot® (not in use)
    CPU
    AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ (OC'd @ 3.2Ghz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition
    Memory
    TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX (2 x 1GB, DDR2 800)
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA 256-P2-N758-TR GeForce 8600GT SSC
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ViewSonic G90FB Black 19" Professional (CRT)
    Screen Resolution
    up to 2048 x 1536
    Hard Drives
    WD 36GB 10,000rpm Raptor SATA
    Seagate 80GB 7200rpm SATA
    Lite-On LTR-52246S CD/RW
    Lite-On LH-18A1P CD/DVD Burner
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad EPS12V
    Case
    Generic Beige case, 80mm fans
    Cooling
    ZALMAN 9500A 92mm CPU Cooler
    Mouse
    Logitech Optical M-BT96a
    Keyboard
    Logitech Classic Keybooard 200
    Internet Speed
    300/300
    Browser
    Firefox 3.x ??
    Antivirus
    Symantec (Norton)
    Other Info
    Still assembled, still runs. Haven't turned it on for 13 years?
Some I know, others I checked...
  • Intel Chipset Driver
  • Intel SVGA Drivers (assume I don't need this because I have a video card)
    • Depends on system. Modern systems do a hybrid video where low usage video goes through the Intel video to save power.
    • Since it detects it, go ahead.
  • Intel WIFI Driver
  • BlueTooth Driver
  • Intel Network Drivers
  • Realtek HD Universal Driver (is this necessary or just let Windows find an audio driver?)
    • This is the Windows updated driver. MS partners with vendors to send them out.
  • Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver (does this benefit anything other than RAID?)
    • You may need to go into the BIOS to change storage controller mode and use the basic driver.
    • Make sure the basic disk driver is installed in Storage controlers under device manager. It should be.
    • You may want to lookup how to do this.
  • Intel Management Engine Driver (suspect I don't need this)
    • Disable it in BIOS before removing. Some systems need additional steps. Good write ups on this
  • Intel GNA Scoring Accelerator (suspect I don't need this)
    • The purpose of Intel GNA is to offload the CPU during some computations.
      If your system supports it, you may get an advantage. Check Intel's site for explanation of what it does.
  • Intel Serial IO Drivers (suspect I don't need this)
    • If it is offered, you have I/O ports that are supported by the driver. Update it.
  • Intel Extreme Tuning Utility (seems like an unnecessary utility
    • Skip it
    • used to overclock, monitor, and stress a system.
    • Note: If you decide to install it, please make sure your processor is supported before downloading
  • MSI Center (seems like an unnecessary utility)
    • Required no
    • Useful utility yes. Take a look at it and remove if you don't intend to utilize the features. It has items aimed at basic, pro user and gamers.
    • Nice hardware monitor for initial page. Ability to update drivers from MSI.
  • CPU-Z MSI GAMING (seems like an unnecessary utility).
    • It depends on if you want to monitor your system while you tweak settings. Very useful for that
    • Nice for someone who is interested in detailed info on system performance.
    • It is just an app and not that large.
  • AIDA64 Extreme - MSI Edition (seems like an unnecessary utility)
    • Bench marking utility. Not needed unless tweaking settings or just want to know how your system compares.
  • Realtek Audio Control (seems like an unnecessary utility)
    • It allows you access to the full settings of your Realtek Audio device. Up to you.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
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