I was actually thinking exclusively about monitor drivers. All Dell monitors come with a driver disc, but I've never really bothered about them. I can't see any difference between running with them and running with XP's plug and play ones.
I'm an old hand with graphics card drivers, I was specifically refering to the monitor drivers. They seem kind of pointless yet Dell always ships them with its monitors.
Hello K-infotech, Are you refering to the video card drivers or the monitor inf files?
The monitor does not require any drivers, as such, to operate. The operating system uses inf files that enables the monitor to be viewed.
Dell does offer inf files for their monitors but that are not needed since the operating system recogonizes the monitor and provides the inf files for the monitor. The monitor will show up in the Device Manager as a Generic Plug and Play monitor.
I almost never load the Dell inf files, since I can tell absolutely no difference in the screen quality.
Others may however.
The video card drivers are quite a different matter.
I suggest going to the manufacturer's web site and download and install their latest drivers for your video card.
Their drivers are always newer than the Dell provided drivers.
On video, you don't have to use Dell drivers (on most systems - there may be an exception). I tend to use the vendor's drivers (e.g. NVIDIA or ATI) as they are the "latest and greatest" rather than the Microsoft supplied as they are usually old versions. The Dell drivers can also tend to be "old" as they do not regularly issue driver updates like the video card (or chip) vendors do. Dell generally only issues a driver update (any device not just video) only if the device does not meet published spec's or fix a known problem with Dell systems. I recently (two weeks ago) did a complete reinstallation for a client (not a Dell) and Microsoft wanted to install a two year old SoundBlaster audio driver, that I didn't allow.
In the case of Dell Integrated Audio or Dell OEM SoundBlaster cards in some older systems, you must use Dell sound drivers as Dell has custom implementations. Using generic or drivers from some other Vendor, in almost all cases, will either not work at all or the device will not work properly. We even saw a problem with (a pushed driver from Microsoft) an "IDT" Codec update for the SigmaTel Integrated Audio that caused the audio to not work (and required either a System Restore or complete reinstall if there were no System Restore dates to fall back to), and IDT now owns SigmaTel.
Back in the old DOS days it didn't make too much difference (I've been in computers as a tech and programmer since before PC's and have worked on both mainframe and PC's - and was Novell certified before I retired) with PC's or with "dumb" terminal systems but with the newer OS' and applications there are more complex video uses (even with MSWord or Excel) so it's a good idea, if there are problems, to use the "latest and greatest" vendor drivers.
My last job, before I retired, was a LAN/WAN Network and Hardware Help Desk Manager. We always evaluated updates (software or hardware) before implementing them on the Network servers or workstations. However, when we did implement them, they were (device drivers) from the hardware vendor, not from Microsoft (or IBM in the case of our LAN Bridges and OS/2 systems).
I'm an old hand with graphics card drivers, I was specifically refering to the monitor drivers. They seem kind of pointless yet Dell always ships them with its monitors.
I would agree with you about the pointless effort.
I suppose it is a matter of cost that causes Dell to ship the CD with the inf files.
If they did not, their support lines would be overwhelmed with calls for the Monitor CD with the files, even though most Dell customers never seem to use them.
I was actually thinking exclusively about monitor drivers. All Dell monitors come with a driver disc, but I've never really bothered about them. I can't see any difference between running with them and running with XP's plug and play ones.
Hello,
Unless you monitor has special features like built in sound controls, web cam, or other exotics. Most users don't need to use the Dell drivers. But if you are a gamer, or edit images on your system, the Dell drivers can inform 'some' video cards what the monitor is, to help adjust the color and brightness.
K-infotech
2 Intern
•
137 Posts
0
December 3rd, 2008 08:00
K-infotech
2 Intern
•
137 Posts
0
December 3rd, 2008 08:00
I'm an old hand with graphics card drivers, I was specifically refering to the monitor drivers. They seem kind of pointless yet Dell always ships them with its monitors.
Hanspuppa
799 Posts
0
December 3rd, 2008 08:00
Hello K-infotech, Are you refering to the video card drivers or the monitor inf files?
The monitor does not require any drivers, as such, to operate. The operating system uses inf files that enables the monitor to be viewed.
Dell does offer inf files for their monitors but that are not needed since the operating system recogonizes the monitor and provides the inf files for the monitor. The monitor will show up in the Device Manager as a Generic Plug and Play monitor.
I almost never load the Dell inf files, since I can tell absolutely no difference in the screen quality.
Others may however.
The video card drivers are quite a different matter.
I suggest going to the manufacturer's web site and download and install their latest drivers for your video card.
Their drivers are always newer than the Dell provided drivers.
Hope this helps.
fireberd
9 Legend
•
33.4K Posts
0
December 3rd, 2008 08:00
On video, you don't have to use Dell drivers (on most systems - there may be an exception). I tend to use the vendor's drivers (e.g. NVIDIA or ATI) as they are the "latest and greatest" rather than the Microsoft supplied as they are usually old versions. The Dell drivers can also tend to be "old" as they do not regularly issue driver updates like the video card (or chip) vendors do. Dell generally only issues a driver update (any device not just video) only if the device does not meet published spec's or fix a known problem with Dell systems. I recently (two weeks ago) did a complete reinstallation for a client (not a Dell) and Microsoft wanted to install a two year old SoundBlaster audio driver, that I didn't allow.
In the case of Dell Integrated Audio or Dell OEM SoundBlaster cards in some older systems, you must use Dell sound drivers as Dell has custom implementations. Using generic or drivers from some other Vendor, in almost all cases, will either not work at all or the device will not work properly. We even saw a problem with (a pushed driver from Microsoft) an "IDT" Codec update for the SigmaTel Integrated Audio that caused the audio to not work (and required either a System Restore or complete reinstall if there were no System Restore dates to fall back to), and IDT now owns SigmaTel.
Back in the old DOS days it didn't make too much difference (I've been in computers as a tech and programmer since before PC's and have worked on both mainframe and PC's - and was Novell certified before I retired) with PC's or with "dumb" terminal systems but with the newer OS' and applications there are more complex video uses (even with MSWord or Excel) so it's a good idea, if there are problems, to use the "latest and greatest" vendor drivers.
My last job, before I retired, was a LAN/WAN Network and Hardware Help Desk Manager. We always evaluated updates (software or hardware) before implementing them on the Network servers or workstations. However, when we did implement them, they were (device drivers) from the hardware vendor, not from Microsoft (or IBM in the case of our LAN Bridges and OS/2 systems).
Hanspuppa
799 Posts
0
December 3rd, 2008 09:00
I would agree with you about the pointless effort.
I suppose it is a matter of cost that causes Dell to ship the CD with the inf files.
If they did not, their support lines would be overwhelmed with calls for the Monitor CD with the files, even though most Dell customers never seem to use them.
Just a thought.
Thereal-dbk4297
3 Apprentice
•
3.4K Posts
1
December 3rd, 2008 16:00
Hello,
Unless you monitor has special features like built in sound controls, web cam, or other exotics. Most users don't need to use the Dell drivers. But if you are a gamer, or edit images on your system, the Dell drivers can inform 'some' video cards what the monitor is, to help adjust the color and brightness.