If you’re into PC gaming, you know how important a good graphics card (GPU) is. It’s what renders all those amazing visuals on your screen. But the hardware is only part of the story. Just as important are the GPU drivers – the software that tells your operating system and games how to talk to your graphics card. Keeping these drivers updated is one of the simplest things you can do to get better performance and a smoother experience in your games.
I’ve seen firsthand how much of a difference a driver update can make. Sometimes, it’s a noticeable boost in frame rates, other times it fixes annoying bugs or glitches I was experiencing in a specific game. It’s like giving your GPU a tune-up.
Why Update GPU Drivers for Gaming?
Driver updates aren’t just about fixing problems; they often bring significant improvements:
- Performance Boosts: New drivers are frequently optimized for the latest game releases, offering higher frame rates or smoother gameplay. Developers and GPU manufacturers work together to fine-tune performance.
- Bug Fixes: Drivers can fix graphical issues, crashes, or compatibility problems in various games.
- New Features: Updates can introduce support for new technologies like DLSS (Nvidia), FSR (AMD), or Ray Tracing improvements.
- Stability: Newer drivers can improve the overall stability of your graphics card and prevent crashes or errors.
Leaving your drivers outdated is like leaving performance on the table.
Before You Start
Before you update, do these things:
- Identify Your GPU: You need to know which graphics card you have (Nvidia GeForce, AMD Radeon, or Intel Arc/Integrated).
- Close Running Programs: Close games and other demanding applications to ensure a smooth installation.
- Know Your Operating System: You’ll need to know if you’re using Windows 10, Windows 11, etc., and if it’s 64-bit. Most modern systems are 64-bit.
How to Identify Your GPU
The easiest way on Windows:
- Right-click on the Start button.
- Select ‘Device Manager’.
- Expand ‘Display adapters’.
- You will see your graphics card listed there (e.g., NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT, Intel(R) UHD Graphics).
How to Download and Install Drivers (Step-by-Step)
The process differs slightly depending on who made your GPU.
For NVIDIA GeForce Users:
Nvidia provides drivers primarily through their GeForce Experience application or their website.
Method 1: Using GeForce Experience (Recommended)
- If you don’t have it, download and install GeForce Experience from the official Nvidia website.
- Launch GeForce Experience. You might need to log in or create an account.
- Click on the ‘Drivers’ tab at the top left.
- GeForce Experience will automatically check for updates. If a new driver is available, it will appear here, often labeled as “Game Ready Driver”.
- Click ‘Download’.
- Once the download is complete, you’ll see two installation options: ‘Express Installation’ and ‘Custom Installation’.
- For gaming and best results, I recommend ‘Custom Installation’. This allows you to perform a ‘Clean Installation’.
- Select ‘Custom Installation’ and click ‘Agree and Continue’.
- On the next screen, make sure the box that says ‘Perform a clean installation’ is checked. This removes old driver files which can prevent potential conflicts.
- Click ‘Install’.
- The screen might go black briefly during the installation. This is normal. Do not interrupt the process.
- Once the installation is complete, click ‘Close’.
- Restart your computer for the changes to take full effect.
Method 2: Manual Download from NVIDIA Website
- Go to the official NVIDIA Driver Downloads website.
- Select your Product Type (e.g., GeForce), Product Series (e.g., GeForce RTX 40 Series), Product (your specific GPU, e.g., RTX 4070), your Operating System, and the Download Type (usually ‘Game Ready Driver (GRD)’).
- Click ‘Search’.
- The website will show the latest available driver. Click ‘Download’.
- Once the download finishes, run the executable file.
- Follow the on-screen prompts. When given the option, choose ‘Custom (Advanced)’ installation.
- On the next screen, check the box for ‘Perform a clean installation’.
- Click ‘Next’ and proceed with the installation.
- Restart your computer after it’s done.
My Experience: Using GeForce Experience is usually the simplest, but a manual clean install from the website is my go-to if I suspect driver issues.
For AMD Radeon Users:
AMD uses the AMD Adrenalin Software for driver management.
Method 1: Using AMD Adrenalin Software (Recommended)
- If you don’t have it, download and install AMD Adrenalin Software from the official AMD website.
- Launch AMD Adrenalin Software.
- Click on the ‘Drivers & Software’ tab (usually found on the home screen or via the gear icon for settings).
- Adrenalin Software will check for available updates. If a new Recommended or Optional driver is available, it will show up.
- Click the ‘Download’ button for the desired driver.
- Once downloaded, click ‘Install’.
- The installer will launch. It’s highly recommended to perform a ‘Factory Reset’ during the installation. This is AMD’s version of a clean install.
- Select ‘Factory Reset’ and click ‘Install’.
- Your screen may flicker or go black. Do not interrupt the process.
- Once the installation is complete, click ‘Finish’.
- Restart your computer.
Method 2: Manual Download from AMD Website
- Go to the official AMD Drivers & Support website.
- You can use the auto-detect tool or manually select your product. To manually select, choose ‘Graphics’, then your Product Line (e.g., AMD Radeon RX 7000 Series), and your specific Product (e.g., AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT).
- Click ‘Submit’.
- Choose your Operating System (e.g., Windows 11 – 64-Bit Edition).
- Download the latest driver listed. Look for ‘Recommended’ drivers first.
- Run the downloaded executable file.
- Follow the installation prompts. When asked about installation type, choose the option that includes a ‘Factory Reset’.
- Proceed with the installation.
- Restart your computer after the installation finishes.
My Experience: The Factory Reset option in AMD Adrenalin is fantastic. It makes clean installs very straightforward.
For Intel Arc Graphics or Integrated Graphics Users:
Intel has dedicated software and a website for drivers. This applies to Intel Arc discrete GPUs and Intel integrated graphics found on many CPUs.
Method 1: Using Intel Driver & Support Assistant (Recommended)
- Download and install the Intel Driver & Support Assistant from the official Intel website.
- Run the assistant. It will open in your web browser.
- The assistant will scan your system for Intel hardware and recommend driver updates, including graphics drivers.
- Click ‘Download’ next to the recommended graphics driver.
- Once downloaded, run the executable file.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to install the driver. You may have an option for a clean installation depending on the driver version. If available, choosing it is good practice.
- Proceed with the installation.
- Restart your computer when prompted or after the installation is complete.
Method 2: Manual Download from Intel Website
- Go to the official Intel Downloads Center.
- You can search for your specific graphics product (e.g., “Intel Arc A770” or “Intel UHD Graphics 770”) or browse by category.
- Find the latest graphics driver for your specific GPU and operating system.
- Download the appropriate driver file (usually an .exe).
- Run the downloaded file and follow the installation wizard.
- Restart your computer once the installation finishes.
My Experience: The Intel Driver & Support Assistant is very convenient for keeping all your Intel drivers, including graphics, up to date automatically.
After the Update
Once your computer restarts:
- You can open the respective software (GeForce Experience, AMD Adrenalin, or Intel Arc Control/Settings) to verify the new driver version is installed.
- Launch your favorite games and see if you notice any performance improvements or fixes!
Keeping your GPU drivers updated is a fundamental part of PC gaming maintenance. It’s free, relatively easy, and can significantly improve your gaming experience. Make it a habit to check for updates regularly, especially before diving into a new big game release.
