Do you know what chipset is on your mainboard and what other hardware is in your PC?

If you are not sure what the motherboard, chipset and drivers are and how they relate to one another, read this first.

If you have:

• bought a second hand PC
• an old PC and you've lost your motherboard or PC manual
• a "brand" PC and you don't know what's inside it
• been told by a tech support help line to update your drivers but have no idea even where to start
• bought a new device or card for your PC and think you should update drivers
• etc etc

then please take the time to read this guide and follow the steps.

This guide is for users of Microsoft Operating System only. (Linux users generally understand what hardware they have in their system).

The first step is to find out what's on your motherboard! It is very important to know and understand what chipset and other components are on your motherboard. Some people do find it difficult to identify their motherboard and components. Terms that are unfamiliar to someone who doesn't have any technical experience can seem quite confusing. If you follow the first two sections to this guide and you are still unsure about what hardware you have, we respectfully advise you to hire a trained technician, take the PC to the place of purchase for advice, or contact a local PC enthusiasts club for assistance.