via 4in1 drivers. - WTF?

Bangers · 3rd February 2002, 4:15 AM

why do ppl install these?

i havent installed it on either my win2k or XP and i havent noticed any difference...

wtf do they do? like seriously, they are in my mobo manual (to install) but i havent and aint noticed any difference..

Acid · 3rd February 2002, 11:52 AM

They are VIA chipset drivers. If theyre not installed, you will find that you will experience very low performance and instability. In WinXP, the reason you don't notice the difference is because WinXP has 4in1 drivers built in. But I do suggest you download the latest version.

PersianImmortal · 3rd February 2002, 12:20 PM

Bangers, what you say doesn't make much sense. I mean, how do you know if they make a difference or not if you haven't installed them?

As Acid mentioned, XP already comes with the 4.35 4-in-1s built in, so you won't see an incredible difference, but I still believe it's worth installing them, along with the 410 AGP drivers.

Just to be safe create a restore point before hand in case you want to go back. Compare your system results before and after the installation and then you can make a choice as to whether or not you're better off without them.

Bangers · 3rd February 2002, 2:03 PM

oh, i didnt mentioned that i HAVE installed and used them before (last win2k install) but this win2k install i aint used them, and havent really noticed a difference....

Acid · 3rd February 2002, 2:18 PM

how can you not have noticed a difference...are you a gamer?

Igneous · 3rd February 2002, 2:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Acid
how can you not have noticed a difference...are you a gamer?

I didn't notice any performance difference either, although they did make the PC more unstable. That's why I got rid of them. Changing the default Detonator drivers made a huge performance difference by comparison with no side effects on stability. I wouldn't consider myself a huge gamer, but I do play several times a week.

Guru-Choc · 3rd February 2002, 2:41 PM

In win98se you won't run a Geforce vid card above 800x600 without installing them.

Why wouldn't you install what your motherboard manual tells you too, and why do you think they keep releasing new ones, is it because no-one uses them and they have nothing better to do, no it is because they improve performance of your machine simple as that. XP ain't infected and I have never used W2k, but everything other OS needs them or they run like pigs.

Acid · 3rd February 2002, 3:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Igneous
I didn't notice any performance difference either, although they did make the PC more unstable. That's why I got rid of them. Changing the default Detonator drivers made a huge performance difference by comparison with no side effects on stability. I wouldn't consider myself a huge gamer, but I do play several times a week.

I find that very hard to believe... you didn't notice any performance difference and think they made the PC more unstable? *sigh*

Bangers · 3rd February 2002, 3:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Acid
how can you not have noticed a difference...are you a gamer?

LOL!

i am THE gamer

i own qwtf/cs/q3
well cs at lans anyway, cos everyone cheats online.

Igneous · 3rd February 2002, 3:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Acid
I find that very hard to believe... you didn't notice any performance difference and think they made the PC more unstable? *sigh*

Believe it! Stop by the forums at viaarena.com sometime and watch the reactions whenever a new version of the 4 in 1's is released. What works well for some kills performance for others and in some cases kills the OS completely. I see the 4 in 1's in the same light as BIOS updates - they're released to fix bugs (although they often create new ones) with performance increases a secondary consideration. Just as motherboard manufacturers always advise you not to download the latest BIOS unless it fixes an issue you already have, I'm staying away from the 4 in 1's until they get all the bugs out of them. This is with XP, btw.

I'm very happy with the performance and stability of my PC at present (barring SETI crunch times, which is purely a CPU issue) so if it ain't broke, I ain't fixing it.

Acid · 3rd February 2002, 3:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Igneous
Believe it! Stop by the forums at viaarena.com sometime and watch the reactions whenever a new version of the 4 in 1's is released. What works well for some kills performance for others and in some cases kills the OS completely. I see the 4 in 1's in the same light as BIOS updates - they're released to fix bugs (although they often create new ones) with performance increases a secondary consideration. Just as motherboard manufacturers always advise you not to download the latest BIOS unless it fixes an issue you already have, I'm staying away from the 4 in 1's until they get all the bugs out of them. This is with XP, btw.

I'm very happy with the performance and stability of my PC at present (barring SETI crunch times, which is purely a CPU issue) so if it ain't broke, I ain't fixing it.

Fair enough I guess

Bangers · 3rd February 2002, 3:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Igneous
so if it ain't broke, I ain't fixing it.

i, and many other prefer 'if it aint broke, overclock it more'

PersianImmortal · 3rd February 2002, 3:56 PM

The basic premise behind 4-in-1 releases, as I understand it, is to improve stability and compatiblity, then performance...in that order.

I don't think Via is hung up on giving us more performance at the expense of stability or compatiblity...this would just give them more headaches.

So basically if you install the latest 4-in-1s and notice problems and no performance improvement, it's easy...just uninstall it!

I for one found the latest 4-in-1s slightly better. The 410 AGP driver in particular made quite a noticeable difference over the standard 405 AGP in the 4-in-1s.

Every system is different, but if you have reasonabe PC skills - which most people on this forum appear to - then experimenting with drivers, especially in WinXP, can be quite safe. Just because it ain't broke, doesn't mean it can't be better!

PappaSmurf · 4th February 2002, 9:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bangers

i, and many other prefer 'if it aint broke, overclock it more'

heh,
or the "if it aint broke, chared, smoking or bloody melting, overclock it more.."

Bangers · 4th February 2002, 9:52 PM

i take it with these drivers that you install everything, IDE etc etc?

just keep clicking yes during install?

3rd February 2002, 4:15 AM	#1
Bangers Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Silicon Valley Posts: 7,281	via 4in1 drivers. - WTF? why do ppl install these? i havent installed it on either my win2k or XP and i havent noticed any difference... wtf do they do? like seriously, they are in my mobo manual (to install) but i havent and aint noticed any difference.. __________________ There's a story about a golfer who sinks a 30-meter putt and someone says: 'Gee, that was lucky' and the golfer says, 'Yes, amazing how lucky you get when you practice 8 hours a day for 20 years'.

3rd February 2002, 12:20 PM	#3
PersianImmortal Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Canberra Posts: 6,375	Bangers, what you say doesn't make much sense. I mean, how do you know if they make a difference or not if you haven't installed them? As Acid mentioned, XP already comes with the 4.35 4-in-1s built in, so you won't see an incredible difference, but I still believe it's worth installing them, along with the 410 AGP drivers. Just to be safe create a restore point before hand in case you want to go back. Compare your system results before and after the installation and then you can make a choice as to whether or not you're better off without them. __________________ TweakGuides.com

3rd February 2002, 2:03 PM	#4
Bangers Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Silicon Valley Posts: 7,281	oh, i didnt mentioned that i HAVE installed and used them before (last win2k install) but this win2k install i aint used them, and havent really noticed a difference.... __________________ There's a story about a golfer who sinks a 30-meter putt and someone says: 'Gee, that was lucky' and the golfer says, 'Yes, amazing how lucky you get when you practice 8 hours a day for 20 years'.

3rd February 2002, 3:56 PM	#13
PersianImmortal Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Canberra Posts: 6,375	The basic premise behind 4-in-1 releases, as I understand it, is to improve stability and compatiblity, then performance...in that order. I don't think Via is hung up on giving us more performance at the expense of stability or compatiblity...this would just give them more headaches. So basically if you install the latest 4-in-1s and notice problems and no performance improvement, it's easy...just uninstall it! I for one found the latest 4-in-1s slightly better. The 410 AGP driver in particular made quite a noticeable difference over the standard 405 AGP in the 4-in-1s. Every system is different, but if you have reasonabe PC skills - which most people on this forum appear to - then experimenting with drivers, especially in WinXP, can be quite safe. Just because it ain't broke, doesn't mean it can't be better! __________________ TweakGuides.com

4th February 2002, 9:52 PM	#15
Bangers Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Silicon Valley Posts: 7,281	i take it with these drivers that you install everything, IDE etc etc? just keep clicking yes during install? __________________ There's a story about a golfer who sinks a 30-meter putt and someone says: 'Gee, that was lucky' and the golfer says, 'Yes, amazing how lucky you get when you practice 8 hours a day for 20 years'.

3rd February 2002, 11:52 AM	#2
Acid Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 4,850	They are VIA chipset drivers. If theyre not installed, you will find that you will experience very low performance and instability. In WinXP, the reason you don't notice the difference is because WinXP has 4in1 drivers built in. But I do suggest you download the latest version.

3rd February 2002, 2:18 PM	#5
Acid Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 4,850	how can you not have noticed a difference...are you a gamer?

3rd February 2002, 2:41 PM	#7
Guru-Choc Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Parkinson,Bris-Vegas, Aus Posts: 1,139	In win98se you won't run a Geforce vid card above 800x600 without installing them. Why wouldn't you install what your motherboard manual tells you too, and why do you think they keep releasing new ones, is it because no-one uses them and they have nothing better to do, no it is because they improve performance of your machine simple as that. XP ain't infected and I have never used W2k, but everything other OS needs them or they run like pigs.