Keeping your GPU driver reasonably current is genuinely worthwhile – new drivers often bring performance improvements for recently released games and fix bugs from earlier versions. But the official installers from Nvidia and AMD bundle a lot more than just the driver itself, and if you are not paying attention during installation, you can end up with background services, telemetry, and extra software you never wanted running on a budget PC that needs every spare resource it can get.
Key takeaway: both Nvidia and AMD's official installers offer a "Custom" or "Express" install choice that lets you skip extra apps and keep just the driver itself, which is the better default for a budget system.
Only download from official sources
This is the single most important rule: get drivers only from nvidia.com, amd.com, or intel.com, or through the manufacturer's own official app (Nvidia App, AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition, or Intel Arc Software). Third-party "driver updater" tools and download sites that repackage official drivers are a common source of genuinely unwanted software, and some outright bundle malware. There is no legitimate reason to use a third-party tool when official ones exist and are free.
Choosing a custom install
- Run the official installer from Nvidia, AMD, or Intel.
- When prompted, choose "Custom Install" rather than "Express Install" if the option appears.
- Untick any bundled applications you do not need – overlay software, experience apps, or extra utilities – keeping just the core graphics driver and control panel.
- Select "Perform a clean installation" if offered, which removes old driver files before installing the new ones.
- Restart your PC once installation finishes, even if not explicitly prompted, to ensure the new driver loads correctly.
Tip: if you do not need in-game overlays, screen recording, or performance monitoring features, skip installing the Nvidia App or AMD Software's fuller feature set and use the lighter driver-only installer where the manufacturer offers one.
How often you actually need to update
You do not need to install every driver release the moment it appears. It is worth updating when a new game you plan to play has a specific "Game Ready" or day-one driver released for it, when you are experiencing a bug or crash that a changelog specifically mentions fixing, or roughly every few months as routine maintenance. Constantly chasing the very latest driver is unnecessary and occasionally introduces new bugs before they are ironed out.
| Situation | Update recommendation |
|---|---|
| A new game you own just released with a "Game Ready" driver | Update |
| You are experiencing a specific bug the changelog addresses | Update |
| Everything is running fine and no new games are planned | Safe to wait |
Removing bundled software after the fact
If you already have extra Nvidia or AMD utilities installed that you do not use, you can remove them individually through Windows Settings, Apps, without affecting the core graphics driver itself – the driver and the companion software are separate components, even though they arrive in the same installer.
Before you start: avoid any third-party "driver update" or "PC optimiser" software promising to automatically update all your drivers – stick to each manufacturer's own official tool for graphics drivers specifically.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need GeForce Experience or the Nvidia App just to update drivers?
- No, you can download and install driver packages directly from nvidia.com without installing the companion app at all.
- Is it safe to skip driver updates for months at a time?
- Generally yes, provided everything is running without issues; there is no requirement to update on a strict schedule unless a specific bug or new game needs it.
- Does a clean install remove my custom GPU settings?
- Yes, a clean installation typically resets custom profiles in the control panel, so note down any important custom settings beforehand.