Why does steam automatically update graphics card drivers?

Dickyb0b · 28 Sep 2010 at 18:43

Why is there no option to press yes or no to install the latest drivers, what if ive already tried these new drivers before and had conflicts, straight after you press CHECK NOW , after that they automatically install , i am not happy , since when does check now mean install drivers right now without a choice?

it should be..

check now (update needed yes / no)
do you want to update (yes / no)

because somtimes new drivers and old games dont go down well

Kenai · 28 Sep 2010 at 18:44

Steam has never installed drivers on my machine or made any attempt to do so :confused:

Gimpymoo · 28 Sep 2010 at 18:46

Dont click check now?

Why check for latest drivers if your intention is not to install them?

Antar Bolaeisk · 28 Sep 2010 at 18:47

I had to manually tell Steam to check for a driver update then go through the normal AMD installation, didn't do it automatically.

@ Kenai, Steam now offers the ability to update ATI GPU drivers which I think is a brilliant addition.

Dickyb0b · 28 Sep 2010 at 18:48

its only if you have an ATI card ,this will popup, soon as you press check now
you're doomed..

aparently , check now means , install now to valve (wtf)

Dickyb0b · 28 Sep 2010 at 18:50

Gimpymoo said:
Dont click check now?

Why check for latest drivers if your intention is not to install them?

because in my eyes check now means just check if i do , not check and update me right away without my consent, check is just doing a check and then i expect an option (yes / no)
so to valve , (check now) means (install now) yes?

Mangochutney · 28 Sep 2010 at 19:10

I don't have a problem with Steam doing this. I always update to the latest driver and have never issues yet, so Steam doing the leg work for me is just fine.

iviv · 28 Sep 2010 at 19:12

'Get the latest drivers for your ATI Radeon HD Graphics Card. Just click the button below.'

Frapple · 28 Sep 2010 at 19:35

Antar Bolaeisk said:
I had to manually tell Steam to check for a driver update then go through the normal AMD installation, didn't do it automatically.

@ Kenai, Steam now offers the ability to update ATI GPU drivers which I think is a brilliant addition.

Not really, haven't tested it but IIRC it's just installs them over the top. Which is bad.

CaptainRAVE · 28 Sep 2010 at 19:43

Mangochutney said:
I don't have a problem with Steam doing this. I always update to the latest driver and have never issues yet, so Steam doing the leg work for me is just fine.

+1

Kenai · 28 Sep 2010 at 20:04

Ah, it's an AMD thing, that'd by why

Amnesia · 28 Sep 2010 at 20:06

Antar Bolaeisk said:
I had to manually tell Steam to check for a driver update then go through the normal AMD installation, didn't do it automatically.

same as above really.....even tho a revert option would have been nice since i had to go back to the older ones

maybe the os plays a part...xp here

MikeHunt79 · 28 Sep 2010 at 20:07

Looks like a nice feature, so othey have plans to include Nvidia card drivers also (provided that they don't melt your card!)?

G-Man · 28 Sep 2010 at 20:12

Frapple said:
Not really, haven't tested it but IIRC it's just installs them over the top. Which is bad.

Been installing my ATI drivers over the top of the old ones since i got my 4850 how ever many years ago, no isssues yet.

PapaLazaru · 28 Sep 2010 at 20:14

What is the problem with updating to the latest drivers?

Also, installing over the top has been the correct thing to do for ages now, unless you get anal about these things.

Does anyone seriously think that Steam would let AMD annoy all those millions of players who have ATI cards by adding this update option, if it were not totally ok to install over the top of the previous one?

Memphis · 28 Sep 2010 at 20:18

Frapple said:
Which is bad.

So is being wrong. Which you are.

Dickyb0b · 28 Sep 2010 at 20:34

well i wanted to check if i do and what version its going to update to , because i might of already tried the driver and had issues with games etc, you see valve dont take this in to consideration and just think about there bellys.

physichull · 28 Sep 2010 at 20:40

This is a really good feature, I shall use it more often, had no idea that Steam could do this. Genius idea.

Kenai · 28 Sep 2010 at 20:43

Memphis said:
So is being wrong. Which you are.

I uninstall my drivers, run driver sweeper twice in safe mode, put the PC in the freezer overnight, bring it back to temperature at a regulated rate, run driver sweeper twice more and then install the drivers.

Anything less and I lose as much as 0.001fps sometimes

Jase · 28 Sep 2010 at 21:39

Agreed Check Now should NOT mean install now, I never realised that it would install and used the check now just because I was interested what the latest version was.. since doing so I had problems with my 5970 and only just figured out why and what caused it...