Hi there,

I have some questions regarding the drivers of my video card (an AMD HD5870 1GB)

Basically, up until now I've been using the stock drivers that the guys from the computer store in which I bought my PC installed for me. Since I bought this PC one year and a half ago and ATI releases new drivers in a monthly basis, I understand that my stock drivers must be quite old. Considering this, I thought It would be a good idea to get the most recent drivers.

Some questions:

1. Am I correct to assume that, in order to know the current version and date of my drivers, I can run a dxdiag and go to the "display" tag?

To update my drivers to the most recent ones I read I have to follow this link: http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx, give the relevant information and then download something called "catalyst software suite" version 12.1.

2. Do I simply run the .exe and that's it or should I have to delete my current drivers and only then install the catalyst??
3. If I do it correctly should my driver version number and date change to "version 12.1" (the version of the catalyst) and the date of today? I mention it because I tried to update the drivers of the graphics card from my laptop and the driver version number did not change...

And finally:

4 Is updating drivers advisible? I say it because my card is more than one year old and I think I read that ATI's new drivers are not really improving old 5xxx series cards anymore.

Thank you for any feedback and sorry for the noob questions!

Tiny Lampe.

EDIT: I forgot to mention...Skyrim is running very well for me on ultra settings + some HD textures. I'm not considering to update drivers because Skyrim is giving me problems or something like that. I just want to do it (if advisible) because the idea of having outdated, not-as-good-as-possible drivers bothers me.

Just follow the update instructions on your vendor's site. They should have them.

The best place to check your current version is to open Catalyst Control Centre (if AMD), click the Information tab, then Software. For example, on the 12.2 pre-certs, it says "12.3". AMD's driver numbers are very straightforward, ., for example, 12.1 is the January, 2012 drivers.

To update your drivers simply run the file you downloaded from AMD. No need to uninstall previous versions first unless it tells you to.

You should update drivers as long as new ones keep being made for your card.

Thanks Lokee, that was informative!