drivers & UEFI for P67A-c45

[mek]

I have a MSI P67A-C45 B2 and I've decided to swap it for the B3 version. I decided to format (I know it's not needed) and so preparing all the drivers but I need some help. My OS is Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit.

1) Where can I find the latest driver for the USB 3.0? The chip is the NEC uPD720200F1. I can't find it in the NEC and Renesas site and the one on the MSI site is surely outdated.

2) Which are the drivers for my NIC (8111E)? I don't know which one to use between:
Vista and WinServer 2008 Driver
Vista and WinServer 2008 Auto Installation Program (SID:1445555)
Win7 and WinServer 2008 R2 Driver
Win7 and WinServer 2008 R2 Auto Installation Program (SID:1445553)

Note that the last two have the same number version as the one on the MSI site (link).
I think that the drivers for Windows Server 2008 should be compatible with Windows 7 (in other words, when there's written WinServer 2008 it means it's also for Windows 7).

3) With my current motherboard and with the B3, I would like to update to version 1.9 of the UEFI (both have 1.8). In another thread I had opened, a user (Jack) had given me a version of the UEFI which also included the Intel ME firmware. All I had to do was flash once and both the UEFI and the ME firmware were updated. Can someone provide it for me?

By the way, the Intel Chipset drivers on the MSI site are outdated.

 

[HU16E]

The latest BIOS can be found in Jack's Beta & Mod thread located here; https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=145403.0

By the way, the Intel Chipset drivers on the MSI site are outdated.

That will almost always be the case. Drivers & utilities provided are from the individual manufacturers & delivered to MSI. MSI tests them on their boards to make sure there are no conflicts or problems & then releases them on the website for download.

 

[mek]

The thread you've linked seems to talk about beta while I would like v1.9 release, am I wrong?

That will almost always be the case. Drivers & utilities provided are from the individual manufacturers & delivered to MSI. MSI tests them on their boards to make sure there are no conflicts or problems & then releases them on the website for download.

Good to know, then it's a positive thing that it's late.

Can someone help me for the other questions?

 

[Jack the Newbie]

The thread you've linked seems to talk about beta while I would like v1.9 release, am I wrong?

As always, final releases are available on the board's product site: http://www.msi.com/product/mb/P67A-C45--B3-.html#/?div=BIOS

The fact that you asked here for BIOS release, let's one assume that your are indeed talking about BETA Versions, which are not available on the product site.

2) Which are the drivers for my NIC (8111E)? I don't know which one to use between:
Vista and WinServer 2008 Driver
Vista and WinServer 2008 Auto Installation Program (SID:1445555)
Win7 and WinServer 2008 R2 Driver
Win7 and WinServer 2008 R2 Auto Installation Program (SID:1445553)

You have Windows 7, so you should use the Windows 7 driver.

1) Where can I find the latest driver for the USB 3.0? The chip is the NEC uPD720200F1. I can't find it in the NEC and Renesas site and the one on the MSI site is surely outdated.

Why are they outdated?

 

[Stu]

Drivers are not like 'fresh food', they don't go 'bad' or 'out-of-date' after time.

Newer drivers can fix problems, improve compatibility, maybe even improve performance. But for some devices, often there is very little extra that a new version can provide, hence why so many devices 'just work' with default Windows drivers and never need updating (look in Device Manager for how many devices use standard Microsoft drivers, dated 2006 ).

 

[mek]

The fact that you asked here for BIOS release, let's one assume that your are indeed talking about BETA Versions, which are not available on the product site.

You're right, but I would like the version which contains the UEFI and the ME firmware, although I don't know if there necessary is a ME firmware update when the UEFI gets updated.

You have Windows 7, so you should use the Windows 7 driver.

OK, I'll use the Auto Installation Program which seems easier.

Why are they outdated?

Well, I'm not sure but since a lot of time has passed I thought that there was a newer driver. Also looking on Google showed up a few results, but usually they're bad sites so I just avoided them.
On the NEC and Renesas site I cannot find my exact model, only one similar in the name.

Drivers are not like 'fresh food', they don't go 'bad' or 'out-of-date' after time.

Newer drivers can fix problems, improve compatibility, maybe even improve performance. But for some devices, often there is very little extra that a new version can provide, hence why so many devices 'just work' with default Windows drivers and never need updating (look in Device Manager for how many devices use standard Microsoft drivers, dated 2006 ).

Yes I know, but since I'm doing a fresh installation I prefer having the latest drivers even though there's no difference. It's just me.

 

[Jack the Newbie]

You're right, but I would like the version which contains the UEFI and the ME firmware, although I don't know if there necessary is a ME firmware update when the UEFI gets updated.

When you already updated the ME Firmware to the latest version before (1197), then you do not need to do it again.  In case your board came with UEFI/BIOS v1.8, then you already have the latest ME Firmware (v1197) anyway and therefore don't need to flash it again.

Yes I know, but since I'm doing a fresh installation I prefer having the latest drivers even though there's no difference. It's just me.

Consider it the latest official driver version.  Problem solved. 

 

[mek]

OK.

About the UEFI, should I update to v1.9? It doesn't have any noticable change, plus I don't overclock.

While for the ME firmware, how often does it get updated? Is updating it important?

 

[Jack the Newbie]

how often does it get updated?

Whenever Intel releases a new version.  In other words: Nobody knows.

Is updating it important?

Same as always:  If you have no problem with a particular version, than an update is rather optional.

About the UEFI, should I update to v1.9? It doesn't have any noticable change, plus I don't overclock.

If and only if you are thinking about an update, I would recommend the latest BETA Release in this particular case (E7673IMS.1A2).  In terms of functionality and stability, test users have found it to be the best UEFI Release for this board yet.

 

[mek]

Then I think I'll skip 1.9 and wait for the release of 1.10, I prefer not using beta software.
Thanks for all guys!