Windows 7: Question regarding Gigabit LAN driver from Realtek's website

I always install drivers directly from the chip maker instead of drivers provided by the mobo manufacturer when possible.



I have a Asus P8Z68 Deluxe and the Realtek Gigabit LAN driver on the website is listed as RTL8111E LAN Driver V7.43.321.2011 (2011.05.26 update). On the Realtek site the latest driver is listed as version 7.048 (2011.09.19).

For some reason I'm tempted to download the driver from the Realtek site as it should be the latest driver, but how is that the version number differ so greatly? Should I download and use the driver from Realtek's website instead of the one provide by Asus?

Hello there 0pTicaL!

Sometimes, your motherboard manufacturer's website list their drivers but they don't update them as often as the device manufacturer's website...

What seems to be V7.43.312.2011 on ASUS Website is actually 7.043 in Realtek's website (and the latest version is indeed 7.048), I personally download all my drivers from the device manufacturer's website: Realtek HD Audio, Realtek Ethernet, Nvidia Display Adapter, Intel Chipset Software, just to name a few!

I've only encountered with an issue downloading other drivers and it happened because it's my 1st time with a USB3.0 motherboard, i tried to download a driver from some "unofficial" website and it didn't work, i downloaded the driver from the MSI website and it happened to be the latest one available (driver and firmware), but that's because i tried to download the driver from a 3rd party website.

As long as you download the drivers from an official website (Realtek, Nvidia, AMD, Intel.....) you're good to go and you'll always have the latest ones!

PS: Download your BIOS updates only from your motherboard manufacturer's website, never download a BIOS from another source!

Cheers

I tried looking around Realtek's website but how did you find out that V7.43.312.2011 = 7.043? I was never good at spotting Where's Waldo.
It's nice to know there's other people out there who download their drivers directly from the manufacturer.

Yes! I have the same problem with USB 3.0 drivers too! I could never find the drivers from NEC or Renesas Electronics website and would give up and use the drivers on the mobo manufacturer's website.

I totally agree, BIOS update is the only update that should be downloaded from the mobo maker.

However I do find it difficult sometimes when finding drivers for laptops, especially old ones.

Haha by the first 3 numbers, 7.43....2011 is the year and 312 i have no idea but that's my hint

Yep! that's the same Renesas Electronic USB3.0 Host Controller I tried to download it from Driver-station or station-drivers idk, and it didn't work out, then i tried to manually update the firmware and it didn't work out, then windows wouldn't recognize the controller, so i gave up and downloaded it from the MSI website (which i should have done in the 1st place, being a driver that i'm not familiar with) and it worked

Actually the latest drivers for the Renesas is the 2.0.34.0, here's a screenshot.. latest firmware too.


EDIT: something interesting... look at the numbers on the latest driver inside device manager, 7.48 (version) .823 (month/day) .2011 (year)

So it's actually that way, Realtek list it on their website as 7.048 but Windows shows it as 7.48.823.2011!

That makes sense, very good observation skill!

what is the device's model? I recommend using a driver recognising software like Astra (& then search for the driver over Google or any other search engine try downloading it from the manufacturer's site first.