Reinstalling Win 7 x64. Best Catalyst Drivers for Single Card Set  

I recieved a Crucial M4 128 SSD for Christmas (Finally in the SSD WORLD!!) and I'm getting ready to re-install Win 7 64. When my Windows installation is finished, I'm wondering which catalyst package I should install, 11.12 + CAPs or 12.1? I've got a complete AMD system, Asus M4A87TD/USB3 mobo with a Phenom II 1055t processor, so I also plan on installing the chipset/ahci driver as well. Are all those drivers included in the 12.1 package? Or will I have to install additional (optional downloads)?

To be honest, I feel safer installing the latest WHQL drivers but if there are any other non-cfx single 5850 owners out there that say the 12.1's are a significant upgrade over 11.12, I'll make those my default drivers.
I try to minimize my driver installations after a fresh install of Windows.
Also, Are there any advantage to installing the drivers on the XFX site here: http://xfxforce.com/en-us/Help/Suppo...rial=L4H210445
Or Are they the exact same thing as getting them from AMD.com? It would be cool if they were optimized for XFX cards.

TIA, I'll answer any questions about my setup if you need more information.

rakers8, welcome to the Seven Forums.

The chipset drivers are usually not included in the beta or preview releases from AMD, but are usually included in the full Catalyst suite. Even if they're not they can always be downloaded from AMD as separate downloads.

As far as the video driver goes, don't have a 5850 but do have a 6850, and haven't had any problems with the 12.1 Preview and if anything seem to be a little better than the 11.12 (smoother, image quality, etc). Getting them from XFX is of no benefit as they will have (if they don't just link back to AMD) the exact same driver as what you get directly from AMD. There is next to zero difference between the drivers from the card manufacturers and AMD, about the only thing the driver from the card manufacturer might have different is their name shows up next to AMD's during the install.

I have that same board in my wifes computer and I also have the M4A88TD-V EVO USB 3
Windows 7 will install most if not all the drivers you need except the USB 3.0 drivers which you can install from the CD that comes with your board. Windows will also find your graphic card drivers and install them but they are not as good as the driver from AMD. Maske sure you install all the Windows updates including SP1 and make sure to install .Net 3 or 4 in order for the ATI drivers to work correctly, once you have all that done then go to the AMD site and download the newest drivers and install them. I use AMD boards and ATI cards in most of my builds and have never had any problems so you should have a simple installation ahead of you.

Also, before you install on your new SSD make sure to check and install any firmware updates for the SSD and make sure to set your HD options to AHCI or RAID mode to get the best performance out of the SSD.