Realtek maintains up to date drivers for their various Ethernet LAN interface chips commonly found integrated on many computer motherboards. Version 6.111 of their driver supports the following chips:

RTL8100B(L), RTL8100C(L), RTL8101L, RTL8139C(L), RTL8139C(L)+, RTL8139D(L), RTL8100(L) RTL8130, RTL8139B(L)

The driver supports Windows 7 32bit and 64bit versions

You can download the driver here.

Optimizing system performance used to be about defragmenting every so often and limiting the number of applications you’re running. Unfortunately, today’s modern PC needs a whole host of support applications doing their own thing in the background in order to maintain a usable system.

TuneUp Utilities 2010 attempts to corral your PC and whip it into shape with its extensive suite of tools designed around improving performance. Does it succeed? We’ll be taking a look at how the software goes about doing its thing and its benefit to you as a user.
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Its been a long time coming. As of October 22nd you could pick up your very own copy of the polished good stuff. Microsoft’s Windows 7 has promised to make your computing usage a kinder, gentler experience and it has the shiny icons to prove it. But with the “dark cloud” Vista hung over the Windows brand can they get their house back in order?

We’ll be taking a look at Windows 7 and how it handles the day to day rigors of PC usage. Its changes are many but no matter how you use your computer there are improvements to be found for all users.
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C-Media’s lineup of audio chips can be found in a wide array of add-on sound cards and integrated into many computing products. The company maintains up to date drivers for Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7 operating systems.

Their drivers support the following chipsets:

CMI8768, CMI8768+, CMI8770, CMI8787

You can download the latest drivers below:

C-Media CMI8768 Windows 7, Vista, XP Audio Drivers
C-Media CMI8768+ Windows Vista, XP Audio Drivers
C-Media CMI8770 Windows 7, Vista, XP Audio Drivers
C-Media CMI8787 Windows 7, Vista, XP Audio Drivers

Ralink makes a wide array of wireless products used in both mobile and desktop environments. The company maintains up to date drivers for Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 which support the following chipsets:

RT2870, RT2770, RT307X, RT2070, RT3572, RT2860, RT2760, RT2890, RT2790, RT306X, RT309X, RT35X2, RT257x, RT2671, RT520x, RT256x, RT266x, RT2500, RT2500USB

Thankfully they supply the drivers for all to freely download, unlike other wireless chip manufacturers. Here’s the direct link to their download page:

Ralink Wireless Drivers for Windows

When netbooks were introduced they saw a number of restrictions if they wanted to run the Windows XP operating system which, given Vista’s hefty requirements, was the only usable Windows choice. This time around they’ve eased up.

Microsoft is allowing netbook manufacturers to preload whatever version of the Windows 7 OS they’re content with no matter the machine’s specs. Of course you won’t likely find a copy of Windows 7 Ultimate on a bargain basement netbook so they’re somewhat safe on the hardware requirements front.

Good news for those fearing hardware requirements that would stop their shiny new netbook from running the best version of Windows 7.

Source: TG Daily

Microsoft has made some effort into buttoning up Windows 7’s security model compared to Vista which should see the operating system as the most secure Windows version to date. DailyTech delves into what the changes mean for users and some of the side benefits XP Mode brings to the table:

Many malware programs will also be crippled by XP-Mode.  This is because in the past Windows security software has used hardware virtualization extensions to detect malware.  It is common practice for malware to be written to not run on machines where hardware-assisted virtualization is detected.  However, as all Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate licenses come with XP Mode, this malware won’t run on a large portion of Windows 7 installs.  Modification is possible, but this will be time consuming and frustrating to attackers.

Given the amount of absolutely malicious software floating around out there that targets XP operating systems a move to Windows 7, or any other secure operating system, are sure to cut into botnet activity and other fraud…as long as the end user doesn’t willingly install the stuff that is. Yeah we’re all doomed anyway.

AMD’s monthly driver cycle is upon us once again which brings about a new ATI Catalyst drivers set bringing them up to version 9.9. The usual bug fixes are in as well as CrossFireX support for Resident Evil 5.

The drivers support DirectX 10 capable GPUs so those with Radeon graphics cards sporting a chipset that was released earlier than the Radeon HD 2000 series will have to wait for the next round of legacy driver support or make due with the 9.8 legacy drivers.

Here are the links directly to AMD’s driver downloads:

ATI Catalyst 9.9 Video Drivers for Windows 7
ATI Catalyst 9.9 Video Drivers for Windows 7 64-bit
ATI Catalyst 9.9 Video Drivers for Windows Vista
ATI Catalyst 9.9 Video Drivers for Windows Vista 64-bit
ATI Catalyst 9.9 Video Drivers for Windows XP
ATI Catalyst 9.9 Video Drivers for Windows XP 64-bit

Intel’s Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) is the graphics cornerstone for many desktop computers built using the company’s chipsets. While most enthusiasts go on to upgrade to more powerful video card solutions Intel’s GMA X4500 and X4500HD integrated graphics cores offer a more than capable feature set for media viewing and productivity environments.

The company maintains driver sets for Windows operating systems which support:

G41 Express, G43 Express, G45 Express, Q43 Express, and Q45 Express system chipsets sporting either the X4500 or the more powerful X4500HD graphics cores.

You can download the drivers below:

GMA X4500(HD) Graphics Drivers for Windows 7
GMA X4500(HD) Graphics Drivers for Windows 7 64-bit
GMA X4500(HD) Graphics Drivers for Windows Vista
GMA X4500(HD) Graphics Drivers for Windows Vista 64-bit
GMA X4500(HD) Graphics Drivers for Windows XP
GMA X4500(HD) Graphics Drivers for Windows XP 64-bit

The Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 4500M and 4500MHD make up a large portion of the integrated graphics chipsets found on many notebook computers. The company’s latest drivers support a large range of Windows operating systems.

The drivers support:

GL40 Express, GS40 Express, GM45 Express, and GS45 Express chipsets sporting either the GMA 4500M or the more powerful GMA 4500MHD integrated graphics chipset.

You can download the latest drivers below:

GMA 4500M(HD) Graphics Drivers for Windows 7
GMA 4500M(HD) Graphics Drivers for Windows 7 64-bit
GMA 4500M(HD) Graphics Drivers for Windows Vista
GMA 4500M(HD) Graphics Drivers for Windows Vista 64-bit
GMA 4500M(HD) Graphics Drivers for Windows XP
GMA 4500M(HD) Graphics Drivers for Windows XP 64-bit