Removed nforce chipset, bad idea?

MikeW88 · Jan 2, 2011, 05:16 AM

I'm using a Dell Vostro 1310 notebook and got a lot of BSODs which I believed to be caused by my video drivers. I decided to remove all the nvidia related files plus the nforce chipset to be thorough.

Are the nforce chipset files really important? My notebook did not come with nforce drivers to my knowledge and the Dell driver page does not list it either. My notebook has been functioning normally so far...

mkk · Jan 2, 2011, 05:26 PM

As long as you aren't missing some necessary feature, the Windows default drivers may cover the functionality well enough. nForce chipset drivers have been the cause of quite a few problems as well. If you play any games on it you could try installing the graphics driver separately.

**Spike** · Jan 3, 2011, 03:59 PM

Are you sure there is an nforce chipset in the notebook? if so and dell doesn't list them then the default windows drivers are used and shouldn't be a problem.

Sihastru · Jan 3, 2011, 04:15 PM

I'm looking at Dell's site and the Vostro 1310 has an Intel chipset, the 965PM or the GM965. The 965PM can be configured with an nVidia 8400M GS GPU.

From where exactly have you removed the files? You do not have an nForce chipset.

MikeW88 · Jan 5, 2011, 04:29 AM

I scanned for nforce chipset files using driver cleaner not knowing if it was installed at all. Driver cleaner found several files which I assumed were related to the nforce chipset.

If my notebook doesn't come with nforce chipset drivers installed, I don't know why driver cleaner found nforce chipset files.

Sihastru · Jan 5, 2011, 08:04 AM

Well windows does include drivers for certain components even if they are not installed. Also if you have the 8400 then some of the driver files for that card might be shared with the nForce driverset.

So if you do have the 8400, I think you should remove the drivers for it too, then do a fresh install because it needs them (gaming, video playback, flash).

Other then that, if you do not actually have the 8400, but you're notebook is configured with the GM965 chipset (integrated graphics) then there is no need to worry about the files you removed, they were not actually in use. In that case the BSOD was caused by something else.

Jan 2, 2011, 05:16 AM	#1
MikeW88 HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Removed nforce chipset, bad idea? I'm using a Dell Vostro 1310 notebook and got a lot of BSODs which I believed to be caused by my video drivers. I decided to remove all the nvidia related files plus the nforce chipset to be thorough. Are the nforce chipset files really important? My notebook did not come with nforce drivers to my knowledge and the Dell driver page does not list it either. My notebook has been functioning normally so far...

Jan 2, 2011, 05:26 PM	#2
mkk Cthulhu/Dagon 2012 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Gefle, Sweden Posts: 4,489 Rep Power: 132 System Specs	Re: Removed nforce chipset, bad idea? As long as you aren't missing some necessary feature, the Windows default drivers may cover the functionality well enough. nForce chipset drivers have been the cause of quite a few problems as well. If you play any games on it you could try installing the graphics driver separately.

Jan 3, 2011, 03:59 PM	#3
Spike Driver Cleaner Maker Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Netherlands Posts: 2,088 Rep Power: 71 System Specs	Re: Removed nforce chipset, bad idea? Are you sure there is an nforce chipset in the notebook? if so and dell doesn't list them then the default windows drivers are used and shouldn't be a problem. __________________

Jan 3, 2011, 04:15 PM	#4
Sihastru Never been clicked Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 433 Rep Power: 45 System Specs	Re: Removed nforce chipset, bad idea? I'm looking at Dell's site and the Vostro 1310 has an Intel chipset, the 965PM or the GM965. The 965PM can be configured with an nVidia 8400M GS GPU. From where exactly have you removed the files? You do not have an nForce chipset. __________________ There are more things in heaven and earth then are dreamt of in your philosophy. Intel Core i7 3820 \| Corsair H80 \| Asus P9X79 \| Kingston HyperX T1 Black 32GB DDR3 \| Gigabyte 8800 GTS 512 \| 2xIntel X25-M 160GB RAID0 + 2xWD 1TB Green RAID1 \| Asus Xonar DX \| Asus ES2-750 \| Sony OptiArc DVD+/-RW \| Corsair AX850 Gold \| Fractal Design Define R3 Titanium \| Dell 3007WFP-HC2 30" 2560x1600 \| Corsair SP2500 \| Logitech UltraX Premium \| CM Storm Advance \| Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64bit

Jan 5, 2011, 04:29 AM	Thread Starter #5
MikeW88 HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Re: Removed nforce chipset, bad idea? I scanned for nforce chipset files using driver cleaner not knowing if it was installed at all. Driver cleaner found several files which I assumed were related to the nforce chipset. If my notebook doesn't come with nforce chipset drivers installed, I don't know why driver cleaner found nforce chipset files.

Jan 5, 2011, 08:04 AM	#6
Sihastru Never been clicked Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 433 Rep Power: 45 System Specs	Re: Removed nforce chipset, bad idea? Well windows does include drivers for certain components even if they are not installed. Also if you have the 8400 then some of the driver files for that card might be shared with the nForce driverset. So if you do have the 8400, I think you should remove the drivers for it too, then do a fresh install because it needs them (gaming, video playback, flash). Other then that, if you do not actually have the 8400, but you're notebook is configured with the GM965 chipset (integrated graphics) then there is no need to worry about the files you removed, they were not actually in use. In that case the BSOD was caused by something else. __________________ There are more things in heaven and earth then are dreamt of in your philosophy. Intel Core i7 3820 \| Corsair H80 \| Asus P9X79 \| Kingston HyperX T1 Black 32GB DDR3 \| Gigabyte 8800 GTS 512 \| 2xIntel X25-M 160GB RAID0 + 2xWD 1TB Green RAID1 \| Asus Xonar DX \| Asus ES2-750 \| Sony OptiArc DVD+/-RW \| Corsair AX850 Gold \| Fractal Design Define R3 Titanium \| Dell 3007WFP-HC2 30" 2560x1600 \| Corsair SP2500 \| Logitech UltraX Premium \| CM Storm Advance \| Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64bit