Windows 8 & 8.1 Drivers
After you install Windows 8, you may need to install the latest Windows 8 drivers for any hardware that Windows doesn't have built-in drivers for.
Windows 8 is one of Microsoft's newer operating systems so most manufacturers regularly release driver updates for their hardware that are specifically designed for Windows 8.
Below is a list of information on Windows 8 drivers and general Windows 8 compatibility information for major hardware and computer system makers, including Acer, Dell, Sony, NVIDIA, AMD, and much more.
Please contact us if you've noticed more recent Windows 8 driver information from a particular manufacturer and we haven't yet updated this page.
For most hardware, a driver update is not required just because you've updated to Windows 8.1 or Windows 8.1 Update. We still recommend installing the most recent Windows 8 driver for your hardware but don't worry if it doesn't specifically say it's a Windows 8.1 driver.
Acer (Desktops, Notebooks, Tablets)
Any Windows 8 drivers for Acer products can be found via their support site (linked below) just like their drivers for other operating systems.
Acer's Upgrade Assistant tool can be used to see if your computer is a compatible model.
Another helpful resource on Acer's site is their Affected Model List, which categorizes their Windows 8 compatible PCs by any issues you might encounter when installing Windows 8. If you're clean installing Windows 8, which we always recommend, your only concern should be the BIOS category. In other words, be sure to update your listed Acer computer's BIOS to the latest version before installing Windows 8.
Just because your Acer computer is Windows 8 compatible doesn't mean Acer necessarily provides any Windows 8 drivers for your computer. If none are available from Acer, that means Windows 8 probably installs perfectly acceptable drivers during installation.
AMD Radeon Driver (Video)
You can download the latest AMD Radeon driver for Windows 8 through the link above.
This Windows 8 driver is compatible with most AMD/ATI Radeon HD GPUs, including those in the R9 series, as well as the HD 7000, HD 6000, and HD 5000 series. That includes both desktop and mobile GPUs.
There are both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of this Windows 8 driver available. Be sure that you install the correct one for your version of Windows 8.
ASUS Drivers (Motherboards)
Windows 8 drivers can be downloaded via ASUS's support site, linked below.
Most of the Windows 8 drivers available right now from ASUS are beta drivers, but more and more are WQHL certified for Windows 8. There are Windows 8 drivers for several of ASUS's more popular Intel and AMD based motherboards.
You can see a current list of Windows 8 supported ASUS motherboards on their Windows 8-Ready Motherboards page.
C-Media Drivers (Audio)
Windows 8 drivers for products based on C-Media's audio chipset are available via their driver download page, linked below.
Windows 8 drivers are available for chipsets CM102A+/S+, CM108AH, CM6120XL, CM6206-LX, CM6300, CMI8738-MX, plus several more. However, Windows 8's native drivers might work best.
The Windows 8 drivers linked to here are directly from C-Media. A C-Media chip may be a part of your sound card or motherboard but it's possible there's a Windows 8 driver that's a better fit for your sound device from your sound card or motherboard manufacturer.
Canon (Printers & Scanners)
Canon does provide some Windows 8 drivers for their printers, scanners, and multi-function devices, all of which you can download from their support site that we've linked to here.
While Canon does not seem to keep a list of their devices that work with Windows 8 out-of-the-box, looking at information on Microsoft's site and in Windows 8 itself, it appears as though most of their popular printer and scanner models will work perfectly fine in Windows 8 with the drivers Windows provides.
Compaq Drivers (Desktops and Laptops)
Windows 8 drivers for Compaq computers can be downloaded via HP's support site, linked below.
Compaq used to be an independent computer company but is now part of HP.
Creative Sound Blaster Drivers (Audio)
The most current Creative Sound Blaster Windows 8 drivers are listed on Creative's Driver Availability Chart for Windows 7 and Windows 8, linked below.
Creative has made available Windows 8 drivers for some of their popular Sound Blaster audio products but many of them are currently beta drivers.
Creative also lists Windows 8 drivers on their availability chart for other devices from Creative including MP3 players, webcams, speakers, headsets, and more.
Dell Drivers (Desktops & Laptops)
Windows 8 drivers for Dell computers can be downloaded via Dell's standard support site, linked below.
Many Alienware, Inspiron (desktop and laptop), Latitude, Optiplex, Precision, Vostro, and XPS models have Dell-provided Windows 8 drivers.
Dell Drivers (Printers)
Many of Dell's most popular printers are supported natively in Windows 8. In other words, you won't need to install a Windows 8 driver for many Dell printers.
Dell printers listed as Not supported may or may not have a Dell-provided Windows 8 driver. Check Dell's standard support site, linked below, for a Windows 8 driver for that printer model.
A number of models of Dell color laser printers, monochrome laser printers, and inkjet printers are fully compatible with Windows 8.
eMachines Drivers (Desktops and Notebooks)
Windows 8 drivers for a number of eMachine's notebooks and desktops are available via their normal support site which we've linked to below.
eMachines lists a number of Windows 8 compatible systems on their Windows Upgrade Offer page. Your computer not being listed doesn't necessarily mean that it won't function properly with Windows 8 installed.
Gateway Drivers (Desktops & Notebooks)
Windows 8 drivers for a number of Gateway desktops, notebooks, netbooks, and all-in-one computers are available via Gateway's support site, linked below.
Gateway lists a number of fully or mostly Windows 8 compatible systems on their Windows Upgrade Offer page.
If your Gateway computer is not listed, it doesn't necessarily mean that it won't work with Windows 8. The default drivers included by Microsoft may work without issue on your computer.
HP Drivers (Desktops & Laptops)
Windows 8 drivers for HP laptops and desktops (including "touch screen" desktops) can be downloaded from HP's standard support site, linked below.
Many of HP's computers have both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 8 drivers available.
Looking for Windows 8 drivers for your HP printer? See the HP entry below for special information pertaining to HP printers in Windows 8.
HP Drivers (Printers & Scanners)
Any available HP printer drivers for Windows 8 are downloadable from HP's standard support and drivers page, linked below.
The huge majority of printers and scanners manufactured in the several years prior to Windows 8's release will have a driver included for it in Windows 8 or will have a driver available direct from HP. This includes many popular HP Inkjet, Designjet, Deskjet, LaserJet, ENVY, Officejet, Photosmart, PSC, and Scanjet printers, scanners, and all-in-one devices.
From HP's support page, you can see if your specific HP printer or scanner will work with a native Windows 8 driver (in operating system driver), via an update from Windows Update (Windows Update driver), or from a Windows 8 driver downloaded directly from HP (full-feature driver).
HP's Printing in Windows 8 page is also very helpful.
Intel Chipset "Drivers" (Intel Motherboards)
The latest Intel Chipset Windows driver for Windows 8 is version 10.1.18383 (Released 2020-05-07).
This update isn't actually a Windows 8 driver, it's a collection of INF file updates that help Windows 8 properly identify Intel chipset hardware like USB controllers and other hardware integrated on Intel motherboards.
This single update works with both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 8.
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