What drivers do i really need on a fresh install?

[wrenaudrey]

Im wanting to install W8.1 on my new SSD and thought to ask everyone first to determine what drivers are really needed on a fresh install.

I really feel noobish asking this question but with the push to get rid of optical bays, optical drives and therefore optical driver discs, what drivers do i actually REALLY need to install as there are alot in the product download page and I really do hate bloatware/drivers/software i dont actually need.

Motherboard: Asus Z87 Sabertooth
Rest of the specs are in the sig(it will not be changing for a long time)
Direct link to downloads page HERE


Which of these do i really need?
Chipset
-Management Engine Interface
-Intel(R) Chipset Software Installation Utility
-Intel Chipset Driver
VGA --do i really need this, i have a GTX 780?
-Intel Graphics Accelerator Driver
LAN --but which one?
-Intel LAN Driver
-Intel(R) Gigabit Ethernet Driver
SATA
-Intel Smart Connect Technology Software
-Intel AHCI/RAID Driver Path
-Intel Rapid Storage Technology
-Asmedia SATA Controller --->(this was on W7, do i need this for W8.1?)

 

[MacLeod]

The only drivers I've ever had to install after a fresh OS install has been the NIC drivers, and the GPU drivers of course. Other than that, usually nothing as Windows handles it.

 

[Dicehunter]

The only drivers I've ever had to install after a fresh OS install has been the NIC drivers, and the GPU drivers of course. Other than that, usually nothing as Windows handles it.

What about motherboard/chipset drivers ? Usually Windows is a good few months behind compared to the manufacturers released drivers.

 

[MacLeod]

What about motherboard/chipset drivers ? Usually Windows is a good few months behind compared to the manufacturers released drivers.

Has never really seemed to be a problem at least not so far. Recently built a PC for my dad and a friend and had to install the NIC drivers on both but that was it and the rigs are running nice and smooth. Granted neither of these were "power" PC's like we have so maybe I wouldn't see the difference. But then I'm still running my Sabertooth on the Windows drivers from when I first installed it back around 2010 and she's still purring right along rock solid.

 

[KING_OF_SAND]

Windows 8.1 is incredible with drivers. I would be stunned if you needed to install any drivers. After I did a fresh install of 8 I had every driver INCLUDING all of my networked printers, NAS devices, and peripherals.

 

[vorticalbox]

As said 8.1 is very good with drivers, only thing I've installed on my 8.1 was network.

First boot had CCC installed.