DriverUpdate then began downloading the appropriate drivers. I clicked DriverUpdater's Download All button, and the software prompted me to create a restore point should something go awry with one of the drivers. That's really not in any way a necessary feature, but some might enjoy. IObit's tool also lets you apply various skins and transparencies to customize its interface. There's so much to read in terms of driver descriptions that the provided area feels cramped. I like DriverUpdate's handy, at-a-glance read-out window, but not its inability to expand to fullscreen mode, as Ashampoo Driver Updater and IObit Driver Booster Pro can. So, SlimWare Utilities' app is superior to Ashampoo's in that regard. I had to email an Ashampoo representative to learn that the yellow icon represents a driver that has had an update available for less than 365 days. Ashampoo Driver Update has a somewhat similar color-coded system, but the color definitions aren't within the application. The interface uses color-coded icons to let you know the status of each driver: red (missing or outdated drivers), yellow (ignored driver updates), and green (up-to-date drivers). Both Ashampoo Driver Updater and IObit Driver Booster Pro dug up 44 out-of-date drivers, however. In testing, DriverUpdate performed an extremely fast scan (under 10 seconds) on my work PC that unearthed 41 driver-related issues. That same window contains a Start Scan button that begins the driver-fetching process when clicked.

When you launch DriverUpdate, it performs a quick hardware scan and displays information about your PC's operating system, CPU, GPU, and RAM-just in case you were unsure of your machine's hardware specs.

So, basically, your decision to go paid or free depends on how much you value customer service and a simpler download method. The free SlimDrivers, on the other hand, gives you community-based support and the ability to download one driver at a time. DriverUpdate, reviewed here, is the premium tier app (starting at $29.97 per year for a single license) that lets you download the latest drivers with just one click and contact professional-level customer service when needed. Slimware Utilities offers two versions of the same driver-updating tool: DriverUpdate and SlimDrivers.

DriverUpdate works well, but it isn't quite as well-rounded as the Editors' Choice award-winning IObit Driver Booster Pro. Fortunately, SlimWare Utilities has a very competent solution in DriverUpdate, a utility that keeps your PC running smoothly by delivering the latest drivers. Those two are easily remedied with a PC tune-up utility, but if the malady's source is a missing or outdated hardware or software driver, you need to approach the challenge with a different tool set. Computer problems can stem from all sorts of issues, ranging from a corrupted registry to bloatware.

Slimware driver update key