For Windows 8 and later, Microsoft includes a generic inbox xHCI driver that works well. The Intel driver is primarily for Windows 7 and early Windows 8/8.1 systems, or to enable specific power management features.
The answer is yes and no. Modern versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11 are incredibly good at finding generic drivers. However, the is often preferred for three specific reasons: For Windows 8 and later, Microsoft includes a
Without this driver (or a generic Microsoft xHCI driver), USB ports may fall back to USB 2.0 speeds or malfunction entirely, especially on systems where is enabled in BIOS. For Windows 8 and later