video drivers

[rwest]

Okay this may be a novice question...but here goes:

I'm due a video driver update. No real reason-everything's working fine.

I just updated Win 7 with sp1 and I saw an optional update for my vid card on the update page. So I went to ATI's page and downloaded the latest driver for my card from there. Always been told to do so. I haven't installed it yet. No real hurry. But I'm curious...

My driver is ver. 8.782
available is 11.2 from ATI posted 2-15-11
Windows update reports thier driver as published 2-27-11

Here are my questions:
If I need to have and run the latest version of Dirrect X to play most newer games - Shouldn't I be using the software(driver) that most matches the manufacturer or writers of Direct X(namely Microsoft)? Especially, if I'm also running thier OS?

Is the driver update from MS that much different as to what I'd get from the card manufacturer? What makes the use of the card manufacturers software(driver) a better choice?

I'm open to hearing opinions, but please have sonme kind of logic(or previous experience) to back it.

[EzyStvy]

MS got the driver from ATI - certified it and put it on their site So it shouldn't matter where you get it from.

Some people won't touch a driver on MS's site - but I've used em many times...

New drivers don't always mean better drivers..but it looks like you might be a few versions behind..

[rwest]

Thanx, I always wondered about that. If the driver was wriiten by MS or if they just got it from ATI. Yep I usually run behind on driver versions, just because I wait till I need em.