Microsoft Updates Drivers for Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book

Microsoft is offering new updates for Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book today. This isn’t the first set up updates for these devices this month, but the big change is that Microsoft appears to finally be abandoning the term “firmware updates” in favor of the more correct “drive updates.”

Two weeks ago, I wrote about two massive sets of firmware—sorry,driver—updates for Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book. But wait, there’s more.

And not just more updates. But a different way of describing them. If you look at the Surface Pro 4 update history page, for example, you’ll see that the May 24 updates are described in a completely new way compared to previous releases. And I believe we’re moving towards simply calling these updates what they are: Driver updates. That’s why you need to reinstall them if you PC reset the device. (True firmware updates would be retained.)

Anyway.

Here’s what’s new.

Surface Pro 4

Microsoft driver update for Surface Embedded Controller Firmware. Surface Embedded Controller Firmware v103.1158.256.0 adjustments to system thermal tuning and optimizes battery utilization in connected standby and in low battery scenario.

Microsoft driver update for Surface Management Engine. Surface Management Engine v11.0.11.1006 improves system stability resuming from sleep or hibernation and increased reliability of touch and pen capabilities.

Fingerprint Cards AB driver update for Surface Fingerprint Sensor. Surface Fingerprint Sensor v2.2.10.8 increase stability of fingerprint sensor when keyboard is resuming from sleep.

Marvell Semiconductor driver update for Marvell AVASTAR Bluetooth Radio Adapter. Marvel AVASTAR Bluetooth Radio Adapter v15.68.9040.67 enhances Wi-Fi driver settings to support Gulf region.

Marvell Semiconductor driver update for Marvell AVASTAR Wireless-AC Network Controller. Marvell AVASTAR Wireless-AC Network Controller v15.68.9040.67 enhances Wi-Fi driver settings to support Gulf region.

Intel Corporation driver update for Intel Precise Touch Device. Intel Precise Touch Device v1.1.0.240 improves touch stability.

Microsoft driver update for Surface NVM Express Controller. On devices with a Samsung solid state drive only, Surface NVM Express Controller v10.0.4.0 improves stability of NVMe Storage.

Surface Book

It’s not listed yet on the Surface Book update history page, but Surface Book should also be getting the same driver updates listed above. (Because Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book are the same devices, internally.) But Microsoft does list the following update from May 16:

NVIDIA driver update for NVIDIA GeForce GPU. NVIDIA GeForce GPU driver update (v10.18.13.6472) improves stability.