It all depends on the Windows version and what chipset you have. The newer the chipset, the more likely you will need it to correctly identify all Intel devices on Windows 8.1 and especially 7. Windows 10 should support most, if not all, current Intel chipsets and devices covered by the inf 's. When the device is already properly identified this will simply change the device description, version, and date. They are null drivers, meaning no payload. Any apparent payload in device manager is because some of the included inf's act as an extension to the system machine.inf. The 'real' Intel drivers are things like the performance AHCI driver (you don't need the application part) or the Management Engine Interface driver (again you only need the driver), both of these are separate downloads. There are one or two other proper Intel drivers depending on the OS and chipset.

It all depends on the Windows version and what chipset you have. The newer the chipset, the more likely you will need it to correctly identify all Intel devices on Windows 8.1 and especially 7. Windows 10 should support most, if not all, current Intel chipsets and devices covered by the inf 's.