SM Bus Controller: what it is and which driver to install

Updated Sep 17, 2026

After installing or reinstalling Windows you may find SM Bus Controller under Other devices in Device Manager, with a yellow warning sign and the status “The drivers for this device are not installed. (Code 28)”.

It is not a separate card or an external device. SMBus (System Management Bus) is a small low-speed bus built into the chipset. The motherboard uses it to read memory module information, temperature and fan sensors and other management data. The controller itself works without a special driver; Windows simply does not have an INF file that names it, so it is listed as an unknown device.

Is it safe to ignore?

Usually yes — the PC works normally. Still, it is worth fixing: the same missing chipset package often leaves other devices unnamed, and some hardware monitoring or power management features depend on the chipset drivers being installed.

Step 1. Check the hardware ID

1. Right-click SM Bus Controller → Properties → Details → Hardware Ids.
2. Look at the VEN_ code in the first line (how to read hardware IDs):
   • VEN_8086 — Intel chipset → install Intel Chipset Device Software.
   • VEN_1022 — AMD chipset → install the AMD chipset driver.
   • VEN_10DE — NVIDIA nForce (old motherboards) → the nForce driver package for your board.

Step 2a. Intel: install Intel Chipset Device Software

Intel Chipset Device Software (also called the Intel Chipset INF Utility) installs identification files for chipset functions — SMBus, PCI Express root ports, thermal and LPC controllers. After installation the device is renamed to something like Intel(R) 100 Series/C230 Series Chipset Family SMBus - A123 and the warning disappears.

• Intel Chipset Device Software Driver 10.1.20003.8622 (Nov 5, 2024, Windows 10, 11)
• Intel Chipset Device Software Driver 10.1.19900.8599 (Jul 20, 2024, Windows 10, 11)
• Intel Chipset Device Software Driver 10.1.19913.8607 (Jul 9, 2024, Windows 10, 11)
• Intel Chipset Device Software Driver 10.1.19768.8554 (Jun 11, 2024, Windows 10, 11)

1. Download the package and run the setup file as administrator.
2. Accept the license and finish the wizard, then restart.
3. If the SMBus device is still unknown, your chipset is newer or older than the package supports — check the hardware ID table below for a driver that lists your exact ID.

Intel SMBus controllers with drivers in our catalog:

Step 2b. AMD: install the AMD chipset driver

On AMD systems the SMBus controller (PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_790B on Ryzen platforms) is covered by the AMD chipset driver package, which also installs GPIO, PSP and power plan components.

• AMD Ryzen™ Chipset Driver 7.02.13.148 (Feb 26, 2025, Windows 10, 11)
• AMD Ryzen™ Chipset Driver 7.01.08.129 (Jan 14, 2025, Windows 10, 11)
• AMD Ryzen™ Chipset Driver 6.10.22.027 (Oct 23, 2024, Windows 10, 11)

Step 3. If the laptop or board maker has its own package

Brand laptops (Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS, Acer) publish chipset drivers on their support pages under the “Chipset” category. These are tested for your model and are the safest option when a generic package refuses to install.

Still showing after installing the driver?

• Make sure the setup finished and you restarted the computer.
• Right-click the device → Update driver → Search automatically for drivers; Windows now finds the installed INF.
• Check Settings → Windows Update → Advanced options → Optional updates → Driver updates for a chipset entry.
• See also: PCI Simple Communications Controller and PCI Data Acquisition and Signal Processing Controller — other chipset devices that usually appear at the same time.

Related guides

• Find your hardware ID
• Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)
• Code 43: device reported problems
• Code 10: this device cannot start
• PCI Simple Communications Controller
• PCI Data Acquisition and Signal Processing Controller
• Base System Device driver
• PCI Device driver missing