CSP
Banned
Actually, that raises a point I have experienced. Sometimes, if I am on-line, the screen will shut down and fade back to the desk-top and I have to move the mouse or hit a key to return to the original site. Perhaps these updates will sort that out.
Power settings mate. No activity and monitors, HDDs, whole computers can (and do) go to sleep or switch off. They're all configurable.
As for manually updating the ATI drivers, there are different packages as well as the catalyst control centre and there's no way of knowing EXACTLY which one the Windows update is going to install. That's why it's always a manual update.
As for other drivers - I think you've been sucked into a bit of a gimmick with this driver checking software. If **** works and Windows Update says everything's up to date then what the problem? You're more likely to benefit from MB firmware updates - do you do those?