An ASIO driver (Audio Stream Input/Output) is a specialized driver technology developed by Steinberg. Under Windows, it allows audio software like DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) to communicate directly with the sound card, minimizing latency (delay) and providing better sound quality.
Unlike regular drivers (such as WDM or Direct Sound), which often have higher latencies, ASIO delivers very low latency, which is crucial for tasks like recording or playing VST instruments in real-time.
Like for every other professional recording card RME offers for their recording interface high quality, rock solid ASIO drivers.
Did you buy the card used or do you have it already since longer time? I wonder that this topic appears to be completely unknown by you as this is very basic and fundamental for installing recording interfaces under Windows.
And it is also documented at the very beginning in the RME manual, see chapter 10:
https://rme-audio.de/downloads/hdsp9652_d.pdf
https://rme-audio.de/downloads/hdsp9652_e.pdf
Installing the ASIO driver is also needed to be able to perform a firmware upgrade on the card.
It is a good idea to use the latest firmware and the latest ASIO driver for "production".
If also a firmware upgrade proceeds without issues this is for me a good sign, that the card is accessible by the usualy upgrade tools and that you can write new code to the FPGA (the internal processor of the card which does "everything").
BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14