ESX is designed as a give and go product. You download it, you accept the product as is, and it just works. There is a published HCL (compatibilty List) that VM Ware has determined to meet the needs of ESX, and that's what you should stick with.
Some drivers MAY work with ESX, but any and all drivers that you get are for Linux. ESX is NOT Linux so you are on your own in they work or not. Best thing to do is get a machine that is 100% compatibile to work with ESX, everything else is just experimental on your part.
