GPU-Z on Steam?

[qubit]

@W1zzard There are so many updates for GPU-Z that I tend to run older versions simply because I haven't got round to updating it yet. However, I keep Steam open all the time, which updates everything in a timely manner and with zero effort. So, to help us keep it up to date and to reach a wider userbase, would you consider making a free Steam version alongside your usual one?

Note that Steam apps can be programmed to run without Steam being active, so it's only a requirement for installation and updates.

I'd like to know how popular this idea is, so people please vote in the poll.

 

[Hellfire]

I like the idea of it, but I imagine there would be some cost involved for W1zzard @ TPU

 

[Naki]

Voted NO.

 

[qubit]

I like the idea of it, but I imagine there would be some cost involved for W1zzard @ TPU

I think for free software it's probably free to put on there. Would have to look at the terms and conditions to say for sure though.

 

[Naki]

IF a new channel for downloading GPU-Z is to exist, I would like that to be the (Microsoft) Windows Store.
This would reach many people, including non-gamers as it can work for Windows 8.1, as well as Windows 10. Many other Windows programs I use already have this option, such as Slack, Evernote and many others.
(some took the "pay to use Windows Store app with easy updates" approach, which obviously I do not like - e.g. Paint.NET, which is fully free otherwise)

Likelihood of non-gamers to use Steam client is quite low. Not everybody using GPU-Z is a gamer.

 

[EarthDog]

Dear God, no. I don't want an additional layer of software just to update the program. Nor do I think its even useful on steam to be honest. I laughed seeing UL's 3DMark was available through steam already. A monitoring program just seems so out of place. And especially for this reason....

Note that Steam apps can be programmed to run without Steam being active, so it's only a requirement for installation and updates.

I don't want to have to do that. I prefer a lightweight application without having to load steam up or configure the app to run outside of steam (how does it update if it runs outside of steam, btw? I have never forced any games to run offline...).

It isn't enough that GPUz notifies you in the first place that it needs an update and you take the few seconds to update it? Don't be lazy!!!

No, and No. Please don't.

 

[qubit]

Dear God, no. I don't want an additional layer of software just to update the program. Nor do I think its even useful on steam to be honest. I laughed seeing UL's 3DMark was available through steam already. A monitoring program just seems so out of place. And especially for this reason....
I don't want to have to do that. I prefer a lightweight application without having to load steam up or configure the app to run outside of steam (how does it update if it runs outside of steam, btw? I have never forced any games to run offline...).

It isn't enough that GPUz notifies you in the first place that it needs an update and you take the few seconds to update it? Don't be lazy!!!

No, and No. Please don't.

I'm not sure you realise that I'm proposing this to go alongside the regular one, not replace it? There are merits to both approaches, especially if someone just doesn't want Steam on their system, they shouldn't be forced to have it.

I've actually got a paid for utility or two which run without having Steam active, which is quite handy and people should be aware that this is possible, hence I pointed that out.

 

[Rahnak]

It seems to me like what you really want is an auto-update/one-click update feature.

 

[Hellfire]

It seems to me like what you really want is an auto-update/one-click update feature.

That would be much better, the program connecting and updating itself on startup.

 

[EarthDog]

I'm not sure you realise that I'm proposing this to go alongside the regular one, not replace it? There are merits to both approaches, especially if someone just doesn't want Steam on their system, they shouldn't be forced to have it.

I've actually got a paid for utility or two which run without having Steam active, which is quite handy and people should be aware that this is possible, hence I pointed that out.

Oh, I get it... but still. No thanks. Update it when the software asks. It really is just that simple. This is a workaround for the extremely lazy. IIRC, it is literally 3/4 clicks... Update is avail, would you like to update? CLICK. Goes to TPU page... CLICK on latest version... install YES/No/run from exe... CLICK. And it is installed.

A better idea, to me, is to simply add a check-box in advanced for an auto-update feature. There is no need for Steam to accomplish this goal and would just be bloat to put in on there for this.

 

[Naki]

@EarthDog and @Hellfire -- I think in current state of operation of GPU-Z updates, this would be problematic.
Remember, Steam games/apps' updates require NO UAC prompts. And update of GPU-Z from older to newer version does require UAC confirmation.

Same for Windows Store app updates - they do not need confirmation or prompts to confirm.
I think only exception would be if the permissions of a new version of any existing app have changed (new ones got added), similar to how this works on Android.

 

[silentbogo]

Definitely a "no".
It'll make it a real pain in the ass to push updates, add complexity and overhead with Steam libraries, plus there's no real-world scenario where launching non-gaming software off Steam made any big impact for the end user. I'm still confused about Futuremark/UL decision to distribute 3DMark through steam...
What we want (I really mean "want", not "need") is some sort of auto-update mechanism, like, let's say, in Notepad++.
I'm sure @W1zzard can make it happen, but it'll definitely cut out a big chunk of ad revenue for TPU, given that millions of users download GPU-z off the main site. I can survive without both of those update mechanisms.

 

[ArbitraryAffection]

It's really not needed. It takes like 10 seconds to download GPUz directly from TPU (via Google Search) and use it.

 

[theoneandonlymrk]

Yes I like the sound of saving 10 seconds twice a year ,ish.

Some sound somewhat if i can't have it my way no one can ish here.

 

[EarthDog]

Some sound somewhat if i can't have it my way no one can ish here.

I think we just called a spade a spade. For those who are too lazy to 'save 10s twice a year', it could be a good thing.....

....there are several ways to skin that cat though. One of which is adding a simple check box in the advanced tab to auto-update. Which seems to me, someone not in the know, a lot easier than to have to mess with Steam. So while I agree an auto-update could be helpful, Steam doesn't appear to be a good way to go about it.

 

[W1zzard]

No plans for that. Especially not when there's no revenue stream associated with it. Why should I jump through all the hoops and loops that Valve certainly has tied to Steam?

 

[EarthDog]

No plans for that. Especially not when there's no revenue stream associated with it. Why should I jump through all the hoops and loops that Valve certainly has tied to Steam?

What is the LOE to add an auto-update feature that users can select via checkbox (default off).

 

[Naki]

I think we just called a spade a spade. For those who are too lazy to 'save 10s twice a year', it could be a good thing.....

....there are several ways to skin that cat though. One of which is adding a simple check box in the advanced tab to auto-update. Which seems to me, someone not in the know, a lot easier than to have to mess with Steam.

Already covered! No, not that simple, I am afraid -->
" I think in current state of operation of GPU-Z updates, this would be problematic.
Remember, Steam games/apps' updates require NO UAC prompts. And update of GPU-Z from older to newer version does require UAC confirmation. "

To not have UAC prompts on GPU-Z update would be a major change. For starters, it would need to change GPU-Z default install location not to be in Program Files, but somewhere in the user documents folder, such as %APPDATA%/etc so updates files can be written to it without an UAC prompt. Not a minor change by any means! And not one W1zzard would agree on easily.
(and NO, do not tell me "you can disable UAC" as I am most definitely not doing that, EVER)

 

[EarthDog]

Ahh, that makes sense. Typically I disable UAC things so I do not get notified for anything, which of course includes GPUz. Clearly I am in a minority of all users who leaves such measures active.

I'm surprised that an install location, seems to be, changing the way the wheel works. Who would have thought... a different path would be so difficult.

 

[MrGenius]

UAC? LMFAO!!! Literally the first thing I do after installing an OS is turn that stupid shit OFF. And not one single time, since its inception, has there ever been a set of circumstances where it would have done me a lick of good to have it ON. If you think you need to have UAC ON, you have pretty much no business operating a computer unsupervised. If you like having UAC ON, you're a masochist. In either case, I feel sorry for you.

Anyway. Voted no. No point whatsoever in having it on Steam. Sorry.

 

[theoneandonlymrk]

So no auto update in any form ever , ah well , you tried @qubit.
Shame because every time I use it it needs updating , same with hwinfo64 and the same thing will continue , I and most others, click the forget that option, it worked last time and im not interested enough in your updates.

That's how shit presently rolls, and shortsighted eye's have missed a promo and add revenue stream there.

Tie up gpuz with more compos ,prizes and partnerships and it might earn you more undrr the radar it would also better promote tpu in the guises. Qubit asked for and Naki.

If more see it hows that bad promotion.

 

[Naki]

MrGenius - I have more than 3 of my own PCs here, and I admin 3-4 more of my family members, so I am supervising at least 7 PCs here - ALL of those have UAC on, and I have no plans to change this, EVER. My family is happy with how I admin their PCs for over 20 years now.
Reasons are simple, and well-known so will not discuss in detail here.
LMFAO as much as you wish, it's your choice to cripple your PC's security - genius idea! (how did I not think of that myself?!) - and mine is not to do that, so go joke around with your dumb jokes elsewhere.

RE what the others say - I agree having GPU-Z in more download locations would make it more popular, which is a good thing to any app/program. Auto-update due to that is a bonus, and all can still choose to download from TPU directly instead.
I think Steam is not the better of those possible choices, IMHO Windows Store is as I said. BUT if Windows Store downloads would mean less TPU views/visits and thus less ad revenue, I guess this is unlikely to happen.
EDIT: A way out/partial compromise to mitigate this would be include ads in GPU-Z itself if downloaded from Windows Store, with no option to turn those off unless money is paid/etc, but that would be a big OUCH.

 

[silentbogo]

UAC? LMFAO!!! Literally the first thing I do after installing an OS is turn that stupid shit OFF. And not one single time, since its inception, has there ever been a set of circumstances where it would have done me a lick of good to have it ON. If you think you need to have UAC ON, you have pretty much no business operating a computer unsupervised. If you like having UAC ON, you're a masochist. In either case, I feel sorry for you.

Pretty much every modern OS, Windows being last to the party, has something like UAC in it, and it's there not to annoy users, but to prevent unauthorized access to your stuff from the inside and the outside.
Having a seatbelt on is also an annoyance and many people don't get into car accidents over their lifetime, but having this feature in a car is generally considered a good thing.

 

[EarthDog]

Well, the thing is, many of us here would be considered enthusiasts. And though it could still protect me from myself and any other number dubious things, I do disable it religiously on my personal PC (my wife and kids, LOL, its enabled). Many here do disable it I would bet. However, we are but a drop in a lake of PC users where leaving UAC enabled is a normal, and 'best' practice.

Sadly, due to that, a most simple of ways to appease those who may want this feature, seems it isn't so simple.

Steam though... that's like calling EA a solution for games.

 

[Naki]

As the man said, Linux and macOS have this for a while now. In fact, it is worse there - you have to confirm major changes with your (master/root) password, and Windows UAC does not need that so it is less obtrusive.
I would consider myself a "power user" and use PCs since the Windows 3.1, and DOS 3.3 days (do not remember pre-3.3 DOS too well, was a LONG time ago). Used Windows 2.x only briefly so do not remember it either.