HWiNFO64

So I was playing some games on my disposable laptop when I noticed that my OSD wasn't showing CPU-Tdie, CPU Power, GPU Power. Ordinarily, I would add these sensors via MSI Afterburner as follows:



I found it strange that three sensors I was most interested were not returning any values. I went back to the previous page and noted the following:



I go back to the settings menu after exiting HWiNFO and check that box:



Everything appeared to be fine until I noticed yet again that those sensors were not appearing in my OSD. I also received a notification that because I was using the free version, that this capability would have to be manually reset every 12 hours.

I went to the HWiNFO downloads page and saw this:



For giggles sake, I clicked the Buy Now button:


I am currently using this version of the software:



I know HWiNFO has been making some changes with the last couple of updates. I am not crazy about some of the mouse-over UI changes that have the same behavior as MSI Afterburner. But, $25 for a piece of software that until now had been freeware, seems a bit excessive. I really don't have time or interest to spend time over at the HWiNFO forums. Have others noticed this change? Are you all satisfied with having to recheck the box every 24 hours? Is $25 worth it? Really disappointed that this change has the appearance of being heaped on me. I typically have kept this software up to date if for nothing else than to get rid of that annoying pop-up (a new update is available). In the past, this hasn't been a problem so I rolled with the flow. Now...

 

This seems like another case of someone trying to force a paywall on users so they can make money on something that was free before. I don't support this behavior, and nobody should pay the $25 for the pro version of the program.

If this dev wants money, he should've made a different program with an entirely different feature set that would greatly benefit commercial users. Stripping features out of a program so you can sell them is a very douchey move. It's like game studios who sell DLCs with content that really should be in the base game.

I don't usually update my programs. I'm still using version 6.08 of HwInfo. I find updating programs pointless unless it brings a tangible benefit.

 

I've no problem paying for pro. In fact, he should've done it sooner considering how much better it is than the freeware alternatives. People who provide value to you should be supported. I've donated more to the author in the past than the $25 for a personal license. He has given me a lot of individual help and been very responsive to feedback on the forums.

 

I was just playing Cyberpunk on my desktop and this issue did not occur. Strange. I'll have to pay closer attention, but I'm pretty sure I had not selected share memory on my desktop. I'll need to verify version numbers of the software as well.

@yrekabakery I'm actually OK with paying for a license. I'm also OK with supporting the developer like I can do with software such as DDU. Usually, we seem to have a choice about donating. Only ones who have to feel bad are the ones who could have made a donation but chose not to. I'm less OK with now having to choose between mandatory actions - pay for continued functionality that was otherwise free; or manually select the option every 12 hours.

 

This is exactly what my sentiment is. Good developers should be supported. However, I have a big problem with stuff that was free since initial release suddently getting locked behind a paywall. I will never support that kind of behavior because it is unacceptable.

 

The problem with making donation optional is nobody ever does it. Creating something of value costs something. We don't live in a utopia where people work for free.

 

I think the issue affects only AMD CPUs because i could never solve this problem and $25 too much for the Pro version imo but you can enable it through HWINFO itself instead of through MSI Afterburner.

Go to sensor settings and click on the OSD (RTSS) tab, Scroll down until you see CPU (Tctl/Tdie), check show value in OSD and show label in OSD.




When you run MSI Afterburner it'll start up HWINFO when the plugin is enabled along with Rivatuner.

 

Had the developer created some new, never-before-seen features and put those behind the paywall, that would be one thing. But to do that to previously included items is something else entirely. This does not, as you said, "provide value" and will only alienate a good portion of his audience.

 

That is why it is a donation. If the software developer relies upon revenue from the software to begin with, and charges a fee for said software, that is understandable. Freeware is just that. Free. Donations are optional. By choice. Because the software user wants to make a donation; not because they have to.

I have paid for upgrades to get rid of annoying ads. Such upgrades and corresponding fees were reasonable. But, HWiNFO suddenly gets an update to V7, and now certain features/functionality are gimped because the developer suddenly wants to charge extra. I can still go the free route by resetting the application every 12 hours.

 

That option definitely works. That is how I was able to verify that the sensors were properly being monitored. Obviously, I could see them in HWiNFO. The problem with going through HWiNFO is formatting - can't get the readings to all show on the same line. It is a work-around, though.

My desktop has an AMD 3950X. I haven't seen this behavior despite having an AMD CPU. I was wondering if there is something do with the Legion 5 firmware that I can't change. As an example, I can only update GPU drivers via Geforce Experience. My Legion 5 simply won't allow me to install the drivers the same way I do on my desktop.

 

But that’s not what he’s doing. You’re free to continue using it as before if you reset it every 12 hours. This can be easily automated using Task Scheduler as well. Also feel free to name another alternative, paid or free, that’s as comprehensive and maintained up-to-the-second as HWiNFO. I’ll wait.

 

I don't disagree that HWiNFO meets my needs. I can understand how we used Task Scheduler to start Throttlestop at launch - http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/the-throttlestop-guide.531329/#post-6865107

Really don't see how to use task scheduler to actually click a check box in the settings tab when HWiNFO opens up.

 

Since shared memory support is automatically unchecked after 12 hours, you can simply edit the HWiNFO task to automatically close after 11:59 and then immediately start a new instance.

 

I went over the the HWiNFO forums:





I understood the developer's position on changing the pay-model up until the last snarky answer. "We don't live in communism and have to pay our bills." That sounds strikingly like the statement @yrekabakery made earlier:

These are just insulting statements to anyone and everyone who has a conscious and ethical bone in their bodies. I believe in HWiNFO and will probably pay for that obnoxious license. But, I will do that because I need to. Not that I want to. That is the wrong model. It is an arrogant model, and not one I support.

 

It's not a clean solution since it will still require manual entry to get through the opening tab which appears every time the application restarts.

 

What gets me is that the question of adding more features to Pro is addressed and that those apparently will be incoming. Those should have been ready to go at the time the decision to charge for the software was made. This way, it would be obvious to users that there is added value in paying for it.

 

The irony of feeling insulted because you lost your free lunch and then complaining about ethics and arrogance is not lost on me.

I don’t get that because I have “show welcome screen and progress” unchecked.

 

No idea, I havent been able to solve it, It still doesnt works even with Optimus disabled.

I install my GPU drivers manually without Geforce Experience by using DDU and installing from Nvidia's website. Laptop reviewers on youtube who has the same laptop as us managed to get it working.

 

I bought the license key and joined the HWiNFO forum. I'll let you guys know how things work out. It was simple to add the license once I had the key. I use the portable HWiNFO version, and simply copy and pasted the key (once I downloaded it from the email) into the same folder as the .exe and .ini files. The rest is magic!

 

Just verified on my desktop that HWiNFO sensors are similarly not made available to MSIAfterburner. I applied the license key and checked shared memory, and my sensor data shows again. Not sure if this behavior is AMD related.

 

Any reason you need the newer version? And you can disable Automatic Update in settings.

 

HWiNFO is one of those programs that for me serves a very limited and specific purpose. I never felt that HWiNFO updates are anything other than genuine and intended to actually improve the product. I can't say for Nvidia or Microsoft whose updating process seems more about upgrading to new products rather than running existing products better.

 

Very often, the updates is for new hardware. Even many years old versions still works fine as they are. And not all of the new features added in is needed or to keep the software working.I support it with donations but not because I want or need new features. I support awesome software.

What I meant with my post is that you don't need to use the newer software to make everything work. And my philosophy is for all tech as software, drivers, firmware, OS etc... No need to upgrade/update if not needed I rather check for updates on the websites sometimes instead for using automatic updates. Because new doesn't always mean it has to be better.

Some of you may remember when Hwinfo devloper screwed up for the Fan monitoring on Clevo for a very long time before it come back. Jump on new can also mean more or new bugs. If the old or even the lates works well, just keep it as is... Clevo Overclocker's Lounge