GPU Monitor Vista Sidebar Gadget Available

[stangowner]

Hi,

I created a Vista Sidebar Gadget that uses Rivatuner's low level hardware monitor for stats. I've finally released it on Microsoft's site. If your Rivatuner install is reporting back values that you would like to see in the sidebar, then install this gadget and have it easily accessible. Values will vary depending on the model card you have and its capabilities.

Values could include:
- various core clock speeds
- memory clock speed
- GPU temp (as well as other misc temps)
- fan duty and speed
- voltage
- GPU usage

Read the help tab in the gadget config for explicit instructions and configuration information.

Download Gadget Here

Let me know if you have any comments. This is an initial release, and I already have a few ideas for improvements. It has been tested with several cards, but not with SLI or Crossfire configs, as well as Vista 64-bit. I simply did not have access to these configs during development. I have tested it on Windows 7 32-bit beta though.

You can email me directly with comments and screen snapshots of the gadget to the email address listed in the gadget.

Enjoy!

- Nick

[boogieman]

Although I don't use the gadget feature thanks for making and posting !

[Unwinder]

Really god job, making the thread sticky!

[Li4m79]

great job amigo!!!

[neurokrem-rs]

Good job,this is a very usefull gadget!

[Matt151b]

Does it have the capability to get vaules if I am using EVGA Precision? I know parts of the Rivatuner were borrowed to make EVGA precision...

[Unwinder]

Nope, sorry. EVGA Precision doesn't support that and I don't plan to integrate anything like an ability to export hardware monitoring statistics from EVGA Precision into external applications (e.g. gadgets).

[Matt151b]

Originally Posted by Unwinder

Nope, sorry. EVGA Precision doesn't support that and I don't plan to integrate anything like an ability to export hardware monitoring statistics from EVGA Precision into external applications (e.g. gadgets).

Thanks for blazzing fast reply.

[MrBozack]

I love the gadget bar one thing; My graphics card doesn't support fan RPM monitoring.

I'm left with a bar named GPU Fan Duty / Speed, that can display my memory frequency 828% RPM!
It would be nice if you could disable features you don't have/want.

I loved the help page too

EDIT: Using Windows 7 x64 Build 7000 no problems

[burebista]

Originally Posted by MrBozack

It would be nice if you could disable features you don't have/want.

Agree. I don't want to remove them from hardware monitoring only from gadget.
Otherwise is fine here on Vista64 SP1.

[Unwinder]

Originally Posted by burebista

Agree. I don't want to remove them from hardware monitoring only from gadget.

Agreed, that's the first thing I thought about after seeing the gadget.

stangowner

You can use RivaTuner's own GUI for that. From my POV the easiest implementation would be showing only the items having "Show in OSD" flag set in the shared memory.

[RaXelliX]

I have yet to try this.I assume it shows 2 or more cards too?

[zuppi]

2 Core temps for Sli?

[stangowner]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone!

This gadget had VERY limited beta testing. So even though this is version 1.0 - this feedback is greatly needed. Hopefully this gadget will mature well and be flexible enough for all configs.

It would be nice if you could disable features you don't have/want.

2 Core temps for Sli?

Agreed. I'll do some work on the bars. First, so they are not married to temp and fan. And secondly so that you can display none, or 3 of them if you choose, with whatever values you select.

I loved the help page too

I thought it was fairly explicit. But given some of the feedback I've received, either it is still too difficult or users are not reading it.

Using Windows 7 x64 Build 7000 no problems

Otherwise is fine here on Vista64 SP1.

Thanks for the testing! I'm glad to hear all is OK on 64-bit.

You can use RivaTuner's own GUI for that. From my POV the easiest implementation would be showing only the items having "Show in OSD" flag set in the shared memory.

Thanks Unwinder. But do you think users may want something different in the OSD and the gadget? Perhaps I should just let the users filter the values available for display in the gadget?

Once again, thanks for the responses. Please let me know any and all comments.

-Nick

[antonyfrn]

i seem to be getting a error code 8 and a error about cant read xml data in win7 64bit.

Im really pleased to see some sort of gadget support for RT at long last but im not a big fan of the gui on it personally i would like to have seen something with the configuration ability of Multi Meters v2.10 and HWMonitor Meter as they have some excellent customisation options maybe a idea to hook up with SFkilla over at thehobbylounge. But i know this is the first version i hope to see it improve over time.

[stangowner]

Originally Posted by antonyfrn

i seem to be getting a error code 8 and a error about cant read xml data in win7 64bit.

Error code 8 means "Unknown failure". Not much help there.

The gadget needs to spawn a helper app to read Rivatuner's shared memory and convert it to XML for the gadget to digest. This file is installed with the gadget and located at "C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windo ws Sidebar\Gadgets\GPUMonitor.gadget\GPUMonitor.exe." The error you are receiving is because this application can not start. You can verify by looking in your task manager processes list - I'm assuming you will not see GPUMonitor.exe in the list. Can you manually start this program, and see if the gadget now displays values properly?

Providing this resolves the issue with the gadget, can you tell me if you maybe have some security measures in place that may prevent GPUMonitor.exe from starting? Like an approved applications list or something? Or perhaps your IE7 settings have been changed and are too restrictive?

Please let me know how you make out.

As far as the looks go, I'm more concerned about function at this point. I plan on adding flexibility like skins, etc.....but that won't come until after the meat of the gadget is functioning properly.......issues like your error resolved.

- Nick

[Silpheed]

possible to add a "maximum" mark (temperature & fan RPM mark) to the guage bar?

[stangowner]

Originally Posted by Silpheed

possible to add a "maximum" mark (temperature & fan RPM mark) to the guage bar?

If I fully understand the question, you'd like to be able to look at the gadget and see that 73 degrees was the highest temp you have had - in addition to the current temp which may be only 56? A little tick or a line in the bar? Same for the peak fan RPM?

Good suggestion. I'll add it to the todo list.

- Nick

[Silpheed]

Yeah, the correct word is "highest". Sorry for my bad english.
Anyway, I like your gadget. Keep it up!

[antonyfrn]

Originally Posted by stangowner

Error code 8 means "Unknown failure". Not much help there.

The gadget needs to spawn a helper app to read Rivatuner's shared memory and convert it to XML for the gadget to digest. This file is installed with the gadget and located at "C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windo ws Sidebar\Gadgets\GPUMonitor.gadget\GPUMonitor.exe." The error you are receiving is because this application can not start. You can verify by looking in your task manager processes list - I'm assuming you will not see GPUMonitor.exe in the list. Can you manually start this program, and see if the gadget now displays values properly?

Providing this resolves the issue with the gadget, can you tell me if you maybe have some security measures in place that may prevent GPUMonitor.exe from starting? Like an approved applications list or something? Or perhaps your IE7 settings have been changed and are too restrictive?

Please let me know how you make out.

As far as the looks go, I'm more concerned about function at this point. I plan on adding flexibility like skins, etc.....but that won't come until after the meat of the gadget is functioning properly.......issues like your error resolved.

- Nick

Ok it picked up fine running the exe from the directory. Currently all im running is Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 build 8.0.0.506(a) i noticed it placed the exe in the low level list and it seems functioning apart from that UAC set to Win7 defaults.

Closed the gadget and killed the exe via task manager and it works well now.

It seems Kaspersky blocked it as i never got any prompt about the gadget trying to run a exe file

Thanks for the help

[kallileo]

Great tool stangowner! Thank you.

Just one request. Is it possible to create another version of the gadget with GPU Fan Duty/Speed removed or maybe you just can add an option to hide this bar? Cause some card use watercooling and they don't need the Fan Duty bar.

Thank you again...

[antonyfrn]

Noticed 3 errors

1) GPU Temps not updating
2) Fan Duty not updating
3) Fan Speed not updating

BTW should GPUMonitor.exe start with the gadget? if so i think this may be related to it not starting

[stangowner]

Originally Posted by antonyfrn

Noticed 3 errors

1) GPU Temps not updating
2) Fan Duty not updating
3) Fan Speed not updating

BTW should GPUMonitor.exe start with the gadget? if so i think this may be related to it not starting

GPUMonitor.exe is not running then. The gadget is displaying the XML values now that the XML data has been established (you ran it manually once). But GPUMonitor.exe is not updating the XML data, so the gadget is rereading the same values over and over.

Yes, when the gadget loads, it starts GPUMonitor.exe. When it unloads, it stops it.

We need to find out why the .exe will not launch from the gadget. As a test, can you disable Kaspersky? Then close and reopen the gadget. Check to see if it is running in the task manager.

- Nick

[MrBozack]

Originally Posted by antonyfrn

i seem to be getting a error code 8 and a error about cant read xml data in win7 64bit.

Hmmm... The only thing I can suggest is User Account Control. Do you have UAC disabled?

I do, but sadly gadgets don't normally work with UAC disabled in Windows 7.
I don't know if you're aware but you can disable UAC and still get the gadgets to work. To resolve simply:

1. Click Start, type Regedit.exe and press ENTER

2. Navigate to the following branch:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Sidebar \ Settings

3. Create a new DWORD value named AllowElevatedProcess

4. Double-click AllowElevatedProcess and set its Value data to 1

5. Exit the Registry Editor

It might be something to try if not disabled.

[antonyfrn]

Originally Posted by stangowner

GPUMonitor.exe is not running then. The gadget is displaying the XML values now that the XML data has been established (you ran it manually once). But GPUMonitor.exe is not updating the XML data, so the gadget is rereading the same values over and over.

Yes, when the gadget loads, it starts GPUMonitor.exe. When it unloads, it stops it.

We need to find out why the .exe will not launch from the gadget. As a test, can you disable Kaspersky? Then close and reopen the gadget. Check to see if it is running in the task manager.

- Nick

Uninstalled and reinstalled the gadget with Kis disabled Still no love UAC is set to default.