UTILITIES - Hardware Monitor Update

I have posted about Hardware Monitor (HWMonitor) from CPUID before (a long while back), but it has been updated.

Reminder, HWMonitor works using the monitoring functions of your motherboard and BIOS, so the features you see in screenshot are dependent on your motherboard.

I am running HWMonitor Pro v1.23.0 now on my Win7 Pro 64bit rig:

The newest additions are the Clocks and Utilizations sections for the CPU, and note that my Smart-UPS (connected via USB) is also displayed.

This screenshot is scrolled down, the top sections contain the temp/voltages/fan-speed info for my motherboard.

The only difference between the free version HWMonitor and for-fee HWMonitor Pro is pro allows you to record graphs of the values while you monitor.

PC GAMING - Fallout 4

I just realized I posted about the 'Song From Fallout Fan Word' which is Fallout 4 but have not posted in general about Fallout 4.

Here's my take on Fallout 4: OUTSTANDING

I've been playing for over 320 game-days, several new-games since 11/11/2015.  The game takes place in the "Commonwealth" aka Greater Boston area.



Review from IGN:

Excerpt

Most of the way this huge roleplaying-shooter game works is carried over from its excellent predecessors, Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas.  It is the Skyrim to Fallout 3’s Oblivion, if you will – it iterates on the previous game’s already amazing systems, and it’s similarly dense with locations to explore, genuinely creepy monsters to fight, and superbly engrossing post-nuclear atmosphere that blends unsettling gore and death with dark comedy.  After more than 55 hours played I may have seen an ending, yet I feel like I’ve only begun to explore its extraordinary world; from the look of it, I’ll easily be able to spend another 100 happy hours here and still see new and exciting things.

A story that begins as a basic search for your lost family evolves into something much more complex and morally nuanced.  Like in Fallout: New Vegas, we’re drawn into a struggle between several groups competing for control of the region, and deciding which of their imperfect post-apocalyptic philosophies to align with made me pause to consider how I wanted events to play out.  Even the highly questionable Institute has a tempting reason to side with them, and turning away from them in my playthrough wasn’t as clear-cut a choice as I’d expected.  I was impressed by the sympathy shown toward the villains, too - even the most irredeemable murderer is explored and given a trace of humanity.

There was a BIG problem.  The initial version downloaded from Steam has a restrictive screen resolution, would not display in my native 1280x1024.  Note I said "was."  Found fixes for this problem via Google, see below.

Also, there's no "Data" option in the Launch Dialog, so you cannot easily add MODS, but this is a minor problem for me.

The biggest feature of Fallout 4 that I really like is crafting.  With the proper Perks, you can craft/upgrade any weapon or armor you have, as long as you have the proper Crafting Items.  There's even an Crafting Item List online.

Fallout 4 is a big improvement of the Fallout series.


How to correct display resolution:

1)   Find C:\Users\[name]\Documents\My Games\Fallout4\ Fallout4Prefs.ini and edit the following entries to read...

• bTopMostWindow=0
• bMaximizeWindow=0
• bBorderless=1
• bFull Screen=1
• iSize H=1024
• iSize W=1280

2)   Get “Fallout 4 1280x1024 HUD Fixes” MOD and copy contents to your game folder, example C:\Steam\SteamApps\common\Fallout 4\Data\  (note that this MOD has no .esp file, it modifies scripts)  From MOD readme.....

   1.   Copy Data folder contents into your Fallout 4 Data directory

   2.   Edit \My Documents\My games\Fallout 4\Fallout4.ini

   - Find sResourceDataDirsFinal=STRINGS\,
   - Change it to:  sResourceDataDirsFinal=STRINGS\, INTERFACE\

   - ADD under [Interface] section

• fLockPositionY=100.0000
• fUIPowerArmorGeometry_TranslateZ=-18.5000
• fUIPowerArmorGeometry_TranslateY=460.0000

How to skip intro when loading game.

First go to C:\Users\[name]\Documents\My Games\Fallout4\ and open up Fallout4.ini and under [General] ADD:

• SIntroSequence=1
• fChancesToPlayAlternateIntro=0
• uMainMenuDelayBeforeAllowSkip=1

Now you should have no more pesky long intro video, key [Space] to get the game Load Menu.