Microsoft Visual C++ Redist.

[LadyCrimson]

So I know some games need these things, and Steam tends to like to install them when needed. I'm curious if it's something I should try to keep updated, if there's a benefit to it, ala keeping up with video drivers. Like, I have Win7-64/SP1 and I think there's a C++ Redistr. for that, but under "installed programs" none of the ones listed seem to be that. Do y'all bother with it, or only install them if a game/program demands them?

 

I seem to have these:

 

...and the MS download site has these: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30679

I don't even know if I need the 64 C++ Redistrib....

[Humanoid]

I'd just try to suppress the natural OCD tendency to clear them out and leave them well enough alone. While one might assume the various entries to be cross- and backwards compatible, there's a risk that certain programs might expect a specific version of the libraries and throw a fit if it isn't present. Not disastrous, but it'd likely lead to reinstallation of the program that bundled it in the first place.

[kirottu]

I have 16 of those. 

[LadyCrimson]

I'd just try to suppress the natural OCD tendency to clear them out and leave them well enough alone. While one might assume the various entries to be cross- and backwards compatible, there's a risk that certain programs might expect a specific version of the libraries and throw a fit if it isn't present. Not disastrous, but it'd likely lead to reinstallation of the program that bundled it in the first place.

That's what I'm afraid of.

 

Reason I ask is because the Planet Explorer's alpha is running my GPU at 99 load the entire time. The game seems to run ok that way (GPU gets warm but not super abnormally so) but it doesn't seem like it should be doing that...and the game's not doing it for everyone, seems like. Someone else said they updated/installed the above and it helped. It's weird because even if turn AA/other settings off/low, the GPU load remains the same.

 

I'm not sure if installing those SP1 C++ files would actually overwrite the ones already there or just add to the list, either.

[Spider]

I usually clear out versions from the same year. So in the case of the image above, I'd have removed so I only have one 2008 redistributable, but kept both 2005 and 2010 (and x64 versions of each when applicable).

[LadyCrimson]

Hm. Interesting point.

 

Maybe the issue with the game is that I don't have a 64 one. They aren't clear whether that's necessary, altho they do say the O/S should be 64 to run the alpha, at the moment.

 

edit: the alpha explanation seems to be this: "OpenCL runs on the GPU which makes it not the same as other games. OpenCL is an enhanced version of C extended with attributes to permit parallel processing, which is something CPU are very bad at but GPU are very good at. The task at hand does not have to be gfx, it just needs to be vectorized kernel."

 

So heavy GPU load expected, just not quite this much.

[Gorgon]

Installer should automatically update redistributables as the final step, although sometimes it's manual and you quit rather than update DX and lo and behold C++ came after.

[Janmanden]

I was under the impression that all the redistributables were sort of complimentary to each other and I've heard that Visual C++ redistributables do not supersede each other so that means if you remove one that was included as a redistributable with the installation of a special game or application there is a probability that something won't work. I'd recommend keeping them unless you are done with those games or applications that originally installed those things.

[LadyCrimson]

Well, at least with Steam, if you uninstall something like that, Steam will just install it again for you.

 

Anyway, I did install the SP1/newer versions, and they did install as separate items vs. the old, so it does seem that they don't supersede each other. Which is good to know. ... didn't help my game issue, however. Ah well. I'll just play in a lower resolution/windowed till they optimize the game better.