A lightweight, user-space orchestration tool for thermal and power management on Linux. It serves as a "ThrottleStop" alternative for Linux users, specifically tuned for Intel CPUs with Speed Shift (HWP) support or newer AMD processors.
This tool interfaces directly with the Linux kernel's sysfs to manage hardware power states. It interacts with the powercap (RAPL) subsystem to enforce physical power limits (PL1/PL2) and the cpufreq subsystem. It sets the scaling governor and fine-tunes the Energy Performance Preference (EPP) to achieve an optimal balance between thermals and performance.
| Setting | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| PL1 (Long Term) | 30W | Sustained power limit. Keeps temps ~75°C. |
| PL2 (Short Term) | 45W | Burst power limit for quick tasks/app launching. |
| Max Frequency | 4.0 GHz | Caps the top 400MHz to maximize efficiency. |
| EPP | 84 | "Balance Performance". Quick response, aggressive idle. |
| Governor | Powersave | Required for HWP/Speed Shift to function correctly. |
Before running this tool, study your CPU's specifications to determine safe PL1/PL2 values. Use lscpu or cpupower to check supported frequencies and governors. Study your system's thermal limits with stress tool to avoid overheating. Good starting points are often 60-70% of your CPU's TDP for PL1 and 90-100% for PL2.
The most cpu's power consumption occurs at high frequencies under load. By capping the max frequency slightly below the peak, you can often achieve significant thermal and power savings with minimal performance impact.
Remember to monitor temps and performance after applying new settings to ensure stability. A good thermal paste, VRM dissipation, proper airflow, and adequate cooling can make a significant difference in thermal management, so consider these factors as well. Clean your laptop's cooling system regularly to maintain optimal airflow.
If you have published the package to AUR:
yay -S auto-throttle
Or manually via this repo:
git clone https://github.com/ZauJulio/AutoThrottleSetup.git
cd AutoThrottleSetup
makepkg -si
- Download the latest
.debfile from the [link suspeito removido]. - Install using
dpkg:
sudo dpkg -i auto-throttle_1.0.0_amd64.deb
# If missing dependencies occur:
sudo apt-get install -f
- Download the latest
.rpmfile from the [link suspeito removido]. - Install using
rpm:
sudo rpm -ivh auto-throttle-1.0.0.x86_64.rpm
If you prefer not to use packages:
- Copy the script to bin:
sudo cp auto-throttle.sh /usr/local/bin/auto-throttle
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/auto-throttle
- Copy the config file:
sudo cp auto-throttle.conf /etc/auto-throttle.conf
- Setup Systemd service:
sudo cp auto-throttle.service /etc/systemd/system/
sudo systemctl enable --now auto-throttle.service
You do not need to edit the script code. All settings are managed in /etc/auto-throttle.conf.
- Open the configuration file:
sudo nano /etc/auto-throttle.conf
- Adjust the variables:
The file is commented with instructions. Key variables:
-
PL1_WATTS/PL2_WATTS: Your CPU Thermal Design Power limits. -
Example for Dell Ultrabooks: Set PL1 to 15, PL2 to 25.
-
MAX_FREQ_GHZ: Hard cap on CPU frequency (e.g., 4.0). Set to0to disable. -
EPP_INTEL: Energy Preference. -
84= Balanced Gaming (Recommended) -
170= Battery Saving -
TARGET_GOVERNOR: Keep aspowersavefor modern Intel CPUs (it enables Speed Shift). Useperformanceonly if you want max clocks at all times.
- Apply Changes: Restart the service to apply new settings immediately:
# Enable/Start service (if not already running)
sudo systemctl enable --now auto-throttle.service
# Restart to apply changes on the fly
sudo systemctl restart auto-throttleTo verify if settings are applied correctly, use the built-in Linux tools or this watch command:
watch -n 1 "echo '=== CPU Power ==='; sensors | grep -A 1 'Package id 0'; echo ''; echo '=== Clocks (MHz) ==='; grep 'MHz' /proc/cpuinfo | awk '{print \$4}' | head -n 8"
Note: You may need to install lm_sensors (sudo pacman -S lm_sensors or sudo apt install lm-sensors).
This tool manipulates hardware power registers. While the provided values are safe "limiting" techniques (which generally extend lifespan), using values outside of your hardware's specifications can lead to instability. Use at your own risk.
This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for details.