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CoreCtrl

gitlab.com

Free plan Open source Linux
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Spec score 8.5 #2 of 19 in GPU Overclocking Software

What it is

CoreCtrl is a free, open-source GNU/Linux application for controlling hardware through profiles. Profiles can launch when an associated Linux or Windows application starts, then restore their settings when it ends. You can also activate a manual profile, which takes priority over automatic profiles; only one manual profile can be active at a time. The project describes its AMD GPU controls as full, covering fans, frequency, power, sensors, and hardware and software information. CPU support is more limited: it includes a frequency-scaling governor control, a package maximum-frequency sensor, and CPU package information. Automatic profiles need an executable binary name, so they cannot be tied to scripts or interpreted-language applications. The available controls depend on the Linux kernel version and hardware. Full AMD GPU control with the amdgpu driver requires a boot parameter and reboot. CoreCtrl is free, with no paid plans stated, and the project recommends installation through a distribution package manager. It is in maintenance mode, with development focused on fixes and upkeep rather than new features or hardware support.

Spec sheet

What it does
CoreCtrl is a GNU/Linux hardware-control utility that applies settings through reusable application profiles.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gitlab.com
Purpose
CoreCtrl is a free and open source GNU/Linux application for controlling computer hardware with application profiles.Read 30 Sep 2026 · gitlab.com
Integrations
Automatic profiles recognize native Linux applications and Windows executables, including Wine-launched programs.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gitlab.com
Founded
2019Read 28 Sep 2026 · gitlab.com
AMD GPU controls
The project describes full AMD GPU controls, including fan, frequency, and power controls, sensors, and hardware and software information.Read 30 Sep 2026 · gitlab.com
AMD GPU support
The project states that it provides full AMD GPU controls for models up to the RX 9000 series, subject to driver and firmware limitations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gitlab.com
Application profiles
Profiles can automatically configure hardware when a program launches, including Windows programs run on Linux.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gitlab.com
Application support
Profiles can be associated with Linux and Windows applications.Read 30 Sep 2026 · gitlab.com
Automatic profiles
A profile can activate automatically when its associated application launches and its settings are restored when the application ends.Read 30 Sep 2026 · gitlab.com
Command line
The project exposes command-line options for activating and deactivating manual profiles, logging commands and logging the profile stack.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gitlab.com
CPU controls
CoreCtrl provides basic CPU controls rather than the full range of GPU controls.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gitlab.com
Documentation
Documentation is provided through GitLab wiki pages covering installation, setup, profiles, dependencies and known issues.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gitlab.com
Fan control
RX 7000 systems gained automatic and curve fan controls, while fan-stop controls require Linux 6.13 or later.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gitlab.com
Full-control setup
Full amdgpu control requires adding amdgpu.ppfeaturemask=0xffffffff to the bootloader configuration and rebooting.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gitlab.com
GPU setup requirement
The setup page says full AMD GPU control with the amdgpu driver requires the boot parameter amdgpu.ppfeaturemask=0xffffffff and a reboot.Read 30 Sep 2026 · gitlab.com
GPU tuning
The changelog documents GPU frequency, voltage, power-limit, power-profile and fan controls, with feature availability dependent on GPU and kernel support.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gitlab.com
Hardware limits
The exposed functionality depends on the Linux kernel version and available hardware.Read 30 Sep 2026 · gitlab.com
Installation
Official instructions list packages or installation paths for Arch Linux, Fedora, Gentoo, openSUSE, Debian and Ubuntu, plus source builds for other systems.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gitlab.com
Latest dated release
CoreCtrl 1.5.2 was released on 2025-09-05 to fix compilation with custom Polkit policy-file install directories.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gitlab.com
Licence
CoreCtrl source files are licensed under the GNU General Public License; bundled third-party components retain their own licences.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gitlab.com
Limit: AMD-only
MusaBase says CoreCtrl is designed for AMD GPUs using the amdgpu driver and does not support NVIDIA cards.Read 15 Oct 2026 · musabase.com
Limit: kernel parameter setup
MusaBase reports that advanced overclocking and voltage controls remain hidden until the amdgpu.ppfeaturemask boot parameter is added and the system is rebooted.Read 15 Oct 2026 · musabase.com
Limit: known driver issues
The project's known-issues history records unreliable settings on RX 7000 hardware, crashes during performance-mode switching and AMD driver-quality cautions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gitlab.com
Limit: narrow audience
Diolinux concluded that the software is powerful but mainly useful to users who specifically need Linux hardware tuning.Read 15 Oct 2026 · diolinux.com.br
Limit: no in-game overlay
MusaBase states that CoreCtrl handles hardware tuning but does not provide an in-game performance overlay, so it pairs the tool with MangoHud.Read 15 Oct 2026 · musabase.com
Limit: privilege configuration
MusaBase explains that passwordless startup requires both autostart configuration and a matching Polkit rule.Read 15 Oct 2026 · musabase.com
Maintenance status
The maintainers state that the project is in maintenance mode, with future work limited to bug fixes and maintenance rather than new features or hardware support.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gitlab.com
Maker identity
GitLab activity identifies Juan Palacios as the project author and maintainer.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gitlab.com
Manual profiles
Manual profiles can partially or completely override global and per-application settings and can be toggled from the tray, GUI or command line.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gitlab.com
Praise: CPU governor controls
Diolinux documented selectable CPU governor modes such as ondemand, powersave and performance.Read 15 Oct 2026 · diolinux.com.br
Praise: GPU control
Forbes described CoreCtrl as a free open-source utility giving precise AMD Radeon control with application-triggered clock, power and fan profiles.Read 15 Oct 2026 · forbes.com
Praise: hardware information
Diolinux reported that the System section shows kernel, Mesa, BIOS, driver, VRAM, OpenGL, Vulkan and CPU details.Read 15 Oct 2026 · diolinux.com.br
Praise: interface
Forbes said the interface resembles AMD's Windows utility, which can make it more familiar to users moving from Windows.Read 15 Oct 2026 · forbes.com
Praise: monitoring
Forbes praised the built-in real-time graphs for CPU and GPU temperatures, fan speed and power consumption.Read 15 Oct 2026 · forbes.com
Praise: Windows-app support
Forbes highlighted that profiles can also apply to Windows applications running on Linux.Read 15 Oct 2026 · forbes.com
Profile limits
Only one manual profile can be active at a time, and automatic profiles require a binary executable name; scripts and interpreted languages are unsupported.Read 30 Sep 2026 · gitlab.com
Project creation
The GitLab project was created on June 19, 2019.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gitlab.com
RX 9000 support
RX 9000 systems gained frequency-offset control requiring Linux 6.14 or later.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gitlab.com
Security and permissions
CoreCtrl uses a helper with root privileges, and its setup documentation explains that Polkit authorization can avoid repeated password prompts.Read 30 Sep 2026 · gitlab.com
Security packaging guidance
The project warns that some distribution packages are unofficial and advises users to use extra caution or build from source.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gitlab.com
Sensors
The application includes CPU usage, GPU memory, GPU junction, GPU voltage, temperature, fan and power sensors, with graphs in the interface.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gitlab.com
Source build requirements
Current development builds require Qt 5.15 or Qt 6.8 components, Polkit, D-Bus, QuaZip, Botan, C++20, and CMake 3.22 or later.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gitlab.com
Supported AMD GPUs
The README says AMD GPUs are supported up to the RX 9000 series, with some series limited by unresolved driver or firmware issues.Read 30 Sep 2026 · gitlab.com

Plans and prices

CoreCtrl Free Free and open source GNU/Linux application · no paid plans stated Read 30 Sep 2026 · gitlab.com
CoreCtrl Free Free and open source · Linux desktop application · AMD GPU controls Read 15 Oct 2026 · gitlab.com

Every CoreCtrl plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free and open source.
  • AMD GPU fan, frequency, and power controls.
  • Profiles can activate and restore automatically.
  • Manual profiles override automatic settings.
  • Available for Linux.

Limits

  • Only one manual profile can be active.
  • Automatic profiles exclude scripts and interpreted languages.
  • Full amdgpu control requires a boot parameter and reboot.
  • Maintenance mode plans no new features or hardware support.

Who it suits

CoreCtrl suits Linux users who want application-linked hardware profiles, especially for AMD GPUs. It is less suited to users who need automatic profiles for scripts or interpreted-language applications, or new hardware support.

Verdict

CoreCtrl offers detailed AMD GPU controls and profile automation at no cost. Check its profile restrictions, setup requirement, and maintenance status against your needs.

Where Specifiction places it

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