amdgpu-clocks vs PenguinBurner
amdgpu-clocks
github.comPenguinBurner
github.comSide by side
| Figure | amdgpu-clocks | PenguinBurner |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 0 |
| Spec score · GPU Overclocking Software | 8.2 (#4) | 6.7 (#17) |
| Distribution | The README instructs users to place the script in /usr/local/bin and run it with sudo; it does not list packaged downloads or a commercial pricing page. | Linux installation options include pip, Flatpak, Fedora COPR, Arch or CachyOS AUR, and Ubuntu PPA packages. |
| Purpose | A script for setting custom power states on recent AMD GPUs driven by the amdgpu Linux kernel driver. | PenguinBurner is an open-source Linux app for automatic NVIDIA GPU undervolting, overclocking, and per-game tuning. |
| Supported GPUs | The README says it should work with Polaris, Vega, Navi, and RDNA cards, while Vega GPUs in AMD APUs do not expose the required API. | The install guide lists NVIDIA RTX 30, RTX 40, and RTX 50 series cards as supported. |
Plans
In their own words
amdgpu-clocks
amdgpu-clocks is a free, GPL-2.0-licensed Linux script for setting custom power states on AMD GPUs that use the amdgpu kernel driver. Where the hardware exposes the controls, it can adjust GPU and memory clocks, voltages, power caps, performance levels, and power profiles. The project says it should work with Polaris, Vega, Navi, and RDNA cards, but Vega GPUs in AMD APUs lack the required API. It can manage multiple cards, with custom state files selected by card identifier or PCI address. Users define settings in files under /etc/default. Fine-grained control requires Radeon OverDrive to be enabled in the kernel. A systemd service can apply states at startup, and a resume script can reapply them after suspend. For RDNA 3 and newer, it can handle driver-exposed Zero RPM fan settings; these require Linux 6.13 or newer, and stop-temperature control is available only on RDNA 3. A restore option returns states to their initial defaults, except the power profile, which it sets to 0. The README directs installation to /usr/local/bin; the GitHub releases page lists no releases.
PenguinBurner
PenguinBurner is a free, open-source Linux application for tuning NVIDIA GPUs through automatic undervolting, overclocking, and per-game profiles. Auto-UV runs a managed Q2RTX benchmark and CUDA load, then finds and verifies stable voltage-frequency settings. Adaptive mode switches among saved Efficiency, Balanced, and Performance tiers to pursue a game's FPS target and reduce power use when headroom exists. Profiles work with Steam, Lutris, and Heroic, applying at launch and restoring the standing profile when a game exits. An overlay can display base FPS, frame-generation FPS, latency, clocks, power, temperatures, and the active tier. Manual voltage-frequency and fan-curve editors are included, along with a generated silent fan curve. The install guide lists NVIDIA RTX 30, 40, and 50 cards and requires the proprietary NVIDIA driver and CUDA. Linux installation options include pip, Flatpak, Fedora COPR, AUR, and Ubuntu PPA packages.