CoreCtrl vs nvuv

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.

nvuv is a free Linux command-line utility for adjusting NVIDIA GPU power and clock behavior. It can set power limits, lock GPU or memory clock ranges, and apply offsets to either clock. On systems with several GPUs, the `-i GPU_INDEX` option chooses the device. The project describes nvuv as a thin wrapper around NVIDIA’s NVML library. Its indirect undervolting method locks the GPU’s maximum clock and applies a positive offset because direct voltage control is not exposed on Linux. The project says this can preserve roughly similar performance while lowering voltage and power draw, with possible reductions in temperature and fan noise. Settings may come from a TOML file, using `/etc/nvuv/nvuv.toml` by default. Applying, changing, or resetting settings requires root privileges. Changes do not survive reboot, resume, or driver reload unless the supplied systemd service reapplies them. That service can run at startup and after resume or driver reload. Downloads are linked through GitHub releases and an Arch User Repository package. nvuv uses Apache License 2.0 WITH Commons-Clause-1.0.