CoreFreq vs Fan Control

CoreFreq is free Linux CPU-monitoring software with BIOS-like controls for 64-bit processors. It reads frequencies, ratios, performance counters, instructions per cycle, C-states, temperature, and documented core-voltage readings. The interface shows processor features, brand and architecture strings, plus a topology map including caches. Its driver exposes controls for Turbo Boost, power management, thermal limits, prefetchers, and hardware-controlled performance states. A daemon and command-line client provide monitoring views and JSON-encoded system information. Listed architectures include Intel and AMD families, Arm A64, RISC-V RV64, and PowerPC64 LE. Requirements include Linux kernel 3.3 or newer and GNU C Library. Installation can use source builds or packages for several distributions. The project is GPL-2.0 licensed and uses shared memory between its kernel module and user-space component. Some virtual machines may hide required registers. Driver signing is required when kernel signature verification is enabled. The interface renders best in ASCII or VT100 terminals.

Fan Control is free Windows software for configuring CPU, GPU, and case fans across supported motherboards, graphics cards, AIOs, and other hardware. It offers seven documented curve types: RPM mode, Linear, Graph, Mix, Trigger, Flat, Sync, and Auto. Users can calibrate controls and adjust response time, hysteresis, RPM avoid zones, step-up and step-down behavior, and fan start or stop logic. Multiple profiles can be saved, edited, and loaded, with guided setup on first launch. Custom sensors can average or combine readings, apply offsets, or read temperatures from files. Mix curves can combine inputs using maximum, minimum, average, sum, or subtraction. Community.NET plugins add temperature, speed, or control sensors, with integrations listed for HWInfo, Home Assistant, Thermaltake, Corsair, Aquacomputer, NZXT Kraken, Lian Li, and others. The backend mainly uses LibreHardwareMonitor. Windows 10 and 11 are supported, with portable, installer, Scoop, Winget, and Chocolatey options. The plan is free.