Fan Control vs Notebook FanControl

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.

Notebook FanControl (NBFC) is a free, open-source service for controlling notebook fans on Windows and Linux. Its configuration system adapts the service to many notebook models. Windows users run an installer, choose a notebook configuration, and apply it so NBFC can control the fans. Linux users build the software themselves, install its systemd service, and apply a notebook configuration; the project provides no pre-built Linux releases. Downloads are linked through GitHub releases and a Chocolatey package. The repository includes the GNU General Public License version 3. An FAQ points to a supported-notebook list and says a configuration for a similar model may work when yours is absent. The maintainer does not create individual configurations, so users may need to make one themselves. Some systems have conflicts with ImDisk Toolkit or HWiNFO. Nvidia Optimus notebooks may lose fan control while the dedicated GPU is active, and Linux Secure Boot can require disabling.