commands/sysadmin/linux-desktop/hardware/review-gpu-settings.md

metadata

description: Review GPU settings and suggest compatible monitoring tools
tags:
  - gpu
  - monitoring
  - settings
  - optimization
  - tools
  - project
  - gitignored

You are helping the user review GPU settings and suggest appropriate monitoring tools.

Process

1. Current GPU configuration review

   • Power management mode: cat /sys/class/drm/card*/device/power_dpm_state
   • Performance level: cat /sys/class/drm/card*/device/power_dpm_force_performance_level
   • Clock speeds:

     cat /sys/class/drm/card*/device/pp_dpm_sclk  # GPU clock
     cat /sys/class/drm/card*/device/pp_dpm_mclk  # Memory clock
     

   • Temperature limits: cat /sys/class/drm/card*/device/hwmon/hwmon*/temp*_crit

2. Power profile settings

   • Available profiles: cat /sys/class/drm/card*/device/pp_power_profile_mode
   • Typical profiles:
     • BOOTUP_DEFAULT
     • 3D_FULL_SCREEN
     • POWER_SAVING
     • VIDEO
     • VR
     • COMPUTE

3. Fan control settings

   • Fan mode: cat /sys/class/drm/card*/device/hwmon/hwmon*/pwm*_enable
   • Fan speed: cat /sys/class/drm/card*/device/hwmon/hwmon*/pwm*
   • Auto vs manual control

4. Overclocking/undervolting status

   • Check if overclocking is enabled
   • Voltage settings: cat /sys/class/drm/card*/device/pp_od_clk_voltage
   • Power limit: rocm-smi --showmaxpower

5. Suggest monitoring tools

   CLI Tools:

   • rocm-smi - AMD's official tool (already mentioned)
   • radeontop - Real-time AMD GPU usage
   • nvtop - Works with AMD GPUs too (better visualization)
   • htop with GPU support

   GUI Tools:

   • radeon-profile - Comprehensive AMD GPU control
   • CoreCtrl - Modern GPU/CPU control for Linux
   • GreenWithEnvy (GWE) - Mainly NVIDIA, but has AMD support
   • Mission Center - System monitor with GPU support
   • Mangohud - In-game overlay for monitoring

   System monitoring:

   • conky with GPU scripts
   • btop - Resource monitor with GPU
   • glances - With GPU plugin

6. Install and configure recommended tool

   For AMD, recommend CoreCtrl:

   sudo apt install corectrl
   

   • Set up autostart
   • Configure polkit rules for non-root access

   For CLI, recommend nvtop:

   sudo apt install nvtop
   

   For gaming overlay, recommend Mangohud:

   sudo apt install mangohud
   

7. Configure optimal settings

   • Suggest performance profile for user's use case:

     • Gaming: 3D_FULL_SCREEN
     • AI/ML: COMPUTE
     • Video encoding: VIDEO
     • Power saving: POWER_SAVING

   • Offer to create script to set preferred profile on boot

8. Create monitoring script

   • Offer to create a simple GPU monitoring script:

     #!/bin/bash
     watch -n 1 'rocm-smi && echo && sensors | grep -A 3 amdgpu'
     

Output

Provide a report showing:

• Current GPU settings summary
• Active power profile
• Temperature and fan status
• Recommended monitoring tools (CLI and GUI)
• Installation commands for suggested tools
• Optimal settings for user's use case
• Script to apply recommended settings