nvuv

CLI tool for undervolting (indirect) and overclocking NVIDIA gpu on Linux

Install

• GH releases
• AUR https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/nvuv

Quick start

Tip

nvuv -h

First check your GPU specs

> nvuv get
power limit: 250W (default: 250W, range: 175..250W)
gpu clock range: 200..3000MHz
memory clock range: 400..15000MHz
gpu clock offset: 0MHz (-1000..1000)
memory clock offset: 0MHz (-2000..6000)

# by P-states
> nvuv ps

# query a given P-states
> nvuv get 0
> nvuv ps 0

# print general gpu(s) info
> nvuv gpu

Tip

Use -i GPU_INDEX to select a specific GPU if you have multiple

Then tune - root required

# Set power limit to 175 W
> sudo nvuv set -w 175

# Lock gpu clock between 200..2400 MHz
> sudo nvuv set -g 200..2400
# If needed lock memory clock with `-m`

# Set gpu/memory clock offset to +200/+500 MHz (support negative)
> sudo nvuv set -G 200 -M 500

To reset to default - root required

> sudo nvuv reset -A

Important

Settings changes do not survive reboot/resume or driver reload.
For this, a systemd service is provided to apply a config automatically (see below).

nvuv can apply settings from a config file, default is /etc/nvuv/nvuv.toml.
Edit the file to set desired settings:

# Comment any property to keep the default

[[gpu]]
power_limit = 175 # W
gpu_offset = 200 # MHz
mem_offset = 500

[gpu.gpu_clocks.locked]
# Comment min value to use the lowest default freq
min = 200 # MHz
max = 2400

# To lock memory clock uncomment
# [gpu.mem_clocks.locked]
# min = 123
# max = 1234

# Reset clocks to default value
# Useful for switching between different configs for different use cases
# [gpu.gpu_clocks]
# reset = 1
# [gpu.mem_clocks]
# reset = 1

# If multi GPUs add more section as needed
# [[gpu]]
# …

Tip

Run nvuv cfg to check the config is valid Use --config /path/to/config.toml to specify a custom config file

To apply the config immediately - root required

> sudo nvuv applycfg

Run as a systemd service

To apply the config at startup and after resume/driver reload, enable the provided systemd service:

sudo systemctl enable --now nvuv.service

If needed, to use a custom file, override the service

ExecStart=/usr/bin/nvuv applycfg --config /path/to/config.toml

Implementation details

nvuv is a thin wrapper around NVIDIA's NVML library

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NVIDIA undervolt on Linux?

NVIDIA does not expose direct voltage control on Linux (unlike on Windows and popular tools like MSI Afterburner).
Voltage-freq curve is locked at driver level.
We have to trick and use a technique: indirect undervolting

1. Lock the GPU's maximum clock speed (underclocking)
2. Apply a positive clock offset (overclocking) to the locked range

Result: the GPU runs at (roughly) the same performance with lower voltage and power draw, reducing temp and fan noise

License

Apache License 2.0 WITH Commons-Clause-1.0

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trad' coded