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PowerTools is a Steam Deck Plugin for power users

By - | Views: 60,552

Want to tweak more on your Steam Deck? You need some PowerTools. A new plugin for the Steam Deck Plugin Loader.

I was hoping to see something like this come along, but fair warning on this — anything you use like PowerTools is at your own risk, so if you screw up your device Valve likely won't help you out. I say this, because there's quite a few advanced tricks it can do and for most normal users, it won't really be needed.

Anyway, some of what PowerTools includes:

  • Enable and Disable CPU threads
  • Enable & Disable CPU boost
  • Set CPU frequency
  • Set GPU Power
  • Set Fan speed
  • Probably more I missed

How can someone create this? Pretty simple if you know a bit of programming and where to look, since the Steam Deck uses Linux (SteamOS) and so the majority of it is open source (apart from the Steam client).

One of the way I know some of this will be useful is for emulation especially. Some old games and systems can act a little funny with the immense (relatively speaking) power and core count compared with what old games are expecting. Just one small example.

See more on the GitHub page.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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About the author -
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
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21 comments
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dos May 3, 2022
QuoteHow can someone create this? Pretty simple if you know a bit of programming and where to look, since the Steam Deck uses Linux (SteamOS) and so the majority of it is open source (apart from the Steam client).
This part is actually in that closed Steam client though - but it's somewhat hackable anyway because it's using HTML and JavaScript :P
Liam Dawe May 3, 2022
Quoting: dos
QuoteHow can someone create this? Pretty simple if you know a bit of programming and where to look, since the Steam Deck uses Linux (SteamOS) and so the majority of it is open source (apart from the Steam client).
This part is actually in that closed Steam client though - but it's somewhat hackable anyway because it's using HTML and JavaScript :P
The comment was more referring to them having the ability to mess with the hardware like this.
McCarthee May 3, 2022
This is awesome. The Plugin Loader has exciting potential.
const May 3, 2022
Quoting: McCartheeThis is awesome. The Plugin Loader has exciting potential.

It does. Currently don't have time, but in a week of two, I'll see if I could create a plugin to view, post and potentially discuss configurations of currently running/viewed games. Not sure if plugin manager can already access info about running games, among other details, yet something like this seems so necessary to me. Still hope Valve will come up with a system for that :/


Last edited by const on 3 May 2022 at 6:59 pm UTC
kokoko3k May 3, 2022
I think this is overengineering through tools of questionable utility.
Liam Dawe May 3, 2022
Quoting: kokoko3kI think this is overengineering through tools of questionable utility.
…what? Kind of a weird statement to make blindly with no reasoning.
robvv May 3, 2022
Reminds me of the days of Power Toys for Windows :-)
TrainDoc May 4, 2022
It isn't PowerTools but I wanted to give ya'll a little sneak peak of what I've been working on and even working with NGnius on:



Last edited by TrainDoc on 4 May 2022 at 12:11 am UTC
kokoko3k May 4, 2022
Quoting: Liam Dawe
Quoting: kokoko3kI think this is overengineering through tools of questionable utility.
…what? Kind of a weird statement to make blindly with no reasoning.
I can't think an use I may have for it.
So I think it is not useful.
Why? 99% of the time you want your gpu or cpu to do things in little time, so that they can go to sleep faster and save power, it is commonly called "race to idle".
From what i see, this does the opposite.
Probably i'm not the kind of user this tool would target.


Last edited by kokoko3k on 4 May 2022 at 5:35 am UTC
MrBareBones May 4, 2022
Quoting: TrainDocIt isn't PowerTools but I wanted to give ya'll a little sneak peak of what I've been working on and even working with NGnius on:
Oh this is going to be absolutely spectacular to use once it's out even in an early state. Been asking for this as a feature since I got my hands on my Deck at the beginning of March, so I'm glad that someone is working on it. You and NGnius are doing a great service for this device with your plugins.
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