auto-cpufreq — Automatic CPU Speed and Power Optimiser for Linux

Introduction

auto-cpufreq is a Linux daemon that automatically manages CPU frequency scaling and turbo boost behaviour based on real-time system load and power source. It replaces the need for manual governor tuning, delivering longer battery life on laptops while maintaining performance when plugged in.

What auto-cpufreq Does

• Monitors CPU load and switches between power-saving and performance governors
• Enables or disables turbo boost dynamically based on workload intensity
• Distinguishes between battery and AC power to apply different profiles
• Provides a live monitor mode for observing decisions without applying changes
• Logs all frequency and governor changes for later analysis

Architecture Overview

auto-cpufreq runs as a systemd service that polls CPU utilisation and power source status at regular intervals. Based on configurable thresholds, it writes to sysfs entries that control the cpufreq governor, energy performance preference, and turbo boost state. The logic is implemented in Python and uses psutil for cross-platform system data collection.

Self-Hosting & Configuration

• Install via the installer script, snap, or AUR on Arch-based distributions
• The daemon installs as a systemd unit: systemctl status auto-cpufreq
• Customise behaviour in /etc/auto-cpufreq.conf with per-profile governor and turbo settings
• Use --monitor mode before --install to preview decisions
• Works alongside thermald but conflicts with TLP; disable TLP if switching

Key Features

• Fully automatic: no manual governor or frequency configuration needed
• Load-aware turbo boost management extends battery life significantly
• Separate profiles for battery and AC power
• Live monitoring mode for transparent decision visibility
• Supports both Intel and AMD processors on modern kernels

Comparison with Similar Tools

• TLP — static rule-based power management; auto-cpufreq adjusts dynamically to load
• cpupower — manual governor control; auto-cpufreq automates the selection
• thermald — Intel thermal management daemon; can run alongside auto-cpufreq
• power-profiles-daemon — GNOME/KDE power profiles; auto-cpufreq is more granular
• cpufrequtils — low-level frequency utilities; auto-cpufreq wraps them with intelligence

FAQ

Q: Does it work with AMD processors? A: Yes. It supports both Intel and AMD CPUs using the kernel's cpufreq subsystem.

Q: Can it coexist with TLP? A: No. Both tools manage CPU frequency governors and will conflict. Use one or the other.

Q: How much battery life does it save? A: Results vary by hardware. Users commonly report 20-40% improvement on laptops.

Q: Does it affect performance during heavy workloads? A: No. It detects high CPU load and switches to performance mode with turbo boost enabled.

Sources

• https://github.com/AdnanHodzic/auto-cpufreq
• https://github.com/AdnanHodzic/auto-cpufreq#readme