SimpleDeckyTDP
A Decky Loader plugin for Linux handheld PCs to control TDP, power governors, and GPU settings per game.
What is SimpleDeckyTDP?
SimpleDeckyTDP is a Decky Loader plugin for Linux-based PC handhelds that allows users to control thermal design power (TDP), CPU/GPU settings, and power governors on a per-game basis. It solves the problem of inefficient power management on devices like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally by providing fine-grained controls to balance performance and battery life.
Linux handheld PC users (e.g., Steam Deck, ROG Ally, Legion Go owners) who want to customize power settings for individual games and system states via the Decky Loader interface.
Developers choose SimpleDeckyTDP for its deep integration with specific handheld hardware, per-game profile support, and active compatibility with popular Linux gaming distributions like SteamOS, ChimeraOS, and Bazzite.
Overview
Decky TDP plugin for PC handhelds + Linux
Use Cases
Best For
- Optimizing battery life on Steam Deck during long gaming sessions
- Creating custom TDP profiles for demanding games on ROG Ally
- Disabling CPU boost on AMD handhelds to reduce excessive power draw
- Managing GPU frequency and SMT settings for performance tuning
- Setting battery charge limits on ROG Ally to extend battery health
- Controlling TDP on Legion Go via WMI with secure boot enabled
Not Ideal For
- Users with Nvidia or discrete GPU systems, as it's designed only for APUs
- Casual gamers who want a plug-and-play solution without installing Decky Loader or using terminal commands
- Developers on untested Linux distributions or non-Linux operating systems like Windows
- Projects requiring stable, full-featured Intel support, since it's experimental and a work in progress
Pros & Cons
Pros
Enables creation of custom TDP limits for individual games and separate AC vs. battery profiles, allowing precise optimization directly from the Decky Loader interface, as detailed in the features section.
Uses WMI calls for devices like ROG Ally and Legion Go to control TDP with secure boot enabled, and bundles ryzenadj for AMD systems, ensuring compatibility with specific handheld hardware as noted in the README.
Offers granular settings for CPU boost, SMT, GPU frequency (AMD only), and power governors, giving users fine-tuned performance management, with warnings and recommendations for devices like the ROG Ally.
Includes detailed troubleshooting guides for common issues on Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and Legion Go, with community-driven solutions and update scripts to fix problems, as seen in the troubleshooting section.
Cons
Intel compatibility is limited to the intel_pstate scaling driver and described as a work in progress, making it unreliable for Intel-based devices and lacking full feature parity, especially in the desktop app.
The experimental desktop version lacks key features like per-game profiles and full AC profile support, reducing its utility for non-Decky Loader users, as admitted in the advanced configuration section.
Requires Decky Loader installation, terminal commands for updates, and potential kernel parameter adjustments (e.g., iomem=relaxed), which can be complex and prone to buggy behavior after updates, as noted in troubleshooting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Projects
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PowerToolsMoved to
ShareDeckCommunity database of Steam Deck performance settings for games
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