How to use the command 'i7z' (with examples)

The i7z command is a utility specifically designed for Intel processors to provide real-time reporting of various operational metrics. This includes dynamic information about temperature, frequency, processor state, and more. However, i7z is limited to handling Intel’s i3, i5, and i7 series of processors. It works by monitoring the CPU states at the hardware level, providing valuable insights for system administrators, enthusiasts, and developers who need to monitor CPU performance and diagnose issues.

Use case 1: Start i7z in Superuser Mode

Code:

sudo i7z

Motivation:

Starting i7z in superuser mode is necessary because it requires elevated privileges to access the low-level system registers and hardware information that normal users can’t reach. The tool provides critical insights into the CPU’s status, including its temperature, current load, and power state. These metrics are crucial for anyone wanting to ensure their processor is performing optimally, detect overheating issues, or diagnose system performance bottlenecks.

Explanation:

• sudo: This command is used to execute the following command with superuser privileges, which is necessary for i7z to access the hardware-level information of the CPU.
• i7z: This is the command being run, invoking the i7z utility to start monitoring and providing feedback on the CPU states that it supports.

Example output:

When the command sudo i7z is executed, you might see an output like this:

Cpu speed from cpuinfo: 3300.000 MHz
Cpu speed from pstate: 3300.000 MHz
Cpu0  States: 0 MHz: 1600  C0: 2.5%  C1: 12.5%  C3: 1.2%  C6: 85.0%
Cpu1  States: 0 MHz: 1600  C0: 3.5%  C1: 10.5%  C3: 2.2%  C6: 83.8%
...

This output gives you a real-time account of each CPU core’s frequency, how much time it’s spending in different states (C0, C1, C3, C6), and allows you to monitor how efficiently your CPU is operating.