How to use the command 'liquidctl' (with examples)
Liquidctl is a command-line tool aimed at controlling liquid coolers in a computing system. With its comprehensive toolset, users can manage and customize various settings of their liquid cooling hardware, including initialization, fan speed setup, and real-time status monitoring. This command offers robust functionality, allowing enthusiasts and professionals to fine-tune their cooling systems for optimal performance and noise levels.
Use case 1: List available devices
Code:
liquidctl list
Motivation:
When managing your liquid cooling setup, it’s crucial first to identify which devices are available and supported by your system. The liquidctl list command provides a comprehensive list of all detectable liquid cooling devices connected to your setup. It’s an essential step for users who have multiple cooling peripherals or who want to ensure their device is correctly identified before performing further operations.
Explanation:
list: This argument directs liquidctl to scan the system for any liquid cooling devices and output a list with details about each device, such as its model and vendor.
Example output:
Device #0: Corsair Hydro Series 1
Device #1: NZXT Kraken X62
Use case 2: Initialize all supported devices
Code:
sudo liquidctl initialize all
Motivation:
Initialization is an important step to prepare your devices for control and monitoring. By initializing all supported devices, you effectively ready your cooling peripherals for operation, ensuring that they start in a proper and stable state. This is particularly important after a system boot or restart where devices may not automatically be configured to their optimal operating settings.
Explanation:
sudo: This is a Unix command that stands for “superuser do.” It allows permitted users to execute a command as the superuser or another user, as specified by the security policy.initialize: This action tells liquidctl to prepare the devices for use.all: This argument indicates that the command should initialize all detected devices, ensuring that no part of your cooling setup is overlooked.
Example output:
Initializing Corsair Hydro Series 1 ... done.
Initializing NZXT Kraken X62 ... done.
Use case 3: Print the status of available liquid coolers
Code:
liquidctl status
Motivation:
Checking the status of your liquid coolers is a vital part of maintaining your system’s cooling performance. This command provides real-time updates on the current state of each connected cooling device, including metrics like temperatures, fan speeds, and pump speeds. Regularly monitoring these parameters can help prevent overheating, ensure efficient cooling, and extend the longevity of your hardware.
Explanation:
status: This command requests current operational information from each detected and supported liquid cooler on your system, allowing users to monitor performance details in real-time.
Example output:
Device #0: Corsair Hydro Series 1
Current temperature: 35°C
Fan speed: 1200 RPM
Pump speed: 2000 RPM
Device #1: NZXT Kraken X62
Current temperature: 34°C
Fan speed: 1100 RPM
Pump speed: 1900 RPM
Use case 4: Match a string in product name to pick a device and set its fan speed to 0% at 20°C, 50% at 50°C, and 100% at 70°C
Code:
liquidctl --match string set fan speed 20 0 50 50 70 100
Motivation:
Customizing fan speeds based on temperature thresholds is essential for balancing cooling performance and noise levels. This command allows for precise control over fan speeds by setting specific temperature-to-speed mappings. By using a string to match the product name, users can target a specific device when multiple are present, enabling fine-tuned performance for individual hardware pieces.
Explanation:
--match string: This option filters the devices by their product name, allowing users to target specific devices.set: This action modifies a device’s property.fan speed: Specifies that the modification will be related to the fan speed parameter.20 0 50 50 70 100: These pairs represent temperature and fan speed settings. For example, at 20°C, the fan speed will be 0%; at 50°C, it will be 50%; and at 70°C, it will peak at 100%.
Example output:
Setting fan speed of Device #1 (NZXT Kraken X62) to mapped values:
0% at 20°C, 50% at 50°C, 100% at 70°C.
Success: Fan speed adjusted.
Conclusion
Liquidctl provides a versatile and powerful set of options for controlling and customizing liquid coolers within a computing system. Whether you are listing available devices, initializing them for use, monitoring their status, or setting custom fan speed curves, liquidctl ensures that you have the tools to achieve an optimized and quiet cooling setup. With examples like those demonstrated above, users can confidently manage their cooling hardware for continued high performance.
