FunOS

FunOS, like other Linux distributions based on Ubuntu, supports CPU frequency scaling, which allows the system to adjust the processor’s speed dynamically. This helps balance performance and power consumption based on your needs — especially useful whether you’re running on a desktop, laptop, or battery-powered device.

In this guide, you’ll learn what CPU power modes are, how to check and change them on FunOS, and how to make your chosen setting persist after reboot.

What Is CPU Power Mode?

In Linux, “power mode” typically refers to the CPU frequency scaling governor. A governor is a kernel-level policy that determines how the CPU frequency is adjusted in response to system load.

Each governor has its own strategy:

Governor	Description
performance	Keeps the CPU at its highest frequency at all times. Best for maximum performance.
powersave	Keeps the CPU at its lowest frequency, saving power.
ondemand	Increases frequency when load increases, then quickly drops back down.
conservative	Like ondemand, but scales up/down more slowly, saving more power.
schedutil	Uses the CPU scheduler to make fast scaling decisions. It’s the default in most modern systems.
userspace	Allows manual control of the CPU frequency by users or programs.

How to Set CPU Power Mode on FunOS

Step 1: Install cpufrequtils

cpufrequtils is a lightweight command-line utility to manage CPU frequency scaling.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install cpufrequtils

Step 2: Enable the cpufrequtils Service

This ensures your power mode setting can be automatically applied at boot.

sudo systemctl enable cpufrequtils

Step 3: Display Available Power Modes

To see which governors your CPU supports, run:

cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_available_governors

Example Output:

bustami@komputek:~$ cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_available_governors
conservative ondemand userspace powersave performance schedutil

These are the available power modes (governors) for your CPU.

Step 4: Check the Current Power Mode

To see which governor is currently active:

cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_governor

This will output something like:

schedutil

Step 5: Set a Power Mode

To change the power mode (for example, to performance):

sudo cpufreq-set -g performance

This change is immediate, but it is temporary — it will revert after reboot unless you make it persistent.

Step 6: Make Power Mode Persistent (Optional)

To apply the power mode automatically every time the system boots:

1. Open the config file with a text editor:

sudo mousepad /etc/default/cpufrequtils

2. Add this line:

GOVERNOR="performance"

3. Save and close the file.

This ensures cpufrequtils will apply the performance governor at startup.

Notes: How to Return to Default

If you want to go back to the default system governor (usually schedutil):

1. Disable the cpufrequtils service:

sudo systemctl disable cpufrequtils

2. Reboot your system:

sudo reboot

After reboot, the system will revert to its default CPU power management behavior.

Conclusion

Setting the CPU power mode in FunOS allows you to tailor your system for performance or power efficiency, depending on your needs. With the help of cpufrequtils, you can:

• View available power modes (governors)
• Switch between them instantly
• Optionally make your preferred mode persistent across reboots

Whether you’re optimizing for speed or battery life, FunOS gives you full control over CPU power management through simple, accessible tools.