Conky as a Linux alternative to NVIDIA FrameView
Updated
Our verdict
Conky is not a direct replacement for NVIDIA FrameView for gamers needing real-time in-game overlays with frame latency and FPS metrics. While Conky can display system performance data like CPU and GPU usage, it lacks native support for Vulkan and OpenGL frame timing, in-game overlays, and precise FPS logging during gameplay. Advanced users can integrate external tools like MangoHud or vkmon via scripts to get closer to FrameView's functionality, but this requires manual setup. Conky suits users who want desktop-level system monitoring with customization, not real-time gaming performance analysis out of the box.
- License
- GPL-3.0
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 1.25.5
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Both can display real-time system performance metrics such as CPU and memory usage
- Support customization to show GPU-related information if configured manually
- Capable of logging system behavior over time
- Lightweight and run in the background with minimal overhead
- Highly configurable through text-based configuration files
What is different
- Conky does not support in-game overlays; FrameView does
- No native FPS counter or frame time measurement in Conky
- Conky lacks support for Vulkan and OpenGL performance tracking by default
- FrameView provides structured performance logging; Conky requires external tools for equivalent detail
- Conky runs on the desktop, not overlaid on full-screen games
Opening your NVIDIA FrameView files
Conky does not support NVIDIA FrameView file formats, and there is no known method to import or export data between the two. FrameView logs performance data in its own structured format, while Conky does not log data by default unless explicitly configured with external scripts. Users migrating would need to manually set up logging in Conky using tools like nvidia-smi or glxinfo, and even then, the data format and depth will differ significantly.
Switching from NVIDIA FrameView to Conky, step by step
- Install Conky from your distribution's repository (e.g.,
sudo apt install conkyon Debian/Ubuntu) - Use
nvidia-smior custom scripts to pull GPU usage and temperature data - Integrate MangoHud or vkmon for in-game FPS and frame time monitoring
- Configure Conky to display script output via ~/.conkyrc
- Position Conky on a corner of the screen for visibility during gaming
Key features of Conky
- Configurable via plain text file
- Displays CPU, memory, disk, network, and custom scripts
- Supports multiple instances on different desktops
- Can show weather, news, or system logs
- Extremely lightweight (few MBs)
- Runs on X11 and Wayland
How to install Conky on Linux
sudo apt install conkysudo apt install conkysudo dnf install conkysudo pacman -S conkysudo zypper install conkyFrequently asked questions
Can Conky show FPS in games like FrameView does?
No, not by default. You need to use MangoHud or a similar tool alongside Conky to display FPS during games.
Does Conky support NVIDIA GPU monitoring?
Yes, but only through external commands like nvidia-smi, which you must integrate manually into Conky's config.
Is Conky suitable for performance testing in Linux games?
Only as a supplementary tool. For accurate frame latency and FPS data, use vkmon or MangoHud instead.