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fancontrolLinux vs ASUS Armoury CrateWindows

fancontrol as a Linux alternative to ASUS Armoury Crate

Updated

Our verdict

fancontrol is a partial replacement for ASUS Armoury Crate, but only for fan control. It handles temperature-based fan speed adjustments well and supports custom curves via lm-sensors, making it solid for manual fan management on Linux. However, it does not control RGB lighting or switch performance modes—two core features of Armoury Crate. If your main need is fan automation and you're using ASUS or generic hardware, fancontrol works. But gamers wanting full system control including RGB and power profiles will need additional tools.

Feature parity50%
License
GPL-3.0-only
Price
Free
Latest version
26.01 (January 24, 2026)
Rating
—
fancontrol screenshot
Fan Control screenshot

What works the same

  • Both adjust fan speeds based on system temperatures
  • Support customizable fan curves and thresholds
  • Monitor real-time sensor data like temperatures and RPM
  • Allow saving and loading of configurations
  • Work with hardware-specific sensors via kernel modules

What is different

  • fancontrol does not support RGB lighting control
  • No integration with performance mode switching (e.g., Silent, Performance)
  • ASUS Armoury Crate offers a unified GUI for all functions; fancontrol focuses only on fans
  • fancontrol requires manual configuration and udev rules, unlike the plug-and-play Windows tool

Opening your ASUS Armoury Crate files

There is no known way to import or open ASUS Armoury Crate configuration files in fancontrol. The two programs use entirely different formats and systems. fancontrol saves its own configuration files locally, and no tools exist to convert Armoury Crate profiles. Users must manually recreate fan curves based on their previous settings.

Switching from ASUS Armoury Crate to fancontrol, step by step

  1. Install lm-sensors and run 'sensors-detect' to enable hardware monitoring
  2. Install fancontrol via package manager or Flathub
  3. Add required udev rules as specified on the GitHub page
  4. Launch fancontrol and configure fan behaviors using detected sensors
  5. Save your configuration under a named profile for reuse

Key features of fancontrol

  • Automatically adjusts fan speed based on sensor readings
  • Supports PWM and voltage-controlled fans
  • Real-time display of temperature and fan speeds
  • Customizable control curves and thresholds
  • Saves multiple configurations
  • Integrates with lm-sensors for hardware monitoring
  • Configurable update intervals and logging

How to install fancontrol on Linux

Flatpak (Flathub)flatpak install flathub io.github.wiiznokes.fan-control

Frequently asked questions

Can fancontrol control my ASUS laptop's fans?

Only if the laptop exposes fan control via PWM and sensors are accessible through hwmon. Many ASUS laptops lock fan control in firmware, so results vary. Desktops and some ROG models work better.

Does fancontrol support RGB lighting like Armoury Crate?

No. fancontrol only manages fan speeds. For RGB lighting, you'd need separate tools like OpenRGB or asus-aura.

Is fancontrol safe to use?

Yes, if configured correctly. Setting fans too low can cause overheating. Always test under load and monitor temperatures. The tool respects hardware limits but doesn't enforce safety guards automatically.

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Is it a good replacement for ASUS Armoury Crate? 8