nvtop as a Linux alternative to NVIDIA FrameView
Updated
Our verdict
nvtop is not a direct replacement for NVIDIA FrameView for gamers who need in-game FPS and frame latency overlay. It excels at monitoring GPU utilization, temperature, memory, and per-process load in the terminal, making it useful for system-level debugging or headless setups. However, it lacks frame time measurement, FPS overlay, and Vulkan/OpenGL performance logging during gameplay. Users needing real-time gaming metrics should look to tools like MangoHud or radeontop instead. nvtop is best for Linux users focused on hardware monitoring, not frame analysis.
- License
- GPL-3.0
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 3.3.2
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Both monitor real-time GPU usage and memory consumption
- Display temperature, fan speed, and power draw (where supported)
- Support NVIDIA GPUs on Linux
- Provide per-process GPU activity visibility
- Run during gaming sessions to track backend performance
What is different
- nvtop lacks FPS counter and frame time measurement
- No on-screen overlay—runs only in terminal
- Does not log frame latency or system performance to file like FrameView
- No explicit support for Vulkan/OpenGL frame analysis
- Missing exportable performance reports for later review
Opening your NVIDIA FrameView files
nvtop does not support opening or exporting files in NVIDIA FrameView's format. It has no built-in logging or export feature for performance data, so direct file compatibility is not possible. Users needing logs must implement external scripting. FrameView's detailed system performance reports cannot be replicated or imported by nvtop.
Switching from NVIDIA FrameView to nvtop, step by step
- Install nvtop via your package manager (e.g., sudo apt install nvtop on Ubuntu)
- Launch nvtop in a terminal before starting your game
- Use keyboard shortcuts to sort by GPU usage, memory, or temperature
- Monitor per-process load to identify GPU hogs
- Pair with MangoHud if you need FPS and frame time overlay
Key features of nvtop
- Real-time GPU utilization and memory usage monitoring
- Temperature, power draw, and fan speed display
- Per-process GPU usage breakdown
- Support for multiple GPUs in a single view
- Keyboard-driven navigation and sorting
- Lightweight terminal interface with low CPU overhead
- Customizable display options for specific metrics
How to install nvtop on Linux
sudo apt install nvtopsudo apt install nvtopsudo dnf install nvtopsudo pacman -S nvtopsudo zypper install nvtopFrequently asked questions
Can nvtop show FPS in games like FrameView?
No, nvtop does not display FPS or frame timing. Use MangoHud or similar tools alongside it for that.
Does nvtop support NVIDIA GPUs on Linux?
Yes, it supports NVIDIA GPUs using the nvidia-smi interface, showing utilization, temp, and memory.
Can I log data from nvtop for later analysis?
Not directly—nvtop has no built-in logging. You’d need to script output capture manually.