Service Management

To automate the application of your settings, intel-undervolt can be integrated with systemd, OpenRC, or elogind. This requires enabling the respective features during the configure step of the installation.

Systemd

If installed with --enable-systemd, two service files are provided.

intel-undervolt.service

  • Type: oneshot
  • Action: Runs intel-undervolt apply once.
  • Triggers: Starts at boot and after the system resumes from suspend or hibernation.
  • Use Case: Ideal for applying static settings that do not need to be periodically refreshed. This is the most common service to use if you are only doing simple undervolting.

To enable and start this service: 

sudo systemctl enable --now intel-undervolt.service

intel-undervolt-loop.service

  • Type: simple
  • Action: Runs intel-undervolt daemon.
  • Use Case: Use this service if you need the features of daemon mode, such as:
    • Dynamic HWP hint switching (hwphint).
    • Periodically re-applying settings because your BIOS/EC resets them.

Important: You should enable only one of these services, not both.

To enable and start the daemon service: 

sudo systemctl enable --now intel-undervolt-loop.service

To reload the daemon's configuration after editing /etc/intel-undervolt.conf: 

sudo systemctl reload intel-undervolt-loop.service

OpenRC

If installed with --enable-openrc, a service file for daemon mode is provided.

  • Service: intel-undervolt-loop
  • Action: Runs intel-undervolt daemon.
  • Use Case: Same as the systemd intel-undervolt-loop.service.

To enable and start the service: 

sudo rc-update add intel-undervolt-loop default
sudo rc-service intel-undervolt-loop start

Elogind

If installed with --enable-elogind, a system sleep script is placed at (eloginddir)/system-sleep/50-intel-undervolt.

  • Action: Runs intel-undervolt apply --trigger when the system resumes from sleep.
  • Activation: This script is only active if enable yes is set in /etc/intel-undervolt.conf.
  • Use Case: This provides a simple way to re-apply settings on resume without needing a full systemd service. It can be used alongside a boot-time script or service.