How To Enable Coolbits On Ubuntu 24.04 Terminal

Dianna Russini

3 min read

·

Apr 05, 2025

47

Share

How To Enable Coolbits on Ubuntu 24.04 Terminal: A Comprehensive Guide

Enabling Coolbits in Ubuntu 24.04 offers access to additional graphics card options, but it's crucial to understand the potential risks involved before proceeding. This guide provides a step-by-step process, emphasizing safety and clarity.

Understanding Coolbits

Coolbits is not a standard Ubuntu feature; it's a collection of undocumented NVIDIA driver options. Enabling them exposes advanced settings within the NVIDIA X Server Settings, allowing for tweaks that can improve performance or enable specific features. However, using these options incorrectly can lead to system instability or even hardware damage. Proceed with caution and only enable options you fully understand.

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

• An NVIDIA graphics card: Coolbits only works with NVIDIA GPUs.
• The NVIDIA driver installed: Check your driver installation using nvidia-smi. If it's not installed, follow the official NVIDIA Linux driver installation instructions (available online via search engines – note that I cannot provide direct links).
• Terminal access: You'll need a terminal window to execute commands.

Enabling Coolbits: Step-by-Step

This process involves modifying configuration files. Always back up your system before making any changes. You can create a backup of your xorg.conf file (if it exists) using a command like cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.bak.

1. Open the terminal: Press Ctrl + Alt + T.

2. Access the NVIDIA X Server Settings: You'll need to use the nvidia-xconfig command. If it isn't already installed, install it using sudo apt install nvidia-xconfig. Then run:

   sudo nvidia-xconfig
   

3. Edit the xorg.conf file (if necessary): The nvidia-xconfig command might create or modify the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file. If it does create this file, you may not need to do step 4. If this file exists already, you might need to add the Coolbits option manually in step 4.

4. Add the Coolbits option (if needed): Open the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file using a text editor with root privileges:

   sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf
   

   Locate the "Device" section related to your NVIDIA card. Within this section, add the following line, replacing NUMBER with the desired Coolbits value (see the explanation below):

   Option "Coolbits" "NUMBER"
   

   Choosing the Right Coolbits Number:

   • Coolbits 1: Enables the ability to change the fan speed.
   • Coolbits 2: Enables overclocking options and allows for more control over power settings.
   • Coolbits 3: Enables both Coolbits 1 and 2 options. Use caution with this option.
   • Coolbits 8: Enables advanced power management options.
   • Coolbits 16: Provides additional information about your hardware.

5. Save and close the file: Press Ctrl + X, then Y, and then Enter to save and exit nano.

6. Restart your system: This is crucial for the changes to take effect. You can reboot using the command sudo reboot or the graphical option through your system's menu.

Verifying Coolbits Activation

After restarting, open the NVIDIA X Server Settings (usually accessible through your desktop's display settings). You should now see additional options related to fan control, overclocking, or power management, depending on the Coolbits value you selected.

Important Considerations and Potential Risks

• System Instability: Incorrect Coolbits settings can lead to system crashes or glitches.
• Hardware Damage: Overclocking improperly can damage your graphics card.
• Undocumented Options: These options lack official support, so solutions to problems might be scarce.

This guide provides a comprehensive overview. Remember, enabling Coolbits is at your own risk. Always proceed cautiously and back up your system before making any changes. If unsure, consult online forums for additional information and community support.