Change Refresh Rate Whenever Power Profile Switches with PowerDevil

Changing Refresh Rate Whenever Power Profile Switches in PowerDevil

When using a laptop with a variable refresh rate (VRR) monitor, you might want to change the refresh rate to 60Hz when switching to the "Power Save" power profile in PowerDevil. This article will provide a detailed guide on how to achieve this.

Understanding PowerDevil and Power Profiles

PowerDevil is a power management system for KDE that allows users to customize power-related settings based on their preferences. Power profiles are predefined sets of power management settings that can be easily switched depending on the user's needs. These profiles include "Power Save," "Balanced," and "Performance."

The Need to Change Refresh Rate

A variable refresh rate monitor can dynamically change its refresh rate to match the frame rate of the content being displayed. This results in a smoother and more responsive visual experience. However, a higher refresh rate can consume more power, which might not be ideal when using the "Power Save" power profile.

Changing Refresh Rate Based on Power Profile

To change the refresh rate whenever the power profile switches in PowerDevil, you'll need to use a combination of the kwriteconfig5 command and a custom script. Here's how to do it:

1. Create a custom script that will change the refresh rate based on the current power profile. You can use the following code as a starting point:

   #!/bin/bash
   
   # Get the current power profile
   profile=$(kwriteconfig5 --file powerdevilrc --group General --key PowerProfile)
   
   # Change the refresh rate based on the current power profile
   case $profile in
   "powersave")
   xrandr --output eDP-1 --mode 1920x1080 --rate 60
   ;;
   "balanced" | "performance")
   xrandr --output eDP-1 --mode 1920x1080 --rate 120
   ;;
   esac
   

   Make sure to replace "eDP-1" with the name of your display and adjust the resolution and refresh rate as needed.

2. Make the script executable by running the following command:

   chmod +x /path/to/script.sh
   

3. Create a new entry in PowerDevil's autostart settings to run the script whenever the power profile changes. You can do this by going to System Settings > Startup and Shutdown > Autostart and adding a new entry with the following command:

   /bin/bash -c "/path/to/script.sh"
   

• PowerDevil is a power management system for KDE that allows users to customize power-related settings based on their preferences.
• To change the refresh rate whenever the power profile switches in PowerDevil, you'll need to use a combination of the kwriteconfig5 command and a custom script.
• The custom script should get the current power profile and change the refresh rate based on the profile.
• Make sure to add the script to PowerDevil's autostart settings to run it whenever the power profile changes.

References

• PowerDevil - UserBase

• Power management - ArchWiki

• Xrandr - ArchWiki