Sys-clk Switch

sys-clk
General
Author	RetroNX Team
Type	Sysmodules
Version	1.0.3
License	Mixed
Last Updated	2023/04/21
Links
Download
Website
Source

sys-clk is a system-wide overclock and underclock sysmodule for Atmosphere.

Features

• Automatic overclock and underclock depending on the running title and docked state.
• Reads presets for titles from the SD card.
• Hot reload allows you to change your preset while the game is running with sys-ftpd.
• Presets database for a quick and easy overclock on popular games.

Installation

The following instructions assumes you have a Nintendo Switch running Atmosphère, updated to at least the latest stable version.

• Just copy the config and atmosphere folders at the root of your SD card and reboot your console.
• The sysmodule will be active and running out of the box.
• Note: sys-clk-overlay requires to have Tesla Menu and nx-ovlloader installed and running.

To create a new preset, just edit /config/sys-clk/config.ini on your SD card (see Config).

Note: If you're using ReiNX, you need to rename the atmosphere folder to ReiNX and move out the boot2.flag file next to exefs.nsp

User guide

How does it work

The sysmodule adjusts the performance of the CPU, GPU, and RAM of the console based on the game being played and whether the console is docked or not. This is done through sys-clk, which automatically overclocks or underclocks the system according to a preset for each game. The preset allows for setting different frequencies for both docked and handheld modes, with a maximum of six values. These values are capped for safety reasons:

• CPU at 1785MHz
• GPU at 460MHz without a charger
• up to 768MHz with a charger
• higher than 768MHz with the official charger.

These limits ensure that the console won't be damaged due to overclocking.

Relevant files

Config file allows one to set custom clocks per docked state and title id, described below

/config/sys-clk/config.ini

Log file where the logs are written if enabled

/config/sys-clk/log.txt

Log flag file enables log writing if file exists

/config/sys-clk/log.flag

CSV file where the title id, profile, clocks and temperatures are written if enabled

/config/sys-clk/context.csv

sys-clk manager app (accessible from the hbmenu)

/switch/sys-clk-manager.nro

sys-clk overlay (accessible from anywhere by invoking the Tesla menu)

/switch/.overlays/sys-clk-overlay.ovl

sys-clk core sysmodule

/atmosphere/contents/00FF0000636C6BFF/exefs.nsp /atmosphere/contents/00FF0000636C6BFF/flags/boot2.flag

Config

Presets can be customized by adding them to the ini config file located at /config/sys-clk/config.ini, using the following template for each app

[Application Title ID]
docked_cpu=
docked_gpu=
docked_mem=
handheld_charging_cpu=
handheld_charging_gpu=
handheld_charging_mem=
handheld_charging_usb_cpu=
handheld_charging_usb_gpu=
handheld_charging_usb_mem=
handheld_charging_official_cpu=
handheld_charging_official_gpu=
handheld_charging_official_mem=
handheld_cpu=
handheld_gpu=
handheld_mem=

• Replace Application Title ID with the title id of the game/application you're interested in customizing. A list of games title id can be found in the Switchbrew wiki.
• Frequencies are expressed in mhz, and will be scaled to the nearest possible values, described in the clock table below.
• If any key is omitted, value is empty or set to 0, it will be ignored, and stock clocks will apply.
• If charging, sys-clk will look for the frequencies in that order, picking the first found
  • Charger specific config (USB or Official) handheld_charging_usb_X or handheld_charging_official_X
  • Non specific charging config handheld_charging_X
  • Handheld config handheld_X

Example 1: Zelda BOTW

• Overclock CPU when docked or charging
• Overclock MEM to docked clocks when handheld

Leads to a smoother framerate overall (ex: in the korok forest)

[01007EF00011E000]
docked_cpu=1224
handheld_charging_cpu=1224
handheld_mem=1600

Example 2: Picross

• Underclocks on handheld to save battery

[0100BA0003EEA000]
handheld_cpu=816
handheld_gpu=153
handheld_mem=800

Advanced

The [values] section allows you to alter timings in sys-clk, you should not need to edit any of these unless you know what you are doing. Possible values are:

Key	Desc	Default
temp_log_interval_ms	Defines how often sys-clk log temperatures, in milliseconds (0 to disable)	0 ms
csv_write_interval_ms	Defines how often sys-clk writes to the CSV, in milliseconds (0 to disable)	0 ms
poll_interval_ms	Defines how fast sys-clk checks and applies profiles, in milliseconds	300 ms

Capping

To protect the battery from excessive strain, clocks requested from config may be capped before applying, depending on your current profile:

	Handheld	Charging (USB)	Charging (Official)	Docked
MEM	-	-	-	-
CPU	-	-	-	-
GPU	460	768	-	-

Clock table (MHz)

MEM clocks

• 1600 - official docked, boost mode, max clock
• 1331 - official handheld
• 1065
• 800
• 665

CPU clocks

• 1785 - max clock, boost mode
• 1683
• 1581
• 1428
• 1326
• 1224 - sdev oc
• 1122
• 1020 - official docked & handheld
• 918
• 816
• 714
• 612

GPU clocks

• 921 - max clock
• 844
• 768 - official docked
• 691
• 614
• 537
• 460 - max handheld
• 384 - official handheld
• 307 - official handheld
• 230
• 153
• 76 - boost mode

Notes:

• GPU overclock is capped at 460Mhz in handheld and capped at 768Mhz if charging, unless you're using the official charger.
• Clocks higher than 768MHz need the official charger is plugged in.

Screenshots

Media

How to overclock the Nintendo Switch and view FPS - Sysclk & NX FPS Homebrew mods Atmosphere CFW (Nevercholt)

Changelog

v1.0.3

• This minor update fixes the overlay not working on HOS >= 16.0.0 by upgrading libtesla and libnx to the latest version.
• Thanks to @alula for the PR.

v1.0.2

• Fix freqs on ResetToStock(); for Boost Mode GPU.
• libnx compat fixes.
• libtesla updated from upstream.
• Use ts:GetTemperature on HOS 14.0.0+ instead of ts:GetTemperatureMilliC.
• Release files dont enable logs by default anymore.

v1.0.1

• Fix skin temp not shown in the manager.
• Fix Korean characters shown incorrectly in the manager.
• libtesla upstream sync (libnx 4.0.x compat).

v1.0.0

• Homebrew app: sys-clk manager, testing grounds of borealis, a new hardware accelerated, Nintendo Switch inspired UI library for PC and Nintendo Switch.
• Tesla overlay: sys-clk-overlay, powered by libtesla.

v0.13.1

• Don't keep the time session open (only used at init).
• Misc changes from the develop branch (libnx compat, etc) that does not affect features.

v0.13.0

• Temperature monitoring (SoC; PCB and Skin at customizable interval).
• Logging refactor:
  • Logs can now be enabled or disabled at runtime.
  • Prettier logs (clock hz format, shorter text).
  • Milliseconds in timestamp.
• CSV export (timestamp, titleId, profile, clocks, temps at customizable interval).
• FW 9.0.0 fixes.
• HB and crashed apps fixes.

v0.12.3

• This is a minor update that changed polling timings to accommodate actively scaling titles (ex: BOTW, DOOM...)

v0.12.2

• This release adds support for 8.0.0.

v0.12.1

• This hotfix was made to correct the capping logic that was incorrectly applied to the CPU, consequently underclocking on defined profiles.

v0.12.0

• Config loading has been refactored to permit more profile storage, and serve as the groundwork for what's to come.
• The kip target (which had become irrelevant) and the code required to support it has been removed, consequently enabling pm late loading with no side-effect.

v0.11.1

• Fixes some games running slower than they should be (#6).

v0.11

• Adds timestamp and version to logs.
• Games and profile changes now always trigger a reset to stock values, even for games that would not change clocks on their own.

v0.10

• Added charging profiles.
• General fixes.

v0.9

• First Release.

External links

• Gbatemp - https://gbatemp.net/threads/sys-clk-under-overclocking-sysmodule.531372/
• Github - https://github.com/retronx-team/sys-clk