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FAQ
PowerTools interacts with the system in roughly the same way as outlined in here. PowerTools does not save any data by default; it reads and writes to the SteamOS system (mostly the Linux kernel). Since no data is saved, a reboot will reset all PowerTools settings back to default.
There's a few reasons for this, depending on the values in question, but it all stems from limits imposed by (or to protect) the hardware. Most limits can be justified by the specs of the Steam Deck or the allowed values for a specific kernel API.
Restart your Steam Deck. Nothing in PowerTools is persistent, unless you enable persistence (in which case: turn off the toggle, then restart your Deck). Or just press the Default button, but I'd imagine you would have found that already.
I don't know, ask Valve. Most of the defaults are pretty logical, so none of them should be too objectionable.
The SMT toggle in PowerTools doesn't technically disable SMT. Instead it disables every second CPU, since every group of two CPUs is one logical CPU core.
I don't really know. My theory, which is backed by exactly zero research and experiments, is that since SMT increases performance of a single core by less than 100% (usually it's closer to 30-50%), that 150% performance gets split between two threads, effectively reducing each thread's performance to 75% when both threads are under heavy load. It would then follow that disabling one of those threads would restore the remaining thread to 100% performance.
Advanced Micro Devices: the company that makes the processor in the Steam Deck
"Accelerated" Processing Unit: the marketing term used by AMD for a CPU with an integrated GPU
Central Processing Unit: the main processor, the Steam Deck uses one with Zen2 architecture
Graphics Processing Unit: the graphics processor, the Steam Deck uses one with RDNA2 architecture
PowerPlay Table: the power settings for AMD GPUs
Quick Access Menu: the Steam Deck menu that comes up when you press the ... button
Simultaneous MultiThreading: The generic term for making one logical core act like more than one core, equivalent to Intel's "hyperthreading".
No, that's five letters
Generally, user software can't damage hardware unless there are already existing issues. Of course, always use responsibly; don't be surprised by a fresh hole in the wall when swinging a hammer at it.
Probably. It isn't tested on Beta because NGnius only has one Steam Deck, but the differences are usually too minor to cause major issues with PowerTools. Using PowerTools on SteamOS Beta isn't officially supported, which means bugs probably won't get fixed.
Because your failure to communicate and/or get a divorce have left you trapped in a prison of your own creation.
I already make enough money, thanks. If you really want, donate to some FOSS foundation and/or support a project that's mission critical.