nvtop Command in Linux – Monitor NVIDIA, AMD and Intel GPUs

nvtop stands for Neat Videocard TOP. It is a free tool for Linux that works like the htop command but for graphics cards. You can use it to watch NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel GPUs in real time. The program shows you what your graphics card is doing right now.

Why nvtop is Useful

When you use your computer for games, video editing, or machine learning, your GPU does a lot of work. Without a monitor tool, you cannot see if your graphics card is working too hard or if something is wrong. nvtop helps you watch your GPU and fix problems.

Key Features

Real-Time Monitoring

• GPU usage percentage
• Memory usage and availability
• Temperature readings
• Power consumption
• Active process tracking

Multi-GPU Support

The tool can watch multiple GPUs at the same time. This helps people who have two or more graphics cards in their computer.

User-Friendly Interface

nvtop uses a clean terminal interface similar to htop. The display updates automatically every second.

Supported Graphics Cards

NVIDIA GPUs

• Requires proprietary driver
• Works with GeForce, Quadro, and Tesla cards
• Best support for GeForce 600 series and newer

AMD GPUs

• Requires amdgpu driver
• Works with modern AMD Radeon cards
• Needs Linux kernel 5.14 or newer

Intel GPUs

• Requires i915 or xe driver
• Needs Linux kernel 5.19 or newer for process monitoring
• Some features need special permissions

Installation Guide

Ubuntu and Debian

sudo apt install nvtop

Fedora and CentOS

sudo dnf install nvtop

Arch Linux

sudo pacman -S nvtop

Ubuntu PPA (Latest Version)

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:quentiumyt/nvtop
sudo apt install nvtop

Alternative Methods

• Available as Snap package
• Available as AppImage
• Can be compiled from source on GitHub

How to Use nvtop

Starting nvtop

nvtop

Keyboard Controls

Key	Function
Up Arrow	Select previous process
Down Arrow	Select next process
Left/Right Arrow	Scroll horizontally
F2	Open settings menu
F12	Save current settings
q or Esc	Exit nvtop

Understanding the Display

Top Section: Shows graphs and real-time metrics like GPU usage, memory usage, temperature, and power draw.

Bottom Section: Lists all programs currently using the GPU with their resource consumption.

Command Line Options

nvtop -d 5          # Change refresh rate (5 = 0.5 seconds)
nvtop -p            # Hide bar graphs
nvtop -C            # Disable colors
nvtop -f            # Use Fahrenheit for temperature
nvtop --help        # Show all options

Comparison with Other Tools

vs nvidia-smi

nvtop offers a cleaner interface with automatic updates. nvidia-smi shows static output and is NVIDIA-only.

vs radeontop

Radeontop works only with AMD cards. nvtop supports all GPU brands.

vs intel_gpu_top

Intel’s tool is limited to Intel GPUs. nvtop provides unified monitoring.

vs GPUStat

GPUStat requires Python and only supports NVIDIA. nvtop is standalone and supports all brands.

Real World Applications

Gaming

Check if GPU is the bottleneck when games run slow. 100% usage means you need a better card.

Video Editing

Monitor GPU during video exports to ensure hardware acceleration is working.

Machine Learning

Track GPU usage during model training that takes hours or days.

System Administration

Monitor multiple GPUs on servers and workstations.

Thermal Monitoring

Check GPU temperatures to prevent overheating and throttling.

Configuration

nvtop saves settings in:

~/.config/nvtop/interface.ini

You can edit this file manually or use the F2 menu to customize:

• Display colors
• Visible information
• Layout preferences
• Update intervals

Settings are saved automatically when you press F12.

Troubleshooting

GPU Not Detected

Solution: Install correct drivers

• NVIDIA: Use proprietary drivers (not nouveau)
• AMD: Use amdgpu driver (not old radeon)
• Intel: Use i915 or xe driver

Permission Errors

Solution: Add user to video group

sudo usermod -a -G video your_username

Then log out and log back in.

Intel Memory Usage Not Showing

Solution: Grant permissions

sudo setcap cap_perfmon=ep /usr/bin/nvtop

Missing Features

Some old GPU models do not support all features. Check if your card is compatible with the latest drivers.

Additional Resources

GitHub Repository: https://github.com/Syllo/nvtop

Manual Page:

man nvtop

Quick Help:

nvtop --help

Conclusion

nvtop is an essential monitoring tool for Linux users working with GPUs. Its support for NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel graphics cards makes it versatile and practical. The intuitive interface and comprehensive monitoring capabilities help you optimize GPU performance and troubleshoot issues effectively.

Whether you are a gamer, developer, content creator, or system administrator, nvtop provides the insights needed to maximize your graphics hardware potential. The tool is free, lightweight, and easy to install on any Linux distribution.