HP OMEN/Victus Gaming Laptops Gain Manual Fan Control in Linux Kernel

Upcoming Linux kernel patches enable manual fan speed adjustment for select HP gaming laptops, addressing firmware limitations with a novel keep-alive solution.

HP OMEN laptop

Manual fan control support is coming to select HP OMEN and Victus gaming laptops in the Linux ecosystem through new kernel patches slated for the 6.20-7.0 cycle. This development allows Linux users to directly manage cooling behavior on supported devices for the first time.

The core functionality originates from patches merged into the x86 platform drivers' "for-next" branch. The primary implementation enables:

Direct PWM fan speed control via HP-WMI driver
Real-time fan RPM reporting through HWMON interfaces
User-defined speed profiles (override default auto mode)

This allows granular thermal management: Users can reduce fan noise during light workloads or maximize cooling during gaming sessions. Validation occurred on an HP Omen 16-wf1xxx laptop, with broader compatibility expected across Victus S-Series and OMEN models.

Overcoming Firmware Limitations

HP laptop firmware introduced a significant hurdle: Systems automatically revert to auto fan control after precisely 120 seconds. To maintain persistent manual control, developers implemented a kernel-level keep-alive solution:

Utilizes delayed workqueue infrastructure
Sends mode-refresh signals every 90 seconds
Functions as background process (no user interaction)

This bypasses the firmware timeout while consuming minimal resources. The approach demonstrates how open-source developers creatively overcome proprietary hardware constraints.

Technical Significance

Before this patchset, Linux users resorted to third-party tools or BIOS modifications for fan control. Native kernel support offers:

Stability: No out-of-tree modules required
Accessibility: Control via standard sysfs interfaces
Safety: Hardware limits remain enforced

Gaming laptop users gain performance flexibility—higher thermal headroom can sustain boost clocks during extended sessions. Conversely, noise-sensitive users can implement quiet profiles for office work.

The patches should reach mainline kernels within months, followed by distribution updates. This continues Linux's improved support for gaming hardware, reflecting effective community-manufacturer collaboration.

HARDWARE