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CachyOS

CachyOS Hardware Detection

CachyOS Hardware Detection or better known as chwd is our hardware detection tool that enables us to power a variety of hardware. This includes systems running NVIDIA’s graphics cards, T2 Macbooks and handheld devices such as Steam Deck and ROG Ally.

Usage

chwd is typically ran during installation time to provide the necessary packages for your system. However, it is also possible to use it post-install.

Auto Configuration

Our hardware detection program supports installing and configuring necessary drivers and packages so that your system can work at optimal condition.

Terminal window
❯ sudo chwd -a

Installing a profile

An alternative to the above method is to install each specific profile. You can find what profiles exist from chwd itself

List all available profiles
❯ chwd --list-all
╭─────────────────────────┬─────────╮
│ Name                    ┆ NonFree │
╞═════════════════════════╪═════════╡
│ nvidia-open-dkms.prime  ┆ true    │
├╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌┼╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌┤
│ nvidia-dkms             ┆ true    │
├╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌┼╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌┤
│ macbook-t2              ┆ false   │
├╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌┼╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌┤
│ phoenix                 ┆ false   │
├╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌┼╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌┤
│ steam-deck              ┆ false   │
├╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌┼╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌┤
│ amd                     ┆ false   │
├╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌┼╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌╌┤
│ intel                   ┆ false   │
╰─────────────────────────┴─────────╯

After that, we can install a profile with the -i flag

Installing a chwd profile
❯ sudo chwd -i amd
> Installing amd ...


> Successfully installed amd

Others

Consult the help output of chwd for command syntax and other usage.

Terminal window
❯ chwd --help
Usage: chwd [OPTIONS]


Options:
  -i, --install <profile>          Install profile
  -r, --remove <profile>           Remove profile
  -d, --detail                     Show detailed info for listings
  -f, --force                      Force reinstall
      --list-installed             List installed kernels
      --list                       List available profiles for all devices
      --list-all                   List all profiles
  -a, --autoconfigure [<classid>]  Autoconfigure
      --ai_sdk                     Toggle AI SDK profiles
      --pmcachedir <PMCACHEDIR>    [default: /var/cache/pacman/pkg]
      --pmconfig <PMCONFIG>        [default: /etc/pacman.conf]
      --pmroot <PMROOT>            [default: /]
  -h, --help                       Print help
  -V, --version                    Print version