Linux tip: Give your GPU a break while paused

[Linkageless]

When the game is paused, it continues to give your GPU a workout.  On a laptop, this will often continue with toasty temperatures and cooling fans even though the game is "not running". 

Fortunately, with Linux we have absolute control over our systems.    

I suggest quick saving and leaving your game paused, as misuse of these commands may be fatal to your gameplay.  Then from a linux console, terminal, or run command box, you can simply type:

killall -STOP KSP.x86_64

This assumes your KSP process is called "KSP.x86_64".  If you need to confirm that, run:  ps -ef | grep -i ksp  

That stops execution of that process, but leaves it ready to continue from where it paused.  The GPU will hopefully now no longer be burdened with KSP's machinations in the background while you get on with surfing the KSP forum or improving your latest KOS script.

To resume execution simply run:

killall -CONT KSP.x86_64

This of course gives your GPU (and CPU) time to cool from the intense heat of reentry (or whatever), preparing it to be in optimal shape for it's next bout of simulating impact explosions at a less thermal throttled speed!

I've added these commands as application commands in my KDE plasma desktop and made them available as QuickLaunch buttons on my taskbar next to my KSP button.

For Windows users, there's also a similar solution

Spoiler

PsSuspend.exe see here:

 

I haven't verified if there are long term effects of pausing the KSP process in this way (ie - if it or a mod freaks out due to an apparent sudden time delta) but considering I've not had issues with KSP after suspending to disk, I don't anticipate this would be a problem to leave KSP stopped for a long time on an otherwise active machine.

Enjoy your cooler laptop!

[Lisias]

Dear sir, I want to thank you a lot for the hint!!

Not exactly due KSP, but because it also works for Firefox. Man, this thing eats CPU like candy, and now I can just put it to sleep without worrying about background processes stealing CPU and memory from my gaming!

(no matter how savvy you think you are on something, there will be always someone able to teach you something new!!)