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By Zayden R., August 16, 2026
An open-source driver now enables 12VHPWR monitoring on ASUS ROG Astral graphics cards under Linux. This development is significant for engineers monitoring power and voltage in high-performance systems.
Linux users with ASUS ROG Astral graphics cards can now monitor 12VHPWR power connectors thanks to a newly released open-source driver. Developed by Krzysiek Sokolowski, this driver integrates with the Linux HWMON subsystem, allowing detailed monitoring of current and voltage for the six individual 12VHPWR pins on these cards. This is a solid improvement for engineers concerned about power management in high-performance systems.
Before this development, 12VHPWR sensor monitoring under Linux was non-existent, leaving a gap that Sokolowski has now filled. The driver, aptly named "astral-hwmon," has been specifically tested on the ASUS ROG Astral RTX 5090 OC, utilizing the ITE IT8915FN ASIC for monitoring. However, it should also work seamlessly with other models in the ROG Astral lineup, including the RTX 5090D OC and the RTX 5080 OC Hatsune Miku.
While the astral-hwmon driver itself focuses purely on monitoring, it is complemented by the astral-guard program. This program can issue warnings or alerts in case of critical behavior, drawing from ASUS Power Detector+ and related Windows software rules. The driver and its companion tool offer a robust solution for monitoring, though they do not take corrective actions.
For sysadmins and engineers running ASUS ROG Astral NVIDIA graphics cards, this development represents a vital enhancement in system monitoring capabilities. The driver is available on GitHub, providing a much-needed tool for those seeking to maintain optimal performance and prevent potential power issues.
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