Setting kernel options for the i915

Question

I am trying to configure the i915 driver on my XPS 13 (9360) running Ubuntu 16.04 for better battery runtime.

I have created a kernel config file with this name:

/etc/modprobe.d/i915.conf

Content of the file:

options i915 modeset=1 enable_rc6=1 enable_fbc=1 enable_guc_loading=1 enable_guc_submission=1 enable_huc=1 enable_psr=1 disable_power_well=0

I have restarted the machine and checked the driver parameters with this:

systool -v -m i915

This doesn't list my options in the "Parameters" section.

Seems like my options are not set to the driver at all (only the "enable_hangcheck" option with its "Y" default value).

What am I doing wrong?

Solution 1

The solution was to regenerate the boot images with update-initramfs (thanks Denis).

For all kernels (if you have more than one installed)

update-initramfs -u -k all

For the currently used kernel (if you don't want to touch the others)

update-initramfs -u

After this, the options were set because I saw a boot-time error about "enable_huc" parameter being invalid (dmesg). However, systool still doesn't show the options.

Solution 2

I created /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.conf, see also

man intel

#/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.conf
Section "Device"
   Identifier  "Intel Graphics"
   Driver      "intel"
   Option      "AccelMethod"  "uxa"
EndSection

And now I have a decent background.

Comments

[Denis]

Try this command update-initramfs -u -k all I think it must help you.

[Denis]

May be try to add this to kernel parameters via grub in such form: i915.i915_enable_rc6=1 i915.i915_enable_fbc=1 i915.lvds_downclock=1.

[Denis]

Or try this instruction feeding.cloud.geek.nz/posts/…

[Joan Moreau]

the systool cmd will report actual settings only if you type it as root (as lambda user, you get indeed only one parameter reported)