Arch Linux

molecula21

Member

Registered: 2010-10-20

Posts: 33

Dell XPS13 9343 (2015 version) power consumption

I haven't found a thread on that specific laptop in the arch forum (only in ubuntu foruns) so I am creating this one. Please point me to such a thread if it exists already.

I just got a Dell XPS13 (2015) and succesfully installed arch following https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Dell_XPS_13_(2015)

Under the Powersaving section, I installed the linux-mainline kernel from aur (https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/linux-mainline/) and tlp and booted with the specified kernel option, but my power consumption never drops from the 7~8W range. In the wiki it states that it should drop to 3~4W, and this is actually the power consumption on Windows.

Does anyone has given a shot at arch with this laptop? Any ideas on how to drop the power consumption? One of the main features of this laptop is the insane autonomy and I a only able to get 5 to 6 hours instead of the 10 I would expect.

Vegan6

Member

Registered: 2012-08-10

Posts: 13

Re: Dell XPS13 9343 (2015 version) power consumption

I don't have experience with that specific laptop, but PowerTop May be able to help you drill down where the power is going to. And it is available in the repos.

molecula21

Member

Registered: 2010-10-20

Posts: 33

Re: Dell XPS13 9343 (2015 version) power consumption

I also have powertop (missed that on the original post). All suggested actions have been taken to lower power consumption, and that's how I get the 7~8W. Without powertop it rises to 13W.

Draje

Member

Registered: 2007-06-21

Posts: 102

Website

Re: Dell XPS13 9343 (2015 version) power consumption

Same situation here (QHD). Do you have the QHD version as well? I have a feeling the wiki is referring to an FHD model.

molecula21

Member

Registered: 2010-10-20

Posts: 33

Re: Dell XPS13 9343 (2015 version) power consumption

Well, I have the FHD model. How much power consumption do you get with screen dimmed down to minimum, all powertop suggestions applied and just a browser opened?

Draje

Member

Registered: 2007-06-21

Posts: 102

Website

Re: Dell XPS13 9343 (2015 version) power consumption

Well, I have the FHD model. How much power consumption do you get with screen dimmed down to minimum, all powertop suggestions applied and just a browser opened?

Idle: 6-8W
Browser load: 8-12W

Last edited by Draje (2015-07-01 16:25:53)

molecula21

Member

Registered: 2010-10-20

Posts: 33

Re: Dell XPS13 9343 (2015 version) power consumption

Hum... a bit higher than the FHD, but not as much as I expected. Has anyone reached the 3~4W idle power consumption as it is stated in the wiki?

colinh

Member

Registered: 2014-08-23

Posts: 19

Re: Dell XPS13 9343 (2015 version) power consumption

Hi.

I have the FHD (EDIT: i5 / 256 GB / 8 GB) version (and installed the Intel WiFi module). I'm still running the normal kernel, installed tlp and added the kernel parameters. EDIT: Oh, and BIOS updated to A04, of course.

I'm using i3wm. With keyboard backlight off and screen brightness at minimum, with Firefox showing this webpage, it idles at 3.4 W.

Are you sure your boot loader is picking up the kernel parameters? My /boot (EFI) partition is a mess, with Ubuntu and MS stuff hanging around. And GRUB. And Gummiboot...

Last edited by colinh (2015-07-11 14:43:12)

Draje

Member

Registered: 2007-06-21

Posts: 102

Website

Re: Dell XPS13 9343 (2015 version) power consumption

Hi.

I have the FHD (EDIT: i5 / 256 GB / 8 GB) version (and installed the Intel WiFi module). I'm still running the normal kernel, installed tlp and added the kernel parameters. EDIT: Oh, and BIOS updated to A04, of course.

I'm using i3wm. With keyboard backlight off and screen brightness at minimum, with Firefox showing this webpage, it idles at 3.4 W.

Are you sure your boot loader is picking up the kernel parameters? My /boot (EFI) partition is a mess, with Ubuntu and MS stuff hanging around. And GRUB. And Gummiboot...

Yes, I've managed to get it down to ~4w.

bananaoomarang

Member

Registered: 2009-10-29

Posts: 180

Re: Dell XPS13 9343 (2015 version) power consumption

Yes, I've managed to get it down to ~4w.

What was the issue, out of interest?

molecula21

Member

Registered: 2010-10-20

Posts: 33

Re: Dell XPS13 9343 (2015 version) power consumption

Well, I got it to that range also. In my case I was still using the mainline kernel with old parameters from the wiki. The article has been update and now the best power consumption is achieved with the normal kernel.

Almost everything is perfect on this laptop now. Only thing is sometime the last keystroke repeats forever until you hit another key - read somewhere this is a general dell problem.

Another thing, not that frequent anymore, is that the touchpad freezes (only movement, clicks still works). I put down the lid and back up again and I'm good to go.