NixOS on Dell 7490

The well-known kernel options i915.enable_dc=0 and intel_idle.max_cstate=1 are still helpful with my latest installation of NixOS 24.5 on this device.

They live on in the /etc/nixos configuration files:

boot.kernelParams = [
  "quiet"
  "splash"

  # Fix instability on Latitude 7490.
  "i915.enable_dc=0"
  "intel_idle.max_cstate=1"
  "add_efi_memmap"

  "consoleblank=300"

  # Fix slow shutdown/reboot.
  "apm=power_off"
  "acpi=force"
  "reboot=acpi"
];

hardware.cpu.intel.updateMicrocode = true;

The Dell notebook still feels snappy enought with a Gnome Desktop in NixOS and even the unattended installation of Windows 11 in a VirtualBox works does not fail at first glance.