Dell XPS BIOS Configuration

This is currently serving as my home server, and for such task, I tweaked options on the BIOS to improve the power efficiency and laptop health.

The specifications are as follows:

• CPU: Intel Core i7-8750H
• iGPU: Intel UHD Graphics 630
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Max-Q (4GB GDDR5)
• RAM: 2x 8GB DDR4
• Storage: 1x M.2 NVME SSD 512 GB
• BIOS Version: 1.27.0

The following sections are categorized as they appear in the BIOS.

System Configuration

Audio

• Disable Audio
  • Disable Microphone
  • Disable Internal Speaker

Thunderbolt

• Disable Thunderbolt watchlist

Keyboard Illumination

• Disabled

Miscellaneous Devices

• Disable Camera
• Disable SD Card

Video

• LCD Brightness
  • On Battery: 10%
  • On AC: 10%

Performance

Intel Turboboost improves CPU performance by allowing it to surpass its base specification. I’ve disabled it for now, but may re-enable it later.

• Enable C-states
• Disable Intel Turboboost watchlist
• Enable Intel Speedstep
• Enable HyperThreading watchlist

Power Management

• AC Behaviour

  • Wake on LAN: LAN Only

• Primary Battery Charge Configuration

  • Primarily AC Use
  • Custom Charge start: 50
  • Custom Charge Stop: 70

Wireless

• Wireless Switch
  • Disable Bluetooth
• Wireless Device Enable
  • Disable Bluetooth