Disable Thunderbolt to Decrease Power Consumption

[u/diknik18]

Hi, i read on the other sub regarding this method to decrease power consumption.

https://www.reddit.com/r/linux_on_mac/comments/1w6kmb8/disable_thunderbolt_decrease_power_consumption/

Anyone have done this 'disable Thunderbolt' method on Fedora 44? May i know how you do it and maybe summarize the result?

I'm waiting for the Intel AX210card, the adapter & new battery for my Macbook Air 11" 2015 8GB. The plan is to install Fedora 44 on its own (no dual-booting). I'm kinda new to Linux. used Zorin for about a month on other laptop. After reading here & there, i decided to turn my old MBA as a travel laptop. So i guess this power consumption aspect is important to me.

Main usage; office (will use Libreoffice), light browsing, web-based tasks.
Occasional; local video playback, retro PS2 emulator.

Any suggestion for battery saving are welcomed.

[u/Primary_Bad_3778]

yeah acpi_osi=!Darwin first thing I do on any macbook, works for Pros as well. airs of that vintage are pretty power efficient, they're at like 5W at idle with screen on.

depending on your luck with the silicon lottery, intel-undervolt can help, around -100 mV should be attainable, maybe more if you're lucky.

I'd go with debian as that old hardware is plenty supported and it wakes faster from sleep, but you do you.