diff --git a/src/engine/formatters/i8kmon.rs b/src/engine/formatters/i8kmon.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d1b1129
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/engine/formatters/i8kmon.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+pub struct I8kmonConfig {
+    pub t_ambient: f32,
+    pub t_max_fan: f32,
+}
+
+pub struct I8kmonTranslator;
+
+impl I8kmonTranslator {
+    pub fn generate_conf(config: &I8kmonConfig) -> String {
+        let t_off = config.t_ambient + 5.0;
+        let t_low_on = config.t_ambient + 12.0;
+        let t_low_off = config.t_ambient + 10.0;
+        let t_high_on = config.t_max_fan;
+        let t_high_off = config.t_max_fan - 5.0;
+        let t_low_trigger = (config.t_max_fan - 15.0).max(t_low_on + 2.0);
+
+        format!(
+            r#"# Generated by ember-tune Optimizer
+# Grounded in physical thermal resistance
+
+set config(gen_shadow)      1
+set config(i8k_ignore_dmi)  1
+
+# Fan states: {{state_low state_high temp_on temp_off}}
+set config(0) {{0 0 {t_low_on:.0} {t_off:.0}}}
+set config(1) {{1 1 {t_low_trigger:.0} {t_low_off:.0}}}
+set config(2) {{2 2 {t_high_on:.0} {t_high_off:.0}}}
+
+# Speed thresholds (approximate for XPS 9380)
+set config(speed_low)  2500
+set config(speed_high) 4500
+"#,
+            t_low_on = t_low_on,
+            t_off = t_off,
+            t_low_trigger = t_low_trigger,
+            t_low_off = t_low_off,
+            t_high_on = t_high_on,
+            t_high_off = t_high_off
+        )
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/engine/formatters/mod.rs b/src/engine/formatters/mod.rs
index 5b87fcf..b379d04 100644
--- a/src/engine/formatters/mod.rs
+++ b/src/engine/formatters/mod.rs
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
 pub mod throttled;
+pub mod i8kmon;
diff --git a/src/engine/formatters/throttled.rs b/src/engine/formatters/throttled.rs
index a4ccdbd..3e4c771 100644
--- a/src/engine/formatters/throttled.rs
+++ b/src/engine/formatters/throttled.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+use std::collections::HashSet;
 
 pub struct ThrottledConfig {
     pub pl1_limit: f32,
@@ -11,7 +12,7 @@ impl ThrottledTranslator {
     pub fn generate_conf(config: &ThrottledConfig) -> String {
         format!(
             r#"[GENERAL]
-# Generated by FerroTherm Optimizer
+# Generated by ember-tune Optimizer
 # Physical Sweet Spot found at {pl1:.1}W
 
 [BATTERY]
@@ -35,4 +36,98 @@ Trip_Temp_C: {trip:.0}
             trip = config.trip_temp
         )
     }
+
+    /// Merges benchmarked values into an existing throttled.conf content.
+    /// Preserves all other sections (like [UnderVOLT]), comments, and formatting.
+    pub fn merge_conf(existing_content: &str, config: &ThrottledConfig) -> String {
+        let mut sections = Vec::new();
+        let mut current_section_name = String::new();
+        let mut current_section_lines = Vec::new();
+
+        // 1. Parse into sections to ensure we only update keys in [BATTERY] and [AC]
+        for line in existing_content.lines() {
+            let trimmed = line.trim();
+            if trimmed.starts_with('[') && trimmed.ends_with(']') {
+                if !current_section_lines.is_empty() || !current_section_name.is_empty() {
+                    sections.push((current_section_name.clone(), current_section_lines.clone()));
+                }
+                current_section_name = trimmed[1..trimmed.len() - 1].to_string();
+                current_section_lines = vec![line.to_string()];
+            } else {
+                current_section_lines.push(line.to_string());
+            }
+        }
+        sections.push((current_section_name, current_section_lines));
+
+        let target_keys = [
+            ("PL1_Tdp_W", format!("{:.0}", config.pl1_limit)),
+            ("PL2_Tdp_W", format!("{:.0}", config.pl2_limit)),
+            ("Trip_Temp_C", format!("{:.0}", config.trip_temp)),
+        ];
+
+        let mut result_lines = Vec::new();
+        let mut handled_sections = HashSet::new();
+
+        // 2. Process sections
+        for (name, mut lines) in sections {
+            if name == "BATTERY" || name == "AC" {
+                handled_sections.insert(name.clone());
+                let mut updated_keys = HashSet::new();
+                
+                let mut new_lines = Vec::new();
+                for line in lines {
+                    let mut updated = false;
+                    let trimmed = line.trim();
+                    
+                    if !trimmed.starts_with('#') && !trimmed.is_empty() {
+                        if let Some((key, _)) = trimmed.split_once(':') {
+                            let key = key.trim();
+                            for (target_key, new_value) in &target_keys {
+                                if key == *target_key {
+                                    if let Some(colon_idx) = line.find(':') {
+                                        let prefix = &line[..colon_idx + 1];
+                                        let rest = &line[colon_idx + 1..];
+                                        let comment = if let Some(hash_idx) = rest.find('#') {
+                                            &rest[hash_idx..]
+                                        } else {
+                                            ""
+                                        };
+                                        new_lines.push(format!("{} {}{}", prefix, new_value, comment));
+                                        updated_keys.insert(*target_key);
+                                        updated = true;
+                                        break;
+                                    }
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                    
+                    if !updated {
+                        new_lines.push(line);
+                    }
+                }
+                
+                for (target_key, new_value) in &target_keys {
+                    if !updated_keys.contains(*target_key) {
+                        new_lines.push(format!("{}: {}", target_key, new_value));
+                    }
+                }
+                lines = new_lines;
+            }
+            result_lines.extend(lines);
+        }
+
+        // 3. Add missing sections if they didn't exist at all
+        for section_name in &["BATTERY", "AC"] {
+            if !handled_sections.contains(*section_name) {
+                result_lines.push(String::new());
+                result_lines.push(format!("[{}]", section_name));
+                for (target_key, new_value) in &target_keys {
+                    result_lines.push(format!("{}: {}", target_key, new_value));
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        result_lines.join("\n")
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/orchestrator/mod.rs b/src/orchestrator/mod.rs
index fc056fe..61bead3 100644
--- a/src/orchestrator/mod.rs
+++ b/src/orchestrator/mod.rs
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ impl BenchmarkOrchestrator {
 
         // Phase 5: Finalizing
         self.phase = BenchmarkPhase::Finalizing;
-        self.log("Benchmark sequence complete. Generating configuration...")?;
+        self.log("Benchmark sequence complete. Generating configurations...")?;
 
         let config = crate::engine::formatters::throttled::ThrottledConfig {
             pl1_limit: res.silicon_knee_watts,
@@ -190,9 +190,25 @@ impl BenchmarkOrchestrator {
             trip_temp: res.max_temp_c.max(95.0), 
         };
 
-        let conf_content = crate::engine::formatters::throttled::ThrottledTranslator::generate_conf(&config);
-        std::fs::write("throttled.conf", conf_content)?;
-        self.log("✓ Saved 'throttled.conf'.")?;
+        // 1. Throttled (Merged if exists)
+        let throttled_path = "throttled.conf";
+        let existing_throttled = std::fs::read_to_string(throttled_path).unwrap_or_default();
+        let throttled_content = if existing_throttled.is_empty() {
+            crate::engine::formatters::throttled::ThrottledTranslator::generate_conf(&config)
+        } else {
+            crate::engine::formatters::throttled::ThrottledTranslator::merge_conf(&existing_throttled, &config)
+        };
+        std::fs::write(throttled_path, throttled_content)?;
+        self.log("✓ Saved 'throttled.conf' (merged).")?;
+
+        // 2. i8kmon
+        let i8k_config = crate::engine::formatters::i8kmon::I8kmonConfig {
+            t_ambient: self.profile.ambient_temp,
+            t_max_fan: res.max_temp_c - 5.0, // Aim to hit max fan before max temp
+        };
+        let i8k_content = crate::engine::formatters::i8kmon::I8kmonTranslator::generate_conf(&i8k_config);
+        std::fs::write("i8kmon.conf", i8k_content)?;
+        self.log("✓ Saved 'i8kmon.conf'.")?;
         
         self.guard.restore()?;
         self.log("✓ Environment restored.")?;
diff --git a/src/sal/dell_xps_9380.rs b/src/sal/dell_xps_9380.rs
index 59c45a1..75d747e 100644
--- a/src/sal/dell_xps_9380.rs
+++ b/src/sal/dell_xps_9380.rs
@@ -96,7 +96,19 @@ impl PreflightAuditor for DellXps9380Sal {
             outcome: if unsafe { libc::getuid() } == 0 { Ok(()) } else { Err(AuditError::RootRequired) }
         });
 
-        // 2. Kernel parameters check
+        // 2. Kernel modules check (simplified check via sysfs/proc)
+        let modules = ["dell_smm_hwmon", "msr", "intel_rapl_msr"];
+        for mod_name in modules {
+            let path = format!("/sys/module/{}", mod_name);
+            steps.push(AuditStep {
+                description: format!("Kernel Module: {}", mod_name),
+                outcome: if PathBuf::from(path).exists() { Ok(()) } else { 
+                    Err(AuditError::ToolMissing(format!("Module '{}' not loaded. Run 'sudo modprobe {}'", mod_name, mod_name)))
+                }
+            });
+        }
+
+        // 3. Kernel parameters check
         let cmdline = fs::read_to_string("/proc/cmdline").unwrap_or_default();
         steps.push(AuditStep {
             description: "Kernel Param: dell_smm_hwmon.ignore_dmi=1".to_string(),
@@ -104,6 +116,12 @@ impl PreflightAuditor for DellXps9380Sal {
                 Err(AuditError::MissingKernelParam("dell_smm_hwmon.ignore_dmi=1".to_string())) 
             }
         });
+        steps.push(AuditStep {
+            description: "Kernel Param: dell_smm_hwmon.restricted=0".to_string(),
+            outcome: if cmdline.contains("dell_smm_hwmon.restricted=0") { Ok(()) } else { 
+                Err(AuditError::MissingKernelParam("dell_smm_hwmon.restricted=0".to_string())) 
+            }
+        });
         steps.push(AuditStep {
             description: "Kernel Param: msr.allow_writes=on".to_string(),
             outcome: if cmdline.contains("msr.allow_writes=on") { Ok(()) } else { 
@@ -111,7 +129,16 @@ impl PreflightAuditor for DellXps9380Sal {
             }
         });
 
-        // 3. Check AC power
+        // 4. Lockdown check
+        let lockdown = fs::read_to_string("/sys/kernel/security/lockdown").unwrap_or_default();
+        steps.push(AuditStep {
+            description: "Kernel Lockdown Status".to_string(),
+            outcome: if lockdown.contains("[none]") || lockdown.is_empty() { Ok(()) } else { 
+                Err(AuditError::KernelIncompatible("Kernel is in lockdown mode. Set to 'none' to allow MSR/SMM writes.".to_string())) 
+            }
+        });
+
+        // 5. Check AC power
         let ac_status = fs::read_to_string("/sys/class/power_supply/AC/online").unwrap_or_else(|_| "0".to_string());
         steps.push(AuditStep {
             description: "AC Power Connection".to_string(),