configuring kernel for vt console driver

[James Griffin]

Hi everyone

I'm tinkering with vt(4) tunables in loader.conf to get a console I like 
for use with my machine. My monitor is 1440x900 dimensions so I've set 
the tunable kern.vt.fb.default_mode=1440x900. I would like the i915 kms 
driver to be loaded as early on in the boot process as possible so I can 
get the nice resolution early on too.

Currently, I have got the hw.vga.textmode=1 tunable set so it does start 
out in text mode, then switches over to the kms driver (i915kms).

What i'd like to know is: if I take out the hw.vga.textmode=1 tunable 
'should' this start my console in fb mode straight away or, will the 
resolution switch over to fb mode from a not so desirable resolution 
still - similar to what is happening now? so, is hw.vga.textmode=1 
needed/recommended and;

If I put the corresponding kernel config options in the kernel config 
file and recompile my kernel will it speed it all up significantly? I'm 
gunna change the default colors so compiling and installing a custom 
kernel is something i'm going to do anyway. and finally;

The settings i've described so far, is that the correct way to achieve 
the resolution 1440x900 in fb mode using the i915 driver as soon as 
possible in the boot process or, should I be doing it differently?

Here are the vt settings i've got in /boot/loader.conf:

i915kms_load="YES"
kern.vty=vt
hw.vga.textmode=1
kern.vt.fb.default_mode="1440x900"

Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for any feedback you might provide.

Cheers, Jamie