2018 i9 MacBook Pro throttling discussion [merged]

[jinnyman]

The throttling is real as I was afraid starting from the day one. Another thing I'm wondering is what effect it would have on keyboard reliability. Isn't it pretty much proven that high heat is one of the factors causing keyboard issue?

Anyway, I'm still awaiting for more reviews, and I really hope the base model with 8750H can maintain its base frequency under full load. If it can, I'd buy it.

 

[Queen6]

Really, they could make the laptop case a bit thicker.

This Apple we're talking about here, they far prefer to cripple the performance, than apply an ounce of common sense

I don't mind if there is some degredation in performance due the form factor, equally what we are seeing initially is hardly encouraging...

Q-6

 

[The Mercurian]

I couldn't get my 2017 i7-7920HQ to stay at max boost for more than a minute of testing. I was seeing 99-100C temps from nearly any benchmark. The macbook fan control app wasn't able to help, so I returned it.

Also, for reference scores if you have a new hexa-core MBP: My XPS 15 9570 i7-8750H running CB 15 looped for 30 minutes averages 1220 pts +/- 20. This is after undervolting and repasting. Stock I was seeing scores between 1090-1130.

The wide and silly range of defenses from the misinformed defenders in this thread have been entertaining to read.

I'm not familiar with CB - do those score imply throttling on the XPS? I'm thinking about buying a XPS 15 9570 32GB given this bad show by the MBPs

 

[leman]

The current Macbook Pro line is too thin for suitable cooling for the 7th and 8th Gen intel chips without throttling at the high end.

Nonsense, they were able to cool down Skylake and Kaby Lake just fine. Since 8th gen has the same thermal specs, it they should behave similarly.

We are at a point where Intel are providing the chips with performance

We are at a point where Intel sells overclocked chips that draw double of their spec power under normal operation. Intel should get their game together and release chips with true perf-per watt increases.

 

[mr.anthonyramos]

Cancelled my macbook pro order cant spend £3000 on a machine that doesnt work faster than last years, i dont care about 1 or 2 min faster if the i9 doesnt work well apple have messed up again!!!! Even the gpu is a disgrace same rebrand from 2 years ago

It does run faster than last year's model. What we are mainly concerned with is will it be able to keep its base frequency otherwise it equals the i7. Currently based on my PS and Lightroom workflow with my i9 and my colleague's i7, I beat his machine by about a minute and a half in opening and processing 200 Raw Files. Not a technical test but based on what I do, it seems my i9 saves me 1.5 minutes per 200 photos I process hence I am happy. Maybe other applications would differ of course.

 

[The Mercurian]

It does run faster than last year's model. What we are mainly concerned with is will it be able to keep its base frequency otherwise it equals the i7. Currently based on my PS and Lightroom workflow with my i9 and my colleague's i7, I beat his machine by about a minute and a half in opening and processing 200 Raw Files. Not a technical test but based on what I do, it seems my i9 saves me 1.5 minutes per 200 photos I process hence I am happy. Maybe other applications would differ of course.

Surely opening 200 files depends more on the SSD speed than the CPU speed ?

 

[uecker87]

Straight up that's terrible results - My W10 notebook with 8750H
*removed attachments from quote*
Q-6

Wow my 15" base MBP with the same processor got horrible scores compared to you...

Which Windows laptop do you have? That seems to be a winner.

 

[M.Rizk]

I have an i7 2.6 hex core. What numbers would you like?

Please run Cinebench 15 too and monitor the temp and CPU speed for like 5 minutes to see if it can hold the base clock at least. Thanks

 

[Macshroomer]

It does run faster than last year's model. What we are mainly concerned with is will it be able to keep its base frequency otherwise it equals the i7. Currently based on my PS and Lightroom workflow with my i9 and my colleague's i7, I beat his machine by about a minute and a half in opening and processing 200 Raw Files. Not a technical test but based on what I do, it seems my i9 saves me 1.5 minutes per 200 photos I process hence I am happy. Maybe other applications would differ of course.

Do you have more context then that though, such as what was the total time for that job on each machine so we know what percentage gained? Also, what type of RAW file? There is a pretty big difference between 20MP and 50MP for example.

I’m about ready to cancel my i9 order, I have a maxed out 2017 that my only complaint with is sometimes not enough RAM at 16GB, hence my upgrade to a i9 / 32GB otherwise my current machine is fine, especially considering I run a maxed out 10 core iMac Pro for truly heavy lifting.

 

[aevan]

3 hours no throttling...

Where? What kind of computer are we talking here?

The 2018 MBP is clearly under performing, as to exactly why we'll see soon enough.

Q-6

It seems like you don't like the MBP.

Shocking.

 

[Queen6]

Nonsense, they were able to cool down Skylake and Kaby Lake just fine. Since 8th gen has the same thermal specs, it they should behave similarly.

Wrong the 8th Gen Hex cores pull significantly more power. My 8750H can pull close to 90W at full load, never seen a 7700HQ go beyond 50W under PL-2.

PL-1 is the same at 45W, 2018 MBP may simply not have the thermal headroom or power train to allow full Turbo. Or Apple is being super conservative, in which case a firmware update may work wonders, but let's hope for the latter.

We are at a point where Intel sells overclocked chips that draw double of their spec power under normal operation. Intel should get their game together and release chips with true perf-per watt increases.

Best nip over to Intel and put them straight then

Q-6

 

[aevan]

From a pure performance standpoint I have to say it IS worth it if you'll benefit from the increased number of cores. And the keyboard on the 2018 has yet to fail from heat, which I take as a good sign. The "feel" of it is also improved, though still significantly inferior to the 2015 and earlier.

Of course, you still have to put up with the absurdly oversized trackpad, USB-C only, no Magsafe, the overly thin/flimsy feeling design, etc.

What is absurdly oversized to you, is a great sized trackpad to me.
I pretty much disagree with everything else, too.

I think this computer is just not for you.

 

[Queen6]

Double post

 

[mr.anthonyramos]

Okay we get it, you liked the video, no reason to post it on every page...

Did someone die and make you king? Someone said that the 2017 model runs faster than the i9, I posted proof that it isn’t nessesarily true. Maybe the person hasn’t seen it? Have I posted it on every thread? Jeez. Lol. ‍♂️
[doublepost=1531926042][/doublepost]

Surely opening 200 files depends more on the SSD speed than the CPU speed ?

Yes that is a factor and the amount of RAM? Either way, processing the 200 RAW files at once applying multiple filters and exporting as TIFF uses the CPU.

 

[aevan]

Some people want to squeeze every bit of performance from a laptop and don't care about physical attributes of that laptop. The mistake this attitude for the state of being a 'pro'.

Some people look at the whole package and accept certain compromises in order to achieve a level of portability and enjoyment with their computer.

Both are fine viewpoints, but Apple only caters to one of these groups. So, like, deal with it, I guess.

 

[dan9700]

Some people are stressed over 1 min faster or slower it wont kill you or change your life lol some comments are crazy no way would apple not test the i9

 

[defn]

Cancelled my macbook pro order cant spend £3000 on a machine that doesnt work faster than last years, i dont care about 1 or 2 min faster if the i9 doesnt work well apple have messed up again!!!! Even the gpu is a disgrace same rebrand from 2 years ago

Relax dude. You're not wrong in cancelling your order, but it does seem like you're being prematurely broad with your conclusions.

1) If you work primarily on Premiere Pro, then it probably "doesn't work faster than last years" for now. For what its worth I don't think this is the first time that Adobe software performs slower on a newer Mac when it just launched.
2) If your workflow is similar to this dude's, it's going to "work faster than last years".
3) If your workflow is similar to this dude's, it's going to "work faster than last years".

 

[CodeJoy]

Ouch - looks like a pretty significant swing and a miss for the 2018 MacBook Pro! The Quad Core 13" was one I was potentially interested in but I had some reservations about the thermals. This just saved me a bunch of money!

Nah, you're safe with the 13". It won't be too long until they release an iFridge that plugs into the eGPU.

 

[Schranke]

Did someone die and make you king? Someone said that the 2017 model runs faster than the i9, I posted proof that it isn’t nessesarily true. Maybe the person hasn’t seen it? Have I posted it on every thread? Jeez. Lol. ‍♂️

Luckily no one died which would make me king... that would have to be a lot of people in Denmark (+other nordic and European countries), think we are near a last man standing scenario.
Just find it excessive that we have it one page 9, 10 and 11...

 

[The Mercurian]

Nah, you're safe with the 13". It won't be too long until they release an iFridge that plugs into the eGPU.

Ahahaha - a cooling dongle

 

[leman]

Wrong the 8th Gen Hex cores pull significantly more power. My 8750H can pull close to 90W at full load, never seen a 7700HQ go beyond 50W under PL-2.

Thats what I mean as well Sorry, maybe the modal was a bit ambiguous. I wrote "should" as in "one would expect it to". What happened instead is that the semantics of TDP has changed behind the scenes. You got faster CPUs, but the speed is achieved by drawing more power as well. If these CPUs indeed draw over 100W under load, does it even make sense to market them as 45Watt models? This is literally putting a desktop CPU inside a laptop.

And of course one can make a larger laptop that could dissipate the heat. But that is not the point. The point is having fast CPUs that do not dub as tea boilers. Until now, Intel was rather good at it. Over the years, they managed significant increases in performance while decreasing power consumption. Right now, we are suffering from stagnation tech development and the need to sell new CPUs, so thats why all these weird shenanigans start happening.

 

[Schranke]

Some people are stressed over 1 min faster or slower it wont kill you or change your life lol some comments are crazy no way would apple not test the i9

You don't say

this video worrys me, i ordered the maxed out 2018 and sold my 2017 for a good price, why is the new i9 2018 slower than 2017 doesnt make sense

this is worrying i brought the i9 but i dont wanna pay more and get slower

now i wanna cancel my i9 order
[doublepost=1531916659][/doublepost]how can apple make a more expesnive high end model thats worse than lower one this is not right and for that much money apple is doing my head in latly

Cancelled my macbook pro order cant spend £3000 on a machine that doesnt work faster than last years, i dont care about 1 or 2 min faster if the i9 doesnt work well apple have messed up again!!!! Even the gpu is a disgrace same rebrand from 2 years ago

 

[LeeW]

no way would apple not test the i9

Agreed, that would be silly. However, would they release it anyway if after testing and finding out it's throttling more than expected or acceptable? Yeah.

 

[Dovahkiing]

I tested my 2016 maxed out ,macbook pro, exporting a 4k file.. 2,9 Ghz

Room temperature is around 29 degrees.

Does not Throttle much

It is not clear from your data whether the machine finished it's task or shut down because the CPU hit 100+C

 

[Naimfan]

Please run Cinebench 15 too and monitor the temp and CPU speed for like 5 minutes to see if it can hold the base clock at least. Thanks

Right out of the box from the mid-level 15":

Cinebench: 90.21 FPS and a 921 CPU.

Unigine Heaven: 49.6 FPS, Score 1249.

Geekbench: 5187 single core; 22583 multi-core.

About 7 hours later:

Cinebench: 99.35 FPS, 965 CPU.

Currently runs between 952 and 880 on Cinebench CPU, the average when cool is ~950 and the average if run when hot is ~890.