2018 i9 MacBook Pro throttling discussion [merged]

[Salaryman Ryan]

Hmm I wonder if it will make more sense to stick with the lower i7 CPU to get cooler results?

hm. things are not looking good indeed.

these substantial heat/throttling issues seem to be present at the 13'' model too:

source: https://www.notebookcheck.com/Test-Apple-MacBook-Pro-13-2018-Touch-Bar-i5-Laptop.316002.0.html
(the link is in german)

they tested the base(!) 2018 quadcore-model.

Yikes I was planning to get the quad 13 too and was debating to myself if I should get the i7 upgrade but hesitate because of the heat issues but if the base i5 gets hot I will probably wait for the next update and let Apple sort this out before pulling the trigger.

 

[rainking]

This is why you wait for the reviews to come in before purchasing.

*bought within the hour of being announced.

 

[p8blr]

If the cooling solution can't even handle the 2.2GHz i7 without throttling, what happens when you stress the CPU & GPU? Is an i9 and 560X going to start melting solder? (kidding/not kidding).

 

[uecker87]

If the cooling solution can't even handle the 2.2GHz i7 without throttling, what happens when you stress the CPU & GPU? Is an i9 and 560X going to start melting solder? (kidding/not kidding).

I realized that I had another background process running during that benchmark... Did a new one. Thermals and throttling below. Counted this time - throttling started within about 9 seconds.



Edit: So it pretty much maintained at least the base 2.2ghz clock speed... I don't know what to think of that... Others?

 

[Zellio]

If the cooling solution can't even handle the 2.2GHz i7 without throttling, what happens when you stress the CPU & GPU? Is an i9 and 560X going to start melting solder? (kidding/not kidding).

No, that’s why it throttles. However, running hot so often completely negates buying the new 6 Corr machines and could lower lifespan

 

[MaSTeR_MaMay]

It tries to go to turbo state, than goes back to standard one (2.2 GHz). Looks more like an issue with incorrect handling of intel newer “super-duper turbo mode” states than thermal throttling. I think, that they will correct the speedstep management to have not so much sporadic behaviour, but to set on specific frequency not much above normal.

Or will add liquid metal instead of thermal ****

 

[zshane1125]

No, that’s why it throttles. However, running hot so often completely negates buying the new 6 Corr machines and could lower lifespan

So this means that all 8th gen CPU have this problem no matter which models you buy?

That’s even worse. Why even buy the 2018 models then.

 

[KarmaRocket]

This was my fear. I seriously doubted all the talk about FCPX not being optimized for 6 core Intel processors. It's a real shame, I really wanted a new MBP since I'm getting more into IOS development and doing more 4K editing and was really liking FCPX.

I think I can hold off for 2019. I have a 2013 15" MBP it is still great for development. The thing is I'm getting more into game development and want something that can handle 3D modeling/animation as well as Unity and Unreal Engine. My MBP is barely chugging along with those apps. I may just have to get that Razer Blade 15.

I always felt this update seemed rushed. No Apple event or anything. Like Apple was just trying to ward off bad press about not having 8th gen Intel pro machines out. They got really lazy and greedy. Using the same chassis as previous versions, when most people know the new 8th gen Intel processors ran hotter and required better cooling and fans.

What a lazy update. Seems like just a money grab move. Typical Apple. Seem like it's getting worse since the Steve Jobs era.

 

[defn]

This was my fear. I seriously doubted all the talk about FCPX not being optimized for 6 core Intel processors. It's a real shame, I really wanted a new MBP since I'm getting more into IOS development and doing more 4K editing and was really liking FCPX.

I think I can hold off for 2019. I have a 2013 15" MBP it is still great for development. The thing is I'm getting more into game development and want something that can handle 3D modeling/animation as well as Unity and Unreal Engine. My MBP is barely chugging along with those apps. I may just have to get that Razer Blade 15.

I always felt this update seemed rushed. No Apple event or anything. Like Apple was just trying to ward off bad press about not having 8th gen Intel pro machines out. They got really lazy and greedy. Using the same chassis as previous versions, when most people know the new 8th gen Intel processors ran hotter and required better cooling and fans.

What a lazy update. Seems like just a money grab move. Typical Apple. Seem like it's getting worse since the Steve Jobs era.

To be fair they had a somewhat similar problem with PPC G5’s in Jobs’ days. The portables were stuck at G4’s and one can argue whether keeping a product line on an older architecture was a better move than what they’re doing now.

Moving to an in house chip design is the solution given their scale these days in my opinion.

 

[Flabasha]

So this means that all 8th gen CPU have this problem no matter which models you buy?

That’s even worse. Why even buy the 2018 models then.

You should be fine if you don't use the CPU.

 

[wilfred2013]

A powerful and power hungry cpu in the same this chassis. What can really go wrong ....

 

[KarmaRocket]

To be fair they had a somewhat similar problem with PPC G5’s in Jobs’ days. The portables were stuck at G4’s and one can argue whether keeping a product line on an older architecture was a better move than what they’re doing now.

Moving to an in house chip design is the solution given their scale these days in my opinion.

There is a difference though back in the PPC G4 and G5 days. IBM and Motorola had issues with yields if I remember correctly. They also had issues with progressing the CPU. Intel has the chips ready. They might be late with their original timeline, but Apple had access to them the same amount of time as other manufacturers.

I'm not sure how Apple's AX chips will translate to OSX and professional work. Apple's chips are fine for consumer and prosumer type of work, but how will the chips run when you need to work on a project taxing the maximum potential of the CPU or need to render for days?

 

[Gata]

I'm not sure how Apple's AX chips will translate to OSX and professional work. Apple's chips are fine for consumer and prosumer type of work, but how will the chips run when you need to work on a project taxing the maximum potential of the CPU or need to render for days?

I'd imagine that for a chromebook-style device (something more suited to the Macbook), that'd be fine. But for a professional device, putting a serious dent in its cross-platform compatibility (by moving from x86 processors to something of their own) would hurt it in the pro market, especially for those who don't develop for iOS.

 

[swerve147]

To be fair they had a somewhat similar problem with PPC G5’s in Jobs’ days. The portables were stuck at G4’s and one can argue whether keeping a product line on an older architecture was a better move than what they’re doing now.

Moving to an in house chip design is the solution given their scale these days in my opinion.

Agreed. Apple can't move to their own silicon soon enough. It's only when they completely control the hardware and software, when we'll see a Macbook Pro truly optimized for mac os and the Apple ecosystem.

I wonder if it was pressure from their hardware partners, PR, investors whatever that made Apple rush to market without working out these kinds of flaws. Any type of serious research/engineering would have addressed this, you would think. While Windows PC manufacturers (e.g. Alienware, Razer) weren't all necessarily 100% successful, at least they made their own attempts at taming the heat of these new hexacore processors by implementing new thermal solutions.

 

[Zellio]

People are ignoring that amd actually has a better design in Ryzen, it’s simply held back due to the fabrication method (its for low power arm processors). Next gen Ryzen will be 7nm, a better fab and design, more powerful and energy efficient

 

[pier]

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

You could use a freezer...

 

[jackietreeh0rn]

I wish I would've had the money to drop to get the i9 with the 32 gigs. talk about a beast of a computer. $3000 is a lot, but it was a huge upgrade from my 2012 MBP that had a dual core i7. I went with the normal higher speced version for a few reasons:

I set a $3k limit. I wanted a balance between practicality and power. And then I thought about the worst of the worst. if my computer had an immediate issue (and it did!) how easy would it be to replace. I'm past the issue, and hope to have it as my daily computer until im 40 (I'm 32 now).

What was the immediate issue it had?

 

[pier]

If the cooling solution can't even handle the 2.2GHz i7 without throttling, what happens when you stress the CPU & GPU? Is an i9 and 560X going to start melting solder? (kidding/not kidding).

Nothing will happen on short term. When the temperature is too high and the cooling system is not enough performance will start dropping to protect hardware.

On long term... who knows.

cough MBP 2011 cough

 

[NJRonbo]

I am getting ready to unwrap my i9 MacBook Pro.

Should I keep it or return it to the Apple Store and get an i7 with larger SSD?

 

[kodos]

Fantastic . Glad I didn't splurge on the i9 (I had a suspicion that this might be the case). But I'm not that smart. From what I see posted above, even the base i7 throttles badly. My 15" 2.2Ghz i7 should be here tomorrow according to UPS, so I'll see what happens when I have it under load.

 

[blackberrycubed]

I am getting ready to unwrap my i9 MacBook Pro.

Should I keep it or return it to the Apple Store and get an i7 with larger SSD?

I think so ....

 

[NJRonbo]

I think so ....

I think so.......what?

 

[blackberrycubed]

I think so.......what?

get i7 and bigger ssd.

 

[NJRonbo]

get i7 and bigger ssd.

Thanks!

 

[Standard]

This was my fear. I seriously doubted all the talk about FCPX not being optimized for 6 core Intel processors. It's a real shame, I really wanted a new MBP since I'm getting more into IOS development and doing more 4K editing and was really liking FCPX.

I think I can hold off for 2019. I have a 2013 15" MBP it is still great for development. The thing is I'm getting more into game development and want something that can handle 3D modeling/animation as well as Unity and Unreal Engine. My MBP is barely chugging along with those apps. I may just have to get that Razer Blade 15.

I always felt this update seemed rushed. No Apple event or anything. Like Apple was just trying to ward off bad press about not having 8th gen Intel pro machines out. They got really lazy and greedy. Using the same chassis as previous versions, when most people know the new 8th gen Intel processors ran hotter and required better cooling and fans.

What a lazy update. Seems like just a money grab move. Typical Apple. Seem like it's getting worse since the Steve Jobs era.

I am in a similar situation. Currently, I have a custom built pc with a GTX 1080 for 3d creation, primarily game art. It's great, no issues. I purchased an MSI 4k gaming laptop to use a mobile workstation. Performance is great, but I could never get over the build quality and how heavy it was. 17" in a 15" chassis. It was my first non Apple laptop, ever. Big shock, and I don't say that as a fan boy.

My concern is this. I prefer a small laptop. The 13" would be my poison. I'm wondering how long 16 GB of RAM will last me for content creation. The biggest challenge I see is with texture maps. If they stay at 4k for a few years, I suspect I'll get great life out of the 13" paired with an eGPU while working in Substance.

Thanks to a member who sent me a benchmark of their new 13", I can say that the new quad core is considerably faster than my 7th gen 7700hq in my MSI.

If I spec out the 13" the way I want it, it's $3000 vs $3500 for a base cpu, 32gb ram 15". On paper the 15" sounds like a dream, but, after seeing these early reports of thermal throttling, I am strongly leaning towards the 13". I want something light weight, powerful, and can just be plugged into an eGPU when at a desk. I will wait to see more reviews and go see these machines in person. My last MBP was a 2015 15". I want to see if these machines are lighter.

Lastly, is it true OS X handles ram usage better than Windows 10?