(2019) 16" is HOT & NOISY with an external monitor! :(

[Minga089]

Ou I realized that this SwitchRexX solution only works for clamshell mode. Is that a truth? Is there really no fix to open lid with 5500m macbooks? I'm so disappointed. You literally cannot work with external monitor with lid open on internal keyboard unless you accept that your fingers gonna burn down. Sad story for this "pro" notebooks.

btw I connect MBP16, i9, 64GB, 5500m 8GB, Catalina 10.15.7 to FullHD 60HZ Benq monitor via VGA adapter and also get 18Watts GPU usage when open lid.

There is no fix for open lid. The GPU will always draw 18w when connected to an external monitor.

 

[ThatOneAwkwardGuy]

Got my Macbook back from the apple store. Seems they replaced the battery and the top shell. It seems to be back in working order for now. In all honesty, I'm just going to try my hardest to put it through the wringer because I have like 3 more months worth of warranty and if it's going to break again I need it to break before then haha.

I'm almost certain I'll be buying the next 16" once reviews and testing are out, whether that's intel or ARM, I don't think I'll care, I've basically resolved to losing 1k on this laptop and moving on to what's after it.

 

[ght56]

Ou I realized that this SwitchRexX solution only works for clamshell mode. Is that a truth? Is there really no fix to open lid with 5500m macbooks? I'm so disappointed. You literally cannot work with external monitor with lid open on internal keyboard unless you accept that your fingers gonna burn down. Sad story for this "pro" notebooks.

btw I connect MBP16, i9, 64GB, 5500m 8GB, Catalina 10.15.7 to FullHD 60HZ Benq monitor via VGA adapter and also get 18Watts GPU usage when open lid.

How old is your MacBook Pro? Specifically, are you still relatively close to the two week return period?

 

[GumaRodak]

Maybe a stupid question already pointed..do you guys use a genuine apple cables and adaptors to connect the monitors?

 

[AFPBoy]

Maybe a stupid question already pointed..do you guys use a genuine apple cables and adaptors to connect the monitors?

I used a cable sold by Apple (Moshi USB-C to DisplayPort Cable, attached to a 16" 5500M in clamshell mode), and I still needed to use SwitchResX to get the power consumption down to ~7 W at idle.

 

[GumaRodak]

Oki but it is still not genuine even if sold on apple store, or? I am just asking if this issue can be confirmed by using genuine parts too.

 

[IceStormNG]

Oki but it is still not genuine even if sold on apple store, or? I am just asking if this issue can be confirmed by using genuine parts too.

It's not about the adapter. This is simply a behavior of the GPU. Allmost all AMD GPUs do that. Probably one of the reasons AMD came up with HBM2 memory. Low clock, high bandwidth.
Interestingly, my Nvidia GPU (2080Ti) in my Windows Desktop also does this. It runs the GDDR6 at max clock when two 4K monitors are connected.

 

[AFPBoy]

Oki but it is still not genuine even if sold on apple store, or? I am just asking if this issue can be confirmed by using genuine parts too.

The part I needed isn't made by Apple. Plus I don't think you mean genuine, whatever that's supposed to mean, I think you mean manufactured by Apple.

But the real answer is that the cable type can be hit or miss according to the posts here.

 

[AFPBoy]

It's not about the adapter. This is simply a behavior of the GPU. Allmost all AMD GPUs do that. Probably one of the reasons AMD came up with HBM2 memory. Low clock, high bandwidth.
Interestingly, my Nvidia GPU (2080Ti) in my Windows Desktop also does this. It runs the GDDR6 at max clock when two 4K monitors are connected.

I think you are correct but the part I am unsure about, is why the high power consumption at idle didn't seem to be a problem before the 16" (outside a few isolated reports here)? Some users have posted that Apple has been more aggressive with thermals so the fans have to run more often, but I feel like there's a software component to this issue as well.

 

[antoinebell]

Hey,
I went through a few of the last pages but didn't have time to read everything

I have the 16-inch with i9, 32Gb of RAM and the Radeon 5500M which doesn't really work with my 2 LG 5K Ultrafine displays.

Does the 5600M would solve the issue? or at least improve it a bit?

Thanks

 

[ThunderSkunk]

The person I spoke to acknowledged the issue but could not speak as to actions, if any, that are being taken (my guess is they simply did not know.)

My technician/rep acknowledged they’ve had a few come back with this issue. Sent it in and 4 days later my MBP returned to me w/ a new logic board. ...which tells me they have no idea about whats going on. I’m giving this one to my mom, who will never use an ext monitor anyway. Prob sell off the other one. Guess I’ll stick to sitting at a desk in front of an iMac.

 

[teak421]

In reading about ten pages of this thread, it looks like I need to wait for the Mac Silicon MBP16... I've got two 27 inch external monitors and I was thinking of getting some sort of hub to power them. But, these heat issues, ACK!

Too bad, coming from Windows, I just LOVE how Macs work.

 

[Hollycene]

How old is your MacBook Pro? Specifically, are you still relatively close to the two week return period?

I'm facing this high GPU wattage issue for 6 months already and still have not found the proper fix. It's been almost a year since the first 16-inch came out. I'm giving up hope there. Ou Apple how I hate you for this.

 

[IceStormNG]

Oh, no worries. It won't get fixed. The only "fixes" are to use an eGPU or go for the 5600M.

 

[Hollycene]

Oh, no worries. It won't get fixed. The only "fixes" are to use an eGPU or go for the 5600M.

Sad, but true. It's ridiculous tho. You buy a "pro" machine for more than 2,5K$ expected to last at least 4-5 years as it is. I really feel cheated by Apple for that "two 6K monitor setup" advertisement.

 

[K3it4r0]

Oh, no worries. It won't get fixed. The only "fixes" are to use an eGPU or go for the 5600M.

My understanding is that the mod with the thermal pad fix the fan issue at least, right?

 

[ThatOneAwkwardGuy]

Sad, but true. It's ridiculous tho. You buy a "pro" machine for more than 2,5K$ expected to last at least 4-5 years as it is. I really feel cheated by Apple for that "two 6K monitor setup" advertisement.

Lol that's what really irks me, that damn ad.

 

[sg9]

I don't expect Apple to fix this before new MBP 16 release, whether it's one more Intel or AS version. Eather way there would be at least one big reason to upgrade.

 

[GumaRodak]

But maybe add cheap egpu which will handle the monitors fine...2x 27” monitor setup is not really a mobility setup anyway so one more egpu cant be an issue ...

 

[IceStormNG]

My understanding is that the mod with the thermal pad fix the fan issue at least, right?

I did the thermal pad mod myself and it does fix the high fan speed mostly. But it's like putting a band-aid onto a cut throat. For it to work perfectly, the machine has to be vertically or on a cooling stand that allows more air onto the bottom plate.


I did the mod mostly because of the VRM throttle, as I gave up using this machine with external monitors. I do most of my work on my Windows Desktop PC now. The 16" has so many flaws that I'm thinking about to leave the Mac universe. Windows machines also have flaws, but they're not that expensive. Luckily, 90% of my work can be done on Windows, too.

The next time I will not buy any high performance notebook again from Apple. They're too much obsessed with thinness and design over function that it will not get any better.

Just look at all the machines from 2016 to now.

 

[Hollycene]

I did the thermal pad mod myself and it does fix the high fan speed mostly. But it's like putting a band-aid onto a cut throat. For it to work perfectly, the machine has to be vertically or on a cooling stand that allows more air onto the bottom plate.


I did the mod mostly because of the VRM throttle, as I gave up using this machine with external monitors. I do most of my work on my Windows Desktop PC now. The 16" has so many flaws that I'm thinking about to leave the Mac universe. Windows machines also have flaws, but they're not that expensive. Luckily, 90% of my work can be done on Windows, too.

The next time I will not buy any high performance notebook again from Apple. They're too much obsessed with thinness and design over function that it will not get any better.

Just look at all the machines from 2016 to now.

Couldn't agree more! I also think that money we put to those macbooks could be spent more wisely whether to win PC or iMac for serious video/audio work.

 

[bill-p]

I think you are correct but the part I am unsure about, is why the high power consumption at idle didn't seem to be a problem before the 16" (outside a few isolated reports here)? Some users have posted that Apple has been more aggressive with thermals so the fans have to run more often, but I feel like there's a software component to this issue as well.

Because the previous MacBooks throttled so much that any performance degradation or fan issue was trivial.

The 16" MacBook is the first MacBook that can take a maximum of 100W of power draw under sustained load. It does have better thermal management compared to previous generations. Sadly, that also translates to more heat and more fan noise, as the CPU ramps up very often, and the fan follows suit.

If we want less fan noise and less heat, Apple can also just throttle the CPU under full load, and introduce a less aggressive fan profile.

Personally, I'm okay with fan noise. Work-issued HP workstation laptop is far more of a beast when it comes to fan noise and heat anyways. The 16" is okay.

 

[jaduffy007]

I did the thermal pad mod myself and it does fix the high fan speed mostly. But it's like putting a band-aid onto a cut throat. For it to work perfectly, the machine has to be vertically or on a cooling stand that allows more air onto the bottom plate.


I did the mod mostly because of the VRM throttle, as I gave up using this machine with external monitors. I do most of my work on my Windows Desktop PC now. The 16" has so many flaws that I'm thinking about to leave the Mac universe. Windows machines also have flaws, but they're not that expensive. Luckily, 90% of my work can be done on Windows, too.

The next time I will not buy any high performance notebook again from Apple. They're too much obsessed with thinness and design over function that it will not get any better.

Just look at all the machines from 2016 to now.

I could not agree more. I'll never buy an Apple "high performance" laptop, ever again. iMac + entry level laptop for me.

 

[Hollycene]

I could not agree more. I'll never buy an Apple "high performance" laptop, ever again. iMac + entry level laptop for me.

Yeah it's shame that apple keeps advertising these laptops as high performance devices for pro users. It's really nothing specially "pro" about these macbooks. That issue with external monitor is just only one of many flaws 16 inch has. Such a big disappointment. The only reason I'm stucked with Apple is FinalCut. If there was a FCPX for WinPC, I would definitely leave the Apple.

 

[theSeb]

I did the thermal pad mod myself and it does fix the high fan speed mostly. But it's like putting a band-aid onto a cut throat. For it to work perfectly, the machine has to be vertically or on a cooling stand that allows more air onto the bottom plate.


I did the mod mostly because of the VRM throttle, as I gave up using this machine with external monitors. I do most of my work on my Windows Desktop PC now. The 16" has so many flaws that I'm thinking about to leave the Mac universe. Windows machines also have flaws, but they're not that expensive. Luckily, 90% of my work can be done on Windows, too.

The next time I will not buy any high performance notebook again from Apple. They're too much obsessed with thinness and design over function that it will not get any better.

Just look at all the machines from 2016 to now.

2019 MBP is thicker and has beefier cooling than the previous one.