Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Am I the only one not impacted by this? I have my machine connected to a 1080P monitor via HDMI through a dongle and lid open or lid closed, or even in Windows, the fans are never audible unless I start pushing the processor. This is my third machine since November (returned one to switch payment to Apple card, returned the other because it was scratched out of the box) and none of them have had any issues when connected to a monitor so far.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MacLappy
Am I the only one not impacted by this? I have my machine connected to a 1080P monitor via HDMI through a dongle and lid open or lid closed, or even in Windows, the fans are never audible unless I start pushing the processor. This is my third machine since November (returned one to switch payment to Apple card, returned the other because it was scratched out of the box) and none of them have had any issues when connected to a monitor so far.
You will return this one too if you connect it to a 4K monitor and use a decent resolution))
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: joelhinch
As I understood the problem is either partially or completely solved using CalDigit TS3+. Is it true?

If it is true, in which mode, the behavior of the notebook is the closest to what we expect from a simple connection of an external monitor:

  • One monitor is connected via CalDigit TS3+
  • One monitor is connected via CalDigit TS3+ in clamshell mode
  • Two monitors is connected via CalDigit TS3+
  • Two monitors is connected via CalDigit TS3+ in clamshell mode
 
As I understood the problem is either partially or completely solved using CalDigit TS3+. Is it true?

If it is true, in which mode, the behavior of the notebook is the closest to what we expect from a simple connection of an external monitor:

  • One monitor is connected via CalDigit TS3+
  • One monitor is connected via CalDigit TS3+ in clamshell mode
  • Two monitors is connected via CalDigit TS3+
  • Two monitors is connected via CalDigit TS3+ in clamshell mode


> As I understood the problem is either partially or completely solved using CalDigit TS3+. Is it true?

I don't think this is entirely true. Please see @Appledoesnotlisten's answers on this page.

I'm holding back on buying the TS3+ because the problem isn't solved no matter which cable e.g. DP, HDMI etc. or docking solution you use. Thanks.


EDIT:

The only known workaround so far is to put your MBP-2019 into "clamshell" mode i.e. use the external monitor only with MBP-2019's lid closed. Thanks.
 
Am I the only one not impacted by this? I have my machine connected to a 1080P monitor via HDMI through a dongle and lid open or lid closed, or even in Windows, the fans are never audible unless I start pushing the processor. This is my third machine since November (returned one to switch payment to Apple card, returned the other because it was scratched out of the box) and none of them have had any issues when connected to a monitor so far.

This might be due to your external monitor's resolution i.e. 1080p.

Most people who are complaining here are trying to use higher resolutions than 1080p e.g. 4K. Thanks.
 
This might be due to your external monitor's resolution i.e. 1080p.

Most people who are complaining here are trying to use higher resolutions than 1080p e.g. 4K. Thanks.

That sounds like the truth. When I connect my U2715H to native resolution 2560x1440 with the lid open, Radeon High Side shows ~18W. When I switch the resolution to 1080p RSH also shows ~18W, but when I close the lid the RSH drops to ~4W.
 
Does anyone know if there was a similar problem on MacBooks of 2017/2018?
The main question is should I return MacBook to the store, or wait until the problem will be fixed with software update
 
Last edited:
Does anyone know if there was a similar problem on MacBooks of 2017/2018?
The main question is should I return MacBook to the store, or wait until the problem will be fixed.

Based on @Appledoesnotlisten's answers on this page, their 15" MBP-2017 doesn't demonstrate the fan issue with two DELL 4K P2415Q monitors. Thanks.
 
Thanks for the answer, @gsbabil !
It turns out that there is no official information about this issue from Apple and the problem may not be fixed at all
 
Am I the only one not impacted by this? I have my machine connected to a 1080P monitor via HDMI through a dongle and lid open or lid closed, or even in Windows, the fans are never audible unless I start pushing the processor. This is my third machine since November (returned one to switch payment to Apple card, returned the other because it was scratched out of the box) and none of them have had any issues when connected to a monitor so far.

Me too! I am connected via a multi purpose hub(mini display port) to a 1920x1200 Dell monitor. No heat problem either. Based on Macfancontrol far speed is about 1850 rpm doing normal stuff like surfing the web, watching Netflix, YouTube etc. Machine bought in mid January, so about a month of usage, has been prefect so far.
 
Adding my info in case anyone is collecting stats.

MBP 2.4Ghz i9, 16" 5500M 8GB - 64GB RAM, 2TB SSD

CalDigit TS3+ with updated firmware, dual P2415Q 4K monitors (both scaled to the "more space" setting of 3008x1692), lid open on MBP 100% of the time
  • Radeon "High Side" power draw in iStats menus is 20.1W @ idle
  • CPU PECI sits between 59C and 61C
  • Left side and right side fans sit between 2100RPM and 2300RPM
 
As I understood the problem is either partially or completely solved using CalDigit TS3+. Is it true?

If it is true, in which mode, the behavior of the notebook is the closest to what we expect from a simple connection of an external monitor:

  • One monitor is connected via CalDigit TS3+
  • One monitor is connected via CalDigit TS3+ in clamshell mode
  • Two monitors is connected via CalDigit TS3+
  • Two monitors is connected via CalDigit TS3+ in clamshell mode
In my experience, using a Thunderbolt dock ( Kensington ) didn't change anything,
 
  • Like
Reactions: Appledoesnotlisten
Anyone have experience with a 16 inch and the 24 inch 4k LG Ultrafine display that Apple sells in retail stores?
 
Adding my info in case anyone is collecting stats.

MBP 2.4Ghz i9, 16" 5500M 8GB - 64GB RAM, 2TB SSD

CalDigit TS3+ with updated firmware, dual P2415Q 4K monitors (both scaled to the "more space" setting of 3008x1692), lid open on MBP 100% of the time
  • Radeon "High Side" power draw in iStats menus is 20.1W @ idle
  • CPU PECI sits between 59C and 61C
  • Left side and right side fans sit between 2100RPM and 2300RPM
Pretty much seeing the same thing.

2.3Ghz i9, 5500M 8GB, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD

TS3+ with dual 4k
- Clamshell mode ~9w
- MacBook open ~21w

TS3+ with single 4k
- Clamshell mode ~5w
- MacBook open ~21 w
[automerge]1581728187[/automerge]
Anyone have experience with a 16 inch and the 24 inch 4k LG Ultrafine display that Apple sells in retail stores?
Interested in this also, the XDR also. Wonder how it performs thermally, particularly 2x of them paired with the 16”
 
Why cant they use the iGPU to power up the internal display and the dedicated graphics power only the external displays? That way it would stay at 4w per monitor, more or less
 
It can be fixed, but who knows wether Apple will acknowledge this.

This is my external monitor behaviour:
Through an HDMI adapter (2560x1440, 60hz) I get 18W.
Through a direct USB-C to Displayport cable (2560x1440, 60hz) I get 18W.
With the same cable, but forcing higher refresh rate (2560x1440, 144hz) I get 5W.

How in the world does that make sense? While pushing 2,4x the amount of pixel I burn 1/4 of the power. And since that 18W is the same exact amount of power used by the system while on external + internal, regardless of what is happening on the screen, we're leaning toward the theory that something within the GPU driver is causing it to spike at that usage while there is clearly no need to.
How do you force a higher refresh rate?
 
In my experience, the external display's refresh rate has no influence on the Radeon GPU power consumption (and heat generation). I'm running a 35" ultra-wide (3440x1440) 120hz display, and changing the refresh rate via the display preference pane has no influence on the power consumption. Like most other people who have posted on this thread, the Radeon GPU uses 18 - 20W while both the internal and external displays are active, and much lower power whilst only the external display is active with the MacBook Pro in clamshell mode.

I have with my past MacBook Pros (ever since the first Unibody MBP of 2008) experienced slightly increased heat whilst using an external display, but not to this level.

I am using the i7 16" MacBook Pro with the 5300M GPU.

I live in a tropical climate and unfortunately, using my MBP with both the internal and external displays active (so as to make use of the supposedly improved keyboard) is no longer viable due to how sweaty it makes my hands. Yes, I have increased the fan speeds manually but this does very little to decrease the heat which the machine is generating while using both displays.

I agree with the sentiment that there can surely be no good reason why the Radeon GPU uses SO MUCH MORE power whilst both displays are active.
 
I have mine connected two a 4k and a 2.6K and its fine when it comes to noise.

Temps are always around 60C-67C and GPU is comsuming 19W (Clamshell closed). This while coding and browsing.

With clamshell open along with two monitors, GPU consumes around 20w.
 
That’s for the resolution not the refresh rate.
That shows me the refresh rate options as well, after I click "Show low res".
If you don't see it, i'd suggest trying an app like SwitchResX .
1581794913768.png
 
That shows me the refresh rate options as well, after I click "Show low res".
If you don't see it, i'd suggest trying an app like SwitchResX .
View attachment 894401
Yes in my case it's grayed out, he mentioned that he was able to force a higher refresh rate but I don't know if he was able to maintain the same resolution because with the app you mentioned if I tried to force the refresh rate to 75 (that's the maximum that the app will let me go) it changes the resolution (way lower) and it makes the screen looks weird, impossible to use.
 
I wonder if anyone has already posted this?

Considering the fact that AMD GPUs have been known to have higher power consumption when it comes to multimonitor usage, it doesn't surprise me at all that MBPs run hotter when connected to an external LCD.

Take this review from Anandtech: https://www.anandtech.com/show/11278/amd-radeon-rx-580-rx-570-review/2

It shows a 35% higher power consumption when you connect a display with mismatched resolution. Granted, in this case, it's a RX 580 but I guess this still applies to current Navi GPUs as well. It has been like this ever since I've been messing with PC hardware for the last 10 years.

1581808795979.png


I guess Apple is not the one to be blamed here, but AMD.

I'm also surprised that you are seriously debating about the impact of driving 4K resolutions and up. I mean, come on, you're talking about driving a static 2D image on overpowered 2019 hardware. Why should it even matter to these GPUs? I used to have a Surface Pro 2 with an i5 4200U that I had connected to two (!) 2560x1600 LCDs + the internal 1080p display which wasn't causing any heating up of the PC at all.
Even my ancient Lenovo X200 Tablet with a Core 2 Duo and integrated 4500MHD GPU was able to drive a 1440p display without a hiccup.

This seems not to be an issue at all on Nvidia and Intel GPUs. And I'm saying this as a kind of supporter of AMD GPUs due to their Linux driver support.
 
Last edited:
It's ridiculous... 2 months and still the issue persists, and Apple ignores us.
We need to do something about it. We can't keep hope that Apple will solve it.

My offer:
1. Call Apple support and tell them about this issue. The more they hear about it, the more aware they are of the problem.
2. Write feedback - https://www.apple.com/feedback/
3. Write to YouTubers in their videos about the issue. We need their help.
 
I used to have a Surface Pro 2 with an i5 4200U that I had connected to two (!) 2560x1600 LCDs + the internal 1080p display which wasn't causing any heating up of the PC at all.
Even my ancient Lenovo X200 Tablet with a Core 2 Duo and integrated 4500MHD GPU was able to drive a 1440p display without a hiccup.

Lolol. My SP2 and SP3 would heat up even without monitors connected. Kkk.

I have a MBR 16" 2.4/6GHZ CPU and the 8GB GPU.

I don't know what's the fuss here, really. A role model MBP 15" of 2015" is less thermal efficient with my two monitors (4K and 2.6K) than my MBP 16". Even with no external monitors goes to 85 in a snap.

PS: This is not an issue of the TB3+ dock either. These monitors connected the MBP 16" shows the same values. Rarely I ear the fans while coding if ever. They kick start at around 80º something mild noise, keep the temps under 90 for the most part, and go average noise at 90 up and than at 100 it becomes noisy. All natural.

Not saying that this cannot be optimised. If it can, Apple should do it ASAP. Just now is at 65, no fan noise, 5 apps, writing and debugging an angular app, CPU 90% idle.
 
Last edited:
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.