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

[IgorK]

Strangely, I have the same U2715H monitor, only Product D065 and I don't have 55Hz.

You have to manually add the 2560x1440 resolution with lower refresh rate in Настроенные Разрешения, please see my post above (when it gets moderator approval )

(This is quite strange btw - some of my posts do not require moderator approval, some do)

 

[antonreshetov]

You have to manually add the 2560x1440 resolution with lower refresh rate in Настроенные Разрешения, please see my post above (when it gets moderator approval )

(This is quite strange btw - some of my posts do not require moderator approval, some do)

Unfortunately, it didn't help me (((

 

[lǝʍɐd]

Strangely, I have the same U2715H monitor, only Product D065 and I don't have 55Hz.

Add custom resolution. That's what I did.

 

[IgorK]

Unfortunately, it didn't help me (((

Well, that's a pity(( Not sure it will help, but if I were you, I would additionally try some lower refresh rates (45? 40?) or maybe a slightly higher one like 61-65Hz

 

[decipherkl]

Roughly like this:

1. Get SwitchRexX (I think this requires paid version but not 100% sure).
2. Disable SIP, detailed guide here: https://www.madrau.com/support/support/srx_1011.html
3. Open SwitchResX, select your monitor, open Custom resolutions.
4. Click plus (+) button to add a resolution.
5. In the appearing modal window, make sure you have Custom resolution selected in the dropdown and change Vertical scan rate to e.g. 55Hz or 50Hz. Press OK.
6. Go to File -> Save Settings (or just press cmd + S)
7. Restart your macBook.
8. Open SwitchResX, select your monitor, open Current Resolutions.
9. Change resolution to the one you created above (look for the 55Hz or 50HZ refresh rate).
10. You can now re-enable SIP.

Hope this helps, a bit more info with screenshots can be found in the manual https://www.madrau.com/srx_howtouseit/howtouseit.html

Thanks for this. I have followed all these steps. Somehow it won't install the resolution even after reboot.

Are there other ways to install custom resolutions/refresh rates?

 

[lǝʍɐd]

My current setup which seems to be working perfectly fine after 8h of work. GPU sometimes eat's 8-9W but this is related to multiple VMs' I'm running. Will now try to add a configuration for a 2nd display as I used to work with at least two.

 

[IgorK]

Thanks for this. I have followed all these steps. Somehow it won't install the resolution even after reboot.

Are there other ways to install custom resolutions/refresh rates?

Hm, you mean you do not see the new resolution with lower refresh rate in Current Resolutions in SwitchResX after reboot?

 

[decipherkl]

Hm, you mean you do not see the new resolution with lower refresh rate in Current Resolutions in SwitchResX after reboot?

Yes, they remain in the custom tab and next to each that I have created they said "Not Installed." I have searched for this issue and some people do have this problem.

BTW I've installed the latest 10.15.5 Beta 2 and there's still no joy.

 

[IgorK]

Yes, they remain in the custom tab and next to each that I have created they said "Not Installed." I have searched for this issue and some people do have this problem.

BTW I've installed the latest 10.15.5 Beta 2 and there's still no joy.

This is strange. Do you have SIP disabled? And you did go to File -> Save after adding a custom resolution right?

 

[decipherkl]

This is strange. Do you have SIP disabled? And you did go to File -> Save after adding a custom resolution right?

Yes, SIP is disabled
[automerge]1587135755[/automerge]

Yes, SIP is disabled and I do File -> since I can still see the option after reboot, just not installed.

 

[IgorK]

Yes, SIP is disabled
[automerge]1587135755[/automerge]

Then I am out of ideas tbh Do you have a paid version of SwitchResX?

 

[antonreshetov]

Well, that's a pity(( Not sure it will help, but if I were you, I would additionally try some lower refresh rates (45? 40?) or maybe a slightly higher one like 61-65Hz

I added 40Hz and the miracle happened.

 

[jagooch]

I scanned the 44 pages of this thread and didn't see a solution anywhere.

Conclusion, there isn't a solution currently.

I did testing with my 16" 2019 Macbook Pro 2.4Ghz i9/radeon 4gb/32gb ram, using
Dell U2718Q display. Turbo Boost was disabled. GPU autoswitch enabled.

The display doesn't have USB-C, so I cycled Displayport and HDMI using adapters.

• Monoprice Mini Displayport -> USB-C Adapter
• No-name Displayport -> USB-C cable ( straight cable , no adapter in between )
• Apple HDMI -> usb-c adapter

Results

• The idle temperature with no external display is ~41C Fan 1800rpm.
• The idle temperature with DP->USBC connected external display is ~60C 3000rpm
• The idle temperature with HDMI->USBC connected external display is ~61C 3000rpm

Some interesting observations

• Apple recommends putting external displays on separate usb-c busses. So plug on in on the left and one the right side of the laptop.
• Adding a 2nd external display ( Dell P2715Q ) Bumped the temperature up to ~65C , I didn't record the fan.
• With no external display, built-in was using Intel UHD GPU. with 1+ external displays, all displays ( no just external) were using Radeon GPU.

Questions:

• Would using an USB-C external display with native support help? ie a display the does not require an adapter.
• Would using an eGPU to drive external displays help? If the heat issue is due to the internal Radeon GPU, then I would think offloading to an external GPU would fix it. Expensive, but an option.
• How do view power draw? I have iStats but don't see power usage mention anywhere.

 

[IgorK]

• How do view power draw? I have iStats but don't see power usage mention anywhere.

You need a paid version of iStat Menus for that.

 

[Tnanman]

I'm tempted to sell this external display and get a USB-C monitor on the off chance that is helps resolve this issue... I literally don't get why Apple won't even acknowledge it's an issue

 

[mrmachine79]

eGPU is the only fix. I would NOT be selling and buying monitors to work around it. If you don't NEED 6 or 8 cores, I'd wait for the impending 13" refresh and hope it has a 32gb option.

With no dGPU it won't have the same issue. Those extra 20W have to go somewhete, and it seems that Apple only design and test their machines for EITHER CPU or GPU. Not both.

BUT I have also heard similar reports about 13" models. They still have weak iGPU and it still uses some more power to run external screens and run any GPU apps like video conference (but not 20W).

Even light GPU work on an external display can cripple the CPU.

If you do need 8 cores though, or if you just want your CPU to run optimally even if you don't run any GPU intensive apps, get the eGPU. Your machine will run quieter and cooler and faster (even pure CPU workloads) at your desk.

Expensive, but the only solution. Or if you can, just live with the heat, noise, and requirement to run in clamshell with suboptimal CPU performance on what should be a beast.

 

[The-Reporter]

eGPU is the only fix. I would NOT be selling and buying monitors to work around it. If you don't NEED 6 or 8 cores, I'd wait for the impending 13" refresh and hope it has a 32gb option.

With no dGPU it won't have the same issue. Those extra 20W have to go somewhete, and it seems that Apple only design and test their machines for EITHER CPU or GPU. Not both.

BUT I have also heard similar reports about 13" models. They still have weak iGPU and it still uses some more power to run external screens and run any GPU apps like video conference (but not 20W).

Even light GPU work on an external display can cripple the CPU.

If you do need 8 cores though, or if you just want your CPU to run optimally even if you don't run any GPU intensive apps, get the eGPU. Your machine will run quieter and cooler and faster (even pure CPU workloads) at your desk.

Expensive, but the only solution. Or if you can, just live with the heat, noise, and requirement to run in clamshell with suboptimal CPU performance on what should be a beast.

Just a reflexion about how sad/absurd it is : to have an AMD Radeon Pro 5500M which can achieve nearly 4Tflops in FP32 ---just for comparison about 3 times the raw power of Xbox One (~1.3Tflops)--- which "can not" be used to display just a desktop/static image on an external screen...

Add an eGPU to MBP16 just to avoid this issue is totally absurd. Maybe that's a better idea to buy for example a ZBook Studio G5 or ThinkPad P1 (~same category or above than MBP16, with Xeon and Quadro GPU) and put macOS in a VM (more pragmatic, less waste of money)...

 

[Salomonander]

Well yes, im looking at razers atm. why pay premium for a company that obviously does not give a darn. kind of not premium at all but a rip off. now today i read about the mac pro wheels costing 850€ - for 4 tiny wheels. haha this company is full of.....

 

[decipherkl]

I signed up for 10.15.5 beta 2 and provided a feedback. I wonder if they will take notice of this.

 

[jagooch]

You need a paid version of iStat Menus for that.

Correct but there is another requirement that I learned after my post.

There are 2 versions of iStat Menus - Apple Store and Web download from their site.

The Apple store version, which
is what I bought, is missing features, such as fan control and power monitoring. You can add some features back by installing the IStat Menus helper , but fan control is still missing.

The Web download versions is full featured and is the one that I recommend, now that I know it exists.

I switched to the Web download version yesterday and now I have all of the features. I set up fan control with automatic profile switching and 9 different profiles.


My Macbook Pro runs a ton quieter now , though playing videos will still bump the fan speed up to 2500 - 3000 rpm. I’m ok as that isn’t too noisy for me. Before it was like someone was running a vacuum cleaner on my desk!

That was with one external display. I hooked my 2nd display up today and we’ll see how the temps and fans do.

 

[bill-p]

Here's my 16" on LG 43UD79 in clamshell mode. Straight USB-C connection that also seems to charge the MacBook (amazing...)

Lid open, it still does 18W. But clamshell is perfectly quiet and cool. This is pretty much the same case for my LG 34WK95U

So I'm starting to think the problem some may be seeing are just related to the dock/adapter that they are using.

And word of advice to those thinking about an eGPU: I have a 13" + eGPU setup that I was using prior to getting the 16" and the 16" by itself runs a lot quieter. The 13" MacBook wasn't noisy but the eGPU was quite noisy, even at idle. Under full load for gaming or 3D rendering, the 16" is significantly quieter and cooler than the eGPU by itself.

 

[stevenzli]

I'm the original poster in the Apple Community for the MBP fan / heat issues that Max Tech is referring to. I'm commenting here because the video provided isn't accurate. First, he is doing his tests without being plugged in so he isn't dealing with the heat from the 97watts from the wall. Also, background applications and tasks don't operate on the same frequencies when on battery (for example Photos, Mail etc), so you will see less utilization on the computer as a whole. Lastly, the EXCESSIVE heat is solely being generated by the GPU and increases from one external monitor to two external monitors and he is using it in clamshell mode, which changes the results dramatically. The CPU isn't really the issue and you should not install applications that artificially slow down your computer or limit its functionality to use a $3k to $6k laptop. These heat issues are not just "annoying fan noise" but will shorten the life of these laptops because they do and will run 100 degrees Celsius for extended periods of time and the overall performance will be throttled. We are using or tested at least 14 units since November all with the same issues in four different configurations. Many of us have been contacted in the Apple Community by Apple Engineers and after providing information, Apple has disappeared. The struggle has been to get Apple to recognize these issues. This coming week, we have a conference with a senior Apple Engineer and the Apple Business Team. Hoping to get more information.

What have your learned from your discussion with the senior apple engineer? Do they have any plan to tackle this issue?

 

[Jbk123]

Quick question, when you guys run your macbook in clamshell mode, how to you turn the computer on each time. Do you guys have dock with a power button. Or do you just turn it on first then leave it on?
[automerge]1587329593[/automerge]
Does it make a difference if I use HDMI or displayport to my monitor? I currently use a USB-C to HDMI cable

 

[recoil80]

Quick question, when you guys run your macbook in clamshell mode, how to you turn the computer on each time. Do you guys have dock with a power button. Or do you just turn it on first then leave it on?
[automerge]1587329593[/automerge]
Does it make a difference if I use HDMI or displayport to my monitor? I currently use a USB-C to HDMI cable

I don’t shut it down at the end of the day so it just in standby and I can move he mouse to wake it up. Sometimes I unplug it and use as a laptop for a while to preserve battery, and during the weekend I only use it as a laptop at home.
I use a display port to USBC cable as my external monitor run at 30Hz with HDMI

 

[Jbk123]

anyone running it with dual monitors with

Here's my 16" on LG 43UD79 in clamshell mode. Straight USB-C connection that also seems to charge the MacBook (amazing...)

Lid open, it still does 18W. But clamshell is perfectly quiet and cool. This is pretty much the same case for my LG 34WK95U

So I'm starting to think the problem some may be seeing are just related to the dock/adapter that they are using.

And word of advice to those thinking about an eGPU: I have a 13" + eGPU setup that I was using prior to getting the 16" and the 16" by itself runs a lot quieter. The 13" MacBook wasn't noisy but the eGPU was quite noisy, even at idle. Under full load for gaming or 3D rendering, the 16" is significantly quieter and cooler than the eGPU by itself.

How do you like that monitor, how is the text scaling in 4K I am currently looking for a big monitor to replace multi monitor set up. are you doing the SwitchRexX 55hz setup to achieve the 5w in clamshell mode?

Thanks!