I'm sitting here with the MBP in clamshell mode, using Firefox. The CPU sits at 60º C and the fans are inaudible.
But, whenever I do anything that puts some load on the CPU, the fans go off. Reaching 100º takes seconds .
Sitting here, staring at my idling MBP is not what I got it for. It has to work for it's money. And it's thermals are clearly underpowered.
coding, multiple IDEs, browsers, VMs. Thats not peak load, but more constant medium load with some exceptions when a build starts or something.
Oh, I know. An iMac would be Perfect. It does not fit into my bicyclebag though 😕
I don’t don’t want to deal with multiple machines, I’m almost 100% certain that I’ll see if an egpu helps. Still undecided if an 5k display is the better option. it’s also very possible that a MacBook Pro is simply the wrong tool for me.
the last option is the one I like the least
A Mac Mini would fit lol. But I need a screen on the go when I work away from the office or my own desk.The old trashcan Mac Pro got a lot of hate, but it was borderline mobile. Heard about someone who had a bag for it when bicycling and move it between home and work that way. Oh well...
A Mac Mini would fit lol. But I need a screen on the go when I work away from the office or my own desk.
Are you serious? Apple advertises the number/config of supported external monitors.guess I wonder why anyone really needs an external monitor with a 16" I like using things in their native form...
I think a lot of the potential issues stem from exactly how the displays are connected to the computer. As we don't yet know how the OP has connected the displays to their system, the list of cables and USB-C docks that were listed as part of their setup suggests that everything may be daisy-chained together in a manner that is not optimal for multiple display setups. It's important to clarify that the mechanical USB-C connector can run on two separate sets of technologies or rules. There's USB 3.1 Gen 2, the current evolution of the USB standard that uses this new style of connector at 10Gb/s, and Thunderbolt 3 which has 4x the bandwidth of USB 3.1 Gen 2 running at 40Gb/s. Now you don't need a Thunderbolt 3 dock to connect high resolution displays to a system. Simply a USB-C to DisplayPort or HDMI cable should be adequate to get the display running at its native resolution. There should be no USB-C docks in the middle of that connection, just a cable that directly connects the computer and display. If I was relying on USB-C connections, I would directly connect one display to one USB-C connector on the system.I dunno what these other people's issues are, mine is not struggling to drive an external 4K panel even when rendering a 5K image and downscaling it to 4K. The fans are not audible at all under any scenario that I'm using it with my external monitor and that includes with the laptops display open too.
2,200-2,400 RPM is not audible to me unless my head is at the keyboard. 3,000-4,000 RPM is where it becomes audible at a sitting position near the laptop.
With the laptop in clamshell mode the fans fall even further to 1,400-1,600 RPM.
When using a Thunderbolt 3 dock, Thunderbolt 3 can route audio/video signals directly, as well as offer USB capabilities. Think of Thunderbolt 3 as a giant pipe that contains smaller pipes inside. There's a dedicated pipe to handle audio, a dedicated pipe to handle video, a dedicated pipe to handle Ethernet, and a dedicated pipe to handle USB devices. Now external displays don't need to be routed through USB to work anymore because they have their own direct pipes to the system, leaving the USB pipe available for other things like flash drives, keyboards, mice, printers, etc.
So... if a monitor has DisplayPort 1.4, USB 3.0 and HDMI 1.4, which is the best cable/adapter/dock to use to with MacBook Pro 16''?I think a lot of the potential issues stem from exactly how the displays are connected to the computer. As we don't yet know how the OP has connected the displays to their system, the list of cables and USB-C docks that were listed as part of their setup suggests that everything may be daisy-chained together in a manner that is not optimal for multiple display setups. It's important to clarify that the mechanical USB-C connector can run on two separate sets of technologies or rules. There's USB 3.1 Gen 2, the current evolution of the USB standard that uses this new style of connector at 10Gb/s, and Thunderbolt 3 which has 4x the bandwidth of USB 3.1 Gen 2 running at 40Gb/s. Now you don't need a Thunderbolt 3 dock to connect high resolution displays to a system. Simply a USB-C to DisplayPort or HDMI cable should be adequate to get the display running at its native resolution. There should be no USB-C docks in the middle of that connection, just a cable that directly connects the computer and display. If I was relying on USB-C connections, I would directly connect one display to one USB-C connector on the system.
The downside of USB, and using lots of USB devices together, including routing display signals for monitors, is that it's CPU dependent--the processor has to do a lot of heavy lifting to make it all work. A pipe 1/4 the size of Thunderbolt 3 has to carry audio/video data that may be hitting/exceeding the maximum speed. Thunderbolt 3 on the other hand, uses a dedicated hardware controller inside the computer, that significantly offloads the pressure from the CPU and lets the Thunderbolt 3 controller do most of the heavy lifting. Reports of high CPU utilization and fan noise suggests that the system is under heavy load because the display signals are being routed through USB.
When using a Thunderbolt 3 dock, Thunderbolt 3 can route audio/video signals directly, as well as offer USB capabilities. Think of Thunderbolt 3 as a giant pipe that contains smaller pipes inside. There's a dedicated pipe to handle audio, a dedicated pipe to handle video, a dedicated pipe to handle Ethernet, and a dedicated pipe to handle USB devices. Now external displays don't need to be routed through USB to work anymore because they have their own direct pipes to the system, leaving the USB pipe available for other things like flash drives, keyboards, mice, printers, etc.
So... if a monitor has DisplayPort 1.4, USB 3.0 and HDMI 1.4, which is the best cable/adapter/dock to use to with MacBook Pro 16''?
Here's another datapoint...but it seems to be inline with others reporting here. I'm not used to high temps like this though on idle and light processing tasks.
i9 2.3/32Gb/5500M-8Gb in clamshell connected to Dell 30" 2560x1600 display:
idle temp: 60-62c
email/web/youtube: 63c - 70c
Here's another datapoint...but it seems to be inline with others reporting here. I'm not used to high temps like this though on idle and light processing tasks.
i9 2.3/32Gb/5500M-8Gb in clamshell connected to Dell 30" 2560x1600 display:
idle temp: 60-62c
email/web/youtube: 63c - 70c
Thanks!3. Thunderbolt 3 Dock which includes Display Port output.
4. Thunderbolt 3 Dock which includes HDMI output.
5. USB-C Dock with Display Port or HDMI output (this will be a lot more strenuous than all other connection types).
I'm personally using option 3 and my system runs quiet while running both its internal display and an external 4K display. My dock is also providing 1Gb ethernet and charging the laptop at 85 watts while plugged in too.
Thanks!
What Docks would you recommend if I want the MacBook to run quiet&cool and to connect Ethernet, 1-2 high resolution displays, charging and several USB devices to the dock?