Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

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

I have been using mine in clamshell mode as a "fix" and it has been working fine (consuming ~5w) but after a long period (days) of usage in this form, I opened the lid to use the display and found this...

Not sure if the actual clamshell mode caused this to the screen, I assume that the heat from the body caused it.

After a while, with the lid opened, those lines disappeared by themself and the screen is "normal" now.

Now I'm scare to use the laptop on clamshell mode and also don't like the idea using it with the lid open consuming the 19w. :/

IMG_1222.jpg
 
  • Wow
Reactions: bomby0
donperi said:
I have been using mine in clamshell mode as a "fix" and it has been working fine (consuming ~5w) but after a long period (days) of usage in this form, I opened the lid to use the display and found this...

Not sure if the actual clamshell mode caused this to the screen, I assume that the heat from the body caused it.

After a while, with the lid opened, those lines disappeared by themself and the screen is "normal" now.

Now I'm scare to use the laptop on clamshell mode and also don't like the idea using it with the lid open consuming the 19w. :/

View attachment 925149
Click to expand...
Man, something else to worry about smh. Apple seriously needs to address this smh
 
Damn that's scary, I've always been perplexed by clamshell usage tho, I'm surprised it doesn't happen more - hope it was a temporary fluke

I wonder if external screen => use dedicated gpu is a hardware rule, one thing I like about this new device is that it doesn't force you to use 3.5mm audio when something is connected to that slot, all previous devices assumably did that on hardware level, they seem to have broken that stupid loop with these new models

It would've been nice if we even could disable the dedicated GPU completely, I suspect, in a short amount of time, they'll all start to fail (as some seem to have issues, and replacing the device fixes them), at least we could continue using the devices with the internal GPU when it happens :/

It would also be nice if we could get an "ECO Mode" - but these are all just dreams, as faster failure = more money

On the bright side, I can't hear the fans over my extremely loudy UPS that I only keep open just to protect this $3K device :(
 
I just discovered sudo powermetrics today by the way, if you're the kind that doesn't install trashware, it's a nice built-in tool to ease your mind from time to time

When idle, mine is ~66C with fans at 2800+ rpm
 
  • Like
Reactions: dschulian
changejobs said:
i've been reading the thread but confused and could use a drop of help. bought my first macbook pro since 2008. Its the macbook pro 16 along with the dell U2720Q. both arrive tomorrow and wasnt sure what cables ill need to hook them all up. I understand there are heat issues but being much older alot of this over my head. can anyone advise me of what cables or other devices are my choices to hooking them up? thank you so much.
Click to expand...

Again I have to point out that I'm not a 16" MBP owner (yet) and I don't have a Dell U2720Q, but based on this thread I would suggest using the USB-C cable that comes with the monitor and plug it into the right side of your laptop. This will hopefully help prevent heating in clamshell mode (with the lid closed).

This may be above your comfort level: you will need to install iStat Menus if you want to see whether the dGPU power draw (Radeon High Side) is lower than 20 W. If not, then install SwitchResX and under simplified settings select "GTF". Some users have also turned Turbo Boost off, but hopefully if you get dGPU power draw below 7 W you won't need this.

Follow all of these steps at your own risk.
 
Three weeks ago, I upgraded my 2015 13" to a new and shiny, high-end 16" (i9, 64GB RAM, 5600M). One reason, besides faster availability, for the 16" over the new 13" was that it is advertised as being able to connect up to four external 4k screens. Nothing I would need right now, but this thing was supposed to last a long time.

I was disappointed the minute after plugging in a single Eizo 4K display with a Thunderbolt3 to DisplayPort cable and the fans started, although rather quiet. Still, an idle system getting warm? But during a first 15 minute video meeting, the fans went to full speed and the machine got quite hot.

I discovered this thread, and a YT video about this problem. Things I tried to solve the problem:

Turbo Boost Swichter

That prevented the machine to heat up on rather mundane tasks, but it felt as silly as having switched off the turbo switch on my 486 back in the days.

TG Pro with a "tuned" fan profile

This helped to reduce the noise a little - but I was afraid to damage the machine, because after 30 minutes of work with that, and then switching back to the system profile, the fans went on full speed for five minutes to cool everything down below 60°. I guess the warning messages are there for a reason.

SwitchResX

I tried a couple of settings, sometimes getting a black screen, but nothing helped with power consumption. Then I found out that this would only help in clamshell mode anyway, which is not acceptable for me.

Different cables and displays

I tried the expensive Apple Digital AV Multiport Adapter with a 4K-HDMI connection and a very old 24" 16:10 display. Nothing helped. At least, the thermal problem did not get worse with two external displays.

Calling Apple support

Quite a joke, actually. They instructed me to do an SMC reset and then provided me with an official Apple partner for further help. Which was the store I ordered the computer from, and which was just as pissed at Apple by now as me.

End of story

The store and their retailer agreed to take back the machine for a full refund. I ordered a 13" instead and am hopeful this will work out a lot better. If it's not, then it's back to Linux (for coding) and Windows (for graphics) again.

Oh, and seeing the graphics errors above: I had similar garbage in a Chrome window the other day as well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kaans, ateslik and bomby0
joseph.s.jones said:
Out of interest, do people with a display connected to an eGPU with the laptop screen also open experience this issue?
Click to expand...

In my experience, adding an eGPU significantly reduces the heat and fans. And the fan noise from the eGPU is far less...and less annoying in character. Plus you can replace the eGPU fans with quieter options. With eGPU and basic tasks, my Radeon High Side stays around 2W. Pretty expensive "solution" though.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mrmachine79, thedocbwarren and joseph.s.jones
jaduffy007 said:
In my experience, adding an eGPU significantly reduces the heat and fans. And the fan noise from the eGPU is far less...and less annoying in character. Plus you can replace the eGPU fans with quieter options. With eGPU and basic tasks, my Radeon High Side stays around 2W. Pretty expensive "solution" though.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the heads up!
 
iwillbeshera said:
Yeah, the fact that MacRumors hasn't addressed this is pretty hilarious. At least I expect no acknowledgement from Apple.



And by hilarious I mean sad.
Click to expand...
Agree - odd that the USB 2 disconnection problem on the MBP 13" 2020 was front page news so quickly but this problem hasn't featured.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ateslik
My plan is to get the Raser Core X Chroma and drop an 5700 XT in it till something more beefy comes along. I have an old system with an 1080ti in it I could use for gaming but the 5700 XT will beat it.

dominicperry said:
Agree - odd that the USB 2 disconnection problem on the MBP 13" 2020 was front page news so quickly but this problem hasn't featured.
Click to expand...
 
Appledoesnotlisten said:
I received a base 16" today and am disappointed because it get's as hot as my 2017 with an external 4K monitor.

Is anybody else experiencing the same issue? I always work with external monitors and running on high resolution and this heating performance is upsetting. It's not cooler than the 2017 version in this respects.

Can you guys share your thoughts on this?

Thanks a lot!
Click to expand...
Maybe there are MacOS utilities that can control fan speeds and/or cpu performance? In Windows you can set limits to cpu usage. I believe there is a fan utility in MacOS that allows you to control fan curve. I don’t know the name. Do a search.
 
Hero2050 said:
Maybe there are MacOS utilities that can control fan speeds and/or cpu performance? In Windows you can set limits to cpu usage. I believe there is a fan utility in MacOS that allows you to control fan curve. I don’t know the name. Do a search.
Click to expand...

TG Pro is one option
 
joseph.s.jones said:
Out of interest, do people with a display connected to an eGPU with the laptop screen also open experience this issue?
Click to expand...

Adding an eGPU significant reduced the heat. I have an Akitio Node Pro with an RX 580 daisy chained to a Thunderbolt dock that provides higher power delivery (the eGPU is last in the chain). There's bandwidth loss, but don't really care about that because I'm not gaming on it. It's hovering at around 45-50 on normal usage with two external monitors attached (non-clamshell), whereas without the eGPU it skyrockets to a blistering 90C at times and fans almost always go into overdrive with the most menial tasks.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mrmachine79
Hey! I've been monitoring this forum and I just picked up my Macbook 16".
Just started using it with my iMac 2012 as an external display, what sort of info can I provide you guys that would be helpful?
I downloaded iStat, but not sure what to look at. Fans sound super quiet so far.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Guitardude092
changejobs said:
i've been reading the thread but confused and could use a drop of help. bought my first macbook pro since 2008. Its the macbook pro 16 along with the dell U2720Q. both arrive tomorrow and wasnt sure what cables ill need to hook them all up. I understand there are heat issues but being much older alot of this over my head. can anyone advise me of what cables or other devices are my choices to hooking them up? thank you so much.
Click to expand...

Your Dell monitor will come with a USB-C to USB-C cable. It will power your MBP 16 and also provide video output to the monitor.
 
QuietMusic11 said:
This video says you can install an app to force the Macbook to stay on the internal gpu. Has anyone tried this?

Click to expand...

I appreciate you sharing this, and re-highlighting the video...but it's kinda "old news" at this point for many.
While Max Tech's suggestions of Turbo Boost Switcher Pro, TG Pro, etc are helpful...imo, they are not sufficient solutions. The SwitchResX (see page 75 of this thread) "solution" / hack, appears to be far more helpful if you can accept clamshell mode.
 
  • Like
Reactions: aid
Does that mean that disabling the dgpu has been tested and it doesn’t work with external monitors?
 
Hi folks

A small update on my side: Ive connected my 16incher via Calldigit TS3+ dock via Displayport to my external Asus „gaming“ monitor which supportsrefreshrates up to 144 Hertz.

When I set the refreshrate to 120 Hertz I have Radeon Highside at around 5W (no fan noise, everything smooth) -> closed lid on the MDP

Every other combination (open lid, pluged in external monitor, refresh rate set to 120 Hertz) shows radeon high side at 18W.

So in closed lid with 120Hertz everything works fine.

3F66BBC9-91C8-4E7E-80E0-F27E4B92045B.jpeg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back