Bypass the battery to freely use the full capacity of the MacBook pro processor cores.

[ahmed mac]

Hello,

Given the increases in the number of cores in Apple M processors ( CPU and GPU core). It has become more tempting to do tasks that use the full capacity of all cores in the new MacBooks (especially Pro), yet this will come at the cost of ruining the MacBook battery. Should there be any avenue that enables the user to bypass the battery (perhaps by having removable batteries or any other way) when performing extensive computation tasks (so depending only the power cord like a desktop)? This may eventually increase the battery's lifetime and simultaneously enable the user to use the full capacity of the MacBook's computation power. I wanted to know if you guys ,who have already purchased a new MacBook with those M ships, can use the full capacity of those cores without degrading the device (ruining battery ... overheating (cause of using total processor capacity, continues charging, ...etc )).

Note: I posted this on Apple discussion but did not yet get enough feedback ..

Thanks

 

[casperes1996]

I mean if you just keep it plugged in for long enough the battery management will cap the battery at 80% and draw its operational power from AC. It will still charge the battery every now and then to maintain it around the 80% mark. But that’s better than putting it in cold storage and it reaching 0% and lying like that for years anyway.

But if you need the batttery that little might as well go with a desktop Mac. There’s more choices there than there are laptops in the current lineup. Mac mini or studio sounds most relevant to you

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Read the OP twice and I'm still not sure what you're getting at...

macOS System Settings > Battery offers "Energy Mode" with independent selections for battery & on AC power.

 

[ahmed mac]

Read the OP twice and I'm still not sure what you're getting at...

macOS System Settings > Battery offers "Energy Mode" with independent selections for battery & on AC power.

I just wanted to hear back from users who purchased a MacBook Pro with the powerful M processor and whether they were able to really take advantage of all that computation power without actually degrading the device.

 

[ahmed mac]

I mean if you just keep it plugged in for long enough the battery management will cap the battery at 80% and draw its operational power from AC. It will still charge the battery every now and then to maintain it around the 80% mark. But that’s better than putting it in cold storage and it reaching 0% and lying like that for years anyway.

But if you need the batttery that little might as well go with a desktop Mac. There’s more choices there than there are laptops in the current lineup. Mac mini or studio sounds most relevant to you

Thanks. Mac Studio is excellent, but it is expensive compared to the MacBook. I expected that Mac Studio would be cheaper since it does not have a screen or battery.

 

[Cirillo Gherardo]

I just wanted to hear back from users who purchased a MacBook Pro with the powerful M processor and whether they were able to really take advantage of all that computation power without actually degrading the device.

Of course they are. /thread

 

[NT1440]

I just wanted to hear back from users who purchased a MacBook Pro with the powerful M processor and whether they were able to really take advantage of all that computation power without actually degrading the device.

I have no idea what you’re referring to by “degrading the device”.

It’s a laptop, use it.

 

[TechnoMonk]

I have 64 GB M1 Max, that runs heavy loads 10-12 hrs a day, stays on 24X7. Heavy load in my case is 40-50 GB wired memory, which is actively used by CPU/GPU. I have use cases that use CPU/GPU to 80-90% at same time. Never degraded battery nor the MBP.

Taking advantage of the power is the reason i bought it, I don’t understand how it is degrading.

 

[casperes1996]

Thanks. Mac Studio is excellent, but it is expensive compared to the MacBook. I expected that Mac Studio would be cheaper since it does not have a screen or battery.

Mac Studio is cheaper than comparable MacBook Pro. Admittedly not so if you factor in buying quality peripherals of similar levels like screen but definitely if you only look at the computer part. Mac mini with the Pro chip as well.

 

[wonderings]

What type of work are you doing that you are trying to get to run faster?

 

[ahmed mac]

I have no idea what you’re referring to by “degrading the device”.

It’s a laptop, use it.

ruining battery ... overheating (cause of using total processor capacity, continues charging, ...etc )

 

[ahmed mac]

I have 64 GB M1 Max, that runs heavy loads 10-12 hrs a day, stays on 24X7. Heavy load in my case is 40-50 GB wired memory, which is actively used by CPU/GPU. I have use cases that use CPU/GPU to 80-90% at same time. Never degraded battery nor the MBP.

Taking advantage of the power is the reason i bought it, I don’t understand how it is degrading.

ruining battery ... overheating (cause of using full processor capacity, continues charging, ...etc )

 

[ahmed mac]

What type of work are you doing that you are trying to get to run faster?

statistical data analysis, simulations

 

[NT1440]

Battery ... overheating (cause of using total processor capacity, continues charging, ...etc )

That…just doesn’t happen.

Believe it or not, battery controller tech has evolved since the inception of the first laptops.

The ambient temperature of the processor, in a system with active cooling, is not going to affect the battery. Your doing more long term damage to the battery by never letting it cycle (though again, battery controller wizardry has lessened this) than you’re going to get from running the machine hard all the time.

 

[TechnoMonk]

ruining battery ... overheating (cause of using full processor capacity, continues charging, ...etc )

Never seen anything like that, I run heavy workloads. It does its job so I can make a living. Why would I buy something that degrades, what you describe is 2019 MBP. It got hot and ran loud.

 

[streetfunk]

I mean if you just keep it plugged in for long enough the battery management will cap the battery at 80% and draw its operational power from AC. It will still charge the battery every now and then to maintain it around the 80% mark.

i never read or heard of that.
Is this confirmed that this is so the case ?
vs. AS, since the M1 ? (not interested in older macs)


i even had a thread going that was pointing just towards that.
No such answer.
I mean, i even made two or three threads in that direction over the last years at different places.
Nobody has ever made such an explicit statement.
( not saying you´re wrong. Just trying to get a confirmation )

 

[TechnoMonk]

i never read or heard of that.
Is this confirmed that this is so the case ?
vs. AS, since the M1 ? (not interested in older macs)


i even had a thread going that was pointing just towards that.
No such answer.
I mean, i even made two or three threads in that direction over the last years at different places.
Nobody has ever made such an explicit statement.
( not saying you´re wrong. Just trying to get a confirmation )

That is what it does when I am plugged in for a day. Keeps the charge at 80%. If I travel, the MBP charges to 100%, just in case I need extra battery. I like the way Mac OS adapts, rather than a hard 80% cap.

 

[streetfunk]

That is what it does when I am plugged in for a day. Keeps the charge at 80%. If I travel, the MBP charges to 100%, just in case I need extra battery. I like the way Mac OS adapts, rather than a hard 80% cap.

what mac ?

 

[Burnincoco]

what mac ?

All laptop Macs. all of them

 

[hg.wells]

what mac ?

It’s called Optimized Battery Charging, have a look at the following support article:

Charge the MacBook Pro battery

Learn how to charge the battery in your MacBook Pro and conserve battery power.

support.apple.com

 

[jdb8167]

It’s called Optimized Battery Charging, have a look at the following support article:

Charge the MacBook Pro battery

Learn how to charge the battery in your MacBook Pro and conserve battery power.

support.apple.com

It doesn't just cap at 80% though. It's smart. For example this is my battery's last 24 hours:

You can see that when I plugged it in last night, it charged until 80% then it waited until morning to charge the rest of the way up to 100%. This puts less stress on the battery since it isn't pushed to 100% until it is needed. This works nearly flawlessly for me except on weekends when it isn't smart enough to keep the level at 80% until Monday morning. It usually stays plugged in all weekend so it would be nice if it kept the battery at 80% until needed for work on Monday.

Having said that, my battery (13" M3 MBA) is on 35 cycles and is still at 101% capacity.

 

[ahmed mac]

It doesn't just cap at 80% though. It's smart. For example this is my battery's last 24 hours:
View attachment 2381345

You can see that when I plugged it in last night, it charged until 80% then it waited until morning to charge the rest of the way up to 100%. This puts less stress on the battery since it isn't pushed to 100% until it is needed. This works nearly flawlessly for me except on weekends when it isn't smart enough to keep the level at 80% until Monday morning. It usually stays plugged in all weekend so it would be nice if it kept the battery at 80% until needed for work on Monday.

Having said that, my battery (13" M3 MBA) is on 35 cycles and is still at 101% capacity.

It doesn't just cap at 80% though. It's smart. For example this is my battery's last 24 hours:
View attachment 2381345

You can see that when I plugged it in last night, it charged until 80% then it waited until morning to charge the rest of the way up to 100%. This puts less stress on the battery since it isn't pushed to 100% until it is needed. This works nearly flawlessly for me except on weekends when it isn't smart enough to keep the level at 80% until Monday morning. It usually stays plugged in all weekend so it would be nice if it kept the battery at 80% until needed for work on Monday.

Having said that, my battery (13" M3 MBA) is on 35 cycles and is still at 101% capacity.

It's really cool; those smart algorithms could extend the battery life.

 

[WhiteShadow]

The laptops take power from the plug first, battery is secondary in the line. That's why if you run the battery to zero and plug it in the computer immediately turns on. Where as on an iPhone or iPad the battery runs the system if you run it to zero you have to wait a few minutes after it is plugged in to turn back on.

 

[Toutou]

full capacity of those cores without degrading the device (ruining battery ... overheating (cause of using total processor capacity, continues charging, ...etc )).

Running the machine at full power doesn't meaningfully affect the battery longevity.

Yes, batteries generally don't like high temperatures, but the effect of residual heat spreading across the machine and affecting the battery is just negligible. It doesn't matter. The machines are meant to be used and they work wonderfully for millions of people all around the world.

 

[dmccloud]

I just wanted to hear back from users who purchased a MacBook Pro with the powerful M processor and whether they were able to really take advantage of all that computation power without actually degrading the device.

Short Answer: Yes.

Longer Answer:

I have no idea where you even drew a correlation between maxing out the cores and degrading the battery in the first place. If the machine is connected to AC power when running heavier tasks, it will be drawing power from the AC adapter instead of the battery, so degradation is not even a factor there. I've had my MBP for close to 18 months now and its battery health is still at 97%, so degradation has not even been a point of concern for me, even though I'm probably using it on battery 70-80% of the time. From the perspective of heat affecting the battery, this is another misconception on your part. Because Apple Silicon draws less power than Intel or AMD CPUs, it also generates less heat in the process, thereby running significantly cooler than those x86 parts. The difference is so noticeable that an M(x) SoC under load can easily generate less heat than many Intel CPUs do at idle. In fact, the SoC temperature of my MBP under load is less than the idle CPU temperature of my Gaming PC (AMD Ryzen 5 5900x with liquid cooling).

There is a reason why Apple Silicon can be used in the iPad and MacBook Air (both fanless devices) as well as higher performance devices such as the MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, and Mac Studio, and it has to do with the efficency of those SoCs on multiple levels.