Early 2015 MacBook Pro 13" system overloading

[mungiisi]

I have an Early 2015 MacBookPro 13" which I use actively. The specs are as follows:

- 3,1 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i7
- 16 GB 1867 MHz DDR4
- Intel Iris Graphics 6100 1536 MB

I mainly use it for internet browsing, recording music using Logic Pro, and editing photographs with Adobe Lightroom Classic and Photosop. The Adobe software are still working so-so, the fans are often screaming high though

Logic Pro however gets a system overload if there's more than one track with plugins. I mainly use Neural DSP guitar modelling plugins or Kontakt Player 6. I've tried to do my research regarding the overload issue and configure my setup so that it wouldn't happen, but no matter what, according to the Logic processor monitoring the first two cores are running at 100% and the system overload message comes after a few seconds.

Often when browsing certain websites - Discord and YouTube - the machine feels slow and tacky. And fans screaming, of course.

I use the computer with external monitor, DELL U2723QE 27", which is plugged into the MiniDP port. I feel that it makes the computer slower as well - at least a tiny bit. I have the latest OS (macOS Monterey), for which I did clean install.

My understanding is that this computer should still be capable of doing the things I do. Thermal paste was replaced by a 3rd party provider 1-2 years ago, but it didn't make any difference. Should I still try to replace the thermal paste one more time, and in addition perhaps replace the fans? Is there anything other I could do? What could cause this? I'd like to check all the options before investing into a brand new MBP.

 

[Bigwaff]

I would install some system monitoring software and get an idea of how "hot" different components are getting. iStat Menus has a pretty comprehensive array of temp sensor monitors.

 

[mungiisi]

Thanks, I'll try the iStat Menus and report the statistics.

Mean while, could the hard drive be the root cause of the issue? The machine has its original 1 Tb SSD with 800 Gb of free space.

 

[nothingtoseehere]

I have the same model with lesser specs (8GB, 2,9 i5, also Monterey).
Using it with an external monitor makes it slower, definitively, and the fans ramp up.
What worries me is that you write Youtube is a problem. That definitely shouldn't be the case. Does the Activity Monitor say something useful?
You have opened the case and checked the fans whether they are dirty/full of dust? Thermal paste/heatsink could indeed also be interesting to check out.

 

[mungiisi]

Here's how the CPU, Memory and Temperatures look like using iStat Menus. The system overload happened every time I tried to listen this Logic project consisting total of 4 tracks, which two of them contained Neural DSP plugins, one contained Apples own bass plugin and last one had Kontakt Player engaged.



iStat Menus show that my battery health is 75%. Could this be an issue? I've read that poor battery could cause performance issues.

 

[Bigwaff]

Your CPU temps... is that Celsius? Good God, man, you're melting your computer. Check iStat sensor and make sure degrees is Celsius. If it is, your CPU temps are too hot and the System is shutting down to protect the internal components.

 

[mungiisi]

Your CPU temps... is that Celsius? Good God, man, you're melting your computer. Check iStat sensor and make sure degrees is Celsius. If it is, your CPU temps are too hot and the System is shutting down to protect the internal components.

It's celsius.

I'm wondering what makes the CPU so hot after all? I guess if I can resolve that it'll resolve all my performance related problems.

 

[Bigwaff]

Oops... hit the post a bit to quick.. this is the 15-inch model

15-inch MacBook Pro Battery Recall Program - Apple Support

15-inch MacBook Pro Battery Recall Program

support.apple.com

 

[sam_dean]

Try getting a Mac mini M1. It will change your life.

 

[Fishrrman]

Better yet, get a Mac Mini m2pro. It will change your life even more...

 

[Bigwaff]

I would start by purchasing a laptop cooler stand and if that doesn't help... well, I might be suspicious of the thermal paste.

 

[nkl984]

I have an Early 2015 MacBookPro 13" which I use actively. The specs are as follows:

- 3,1 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i7
- 16 GB 1867 MHz DDR4
- Intel Iris Graphics 6100 1536 MB

I mainly use it for internet browsing, recording music using Logic Pro, and editing photographs with Adobe Lightroom Classic and Photosop. The Adobe software are still working so-so, the fans are often screaming high though

Logic Pro however gets a system overload if there's more than one track with plugins. I mainly use Neural DSP guitar modelling plugins or Kontakt Player 6. I've tried to do my research regarding the overload issue and configure my setup so that it wouldn't happen, but no matter what, according to the Logic processor monitoring the first two cores are running at 100% and the system overload message comes after a few seconds.

Often when browsing certain websites - Discord and YouTube - the machine feels slow and tacky. And fans screaming, of course.

I use the computer with external monitor, DELL U2723QE 27", which is plugged into the MiniDP port. I feel that it makes the computer slower as well - at least a tiny bit. I have the latest OS (macOS Monterey), for which I did clean install.

My understanding is that this computer should still be capable of doing the things I do. Thermal paste was replaced by a 3rd party provider 1-2 years ago, but it didn't make any difference. Should I still try to replace the thermal paste one more time, and in addition perhaps replace the fans? Is there anything other I could do? What could cause this? I'd like to check all the options before investing into a brand new MBP.

Since I have upgraded to macos Monterey 12.6.3 and Logic Pro 10.7.7 on iMac Pro 3,2 GHz 8-Core Intel Xeon W - 32 GB 2666 MHz DDR4.
System Overload when changing any synth plugins when Logic is playing even with empty project 1 single channel.
Logic Pro 17.7.7 System Overload but if you rescan all the plugins - Full Audio Unit Reset - it will work until next restart.

no matter what settings I choose it always go System Overload when playing a single synth channel and switching the plugin with another synthesizer.

 

[mungiisi]

I would start by purchasing a laptop cooler stand and if that doesn't help... well, I might be suspicious of the thermal paste.

Maybe I should check the paste's even though they were replaced by a third party in 2021. I can remember that the replacement had no effect on the performance of the computer. The original reason I wanted to replace the pastes were that the computer was feeling quite warm and had already started to feel slow. I didn't use Logic back then IIRC.

As much I'd love to get a new Mac Mini or MacBook Pro I'd still like to see if I can resuscitate this computer and postpone the investment to a new machine.

 

[sam_dean]

You may want to disassemble your nearing 10yo Mac and clean out all the dust and gunk build up from a decade's use.

Then reapply thermal paste.

 

[arcite]

Take the back panel off, remove cover of the fan assembly, and clean everything. Be sure to check all the vents - my guess, it's clogged with dust.

Also; reset the PRAM and SMC.

 

[mungiisi]

To wrap this up in case someone is having similar problems with their early 2015 MBP:

I replaced the thermal paste last weekend. Simultaneously, I cleaned the insides of the computer (it was quite dusty). The old thermal paste looked quite good (it was not dried) and there was sufficient amount of it. I replaced it with Arctic MX-4. I also reset the PRAM and SMC. End result made no difference to the operation of the machine - it still gets quite hot and Logic overloading happens with only a few tracks. It's barely usable with Macs Fan Control.

I made the decision to retire this machine from "heavy" use and dedicate it to light web browsing and so on. I'll be looking for the new MBP's. Thanks for everybody's help, I suppose the latest OS's and software's are just too much for 8 years old computer.