How I fixed my M1 MacBook Air Throttle!

[denzdaniel]

I just want to share you guys this Mod I did. I was seeing my M1 MacBook Air hit 100C when using Handbrake and rendering...
I was concern that if I always ran the M1 Air like that it will degrade it's life faster... So I went ahead and did the MOD to ease the throttle and help the M1 Chip not to suffer that much by enhancing the thermal passive cooling of it.

I now getting better points from Cinebenc R23 and GeekBench and plus the heat dissipates quickly... The only thing is The Bottom case of the M1 Air is hot like a cup of tea... So I have to use a cooling pad/fan and works great!

 

[Leon1das]

Thanks for sharing!

Out of curiosity - have you removed insulating tape from the back cover before you closed it or you left it in place?

P.S. I am not suggesting it as it may void warranty but since you already removed the one from the top of the CPU heatsink you may as well not care

 

[James_C]

I would not recommend this Mod for most people for two reasons,

1. You will void your warranty.

2. Transferring heat to the case, can make the case uncomfortably hot and can transfer additional heat to the battery, thus reducing the life of the battery.

Yes you could use a cooling pad and a fan, but not really convenient for a portable, and one of the key attractions for me was to loose the fan noise.

Compared to the last Intel generation of MBA’s the processor in the M1 MBA still runs cooler even under load so it is doubtful that M1 will have a shorter life.

if you really need the extra 15% sustained performance you would be better off with a MBP.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Maybe I missed it in the video but, outside of the Cinnebench test results, (which is really meaningless) what real world substantive difference has it made in day to day use?

I definitely would not have done this mod on a brand new M1. If something happens to that M1, you are on your own.

 

[redcaptrickster]

I can't imagine rendering is a use case for the MacBook Air M1. Apple's marketing pages list the MacBook Air M1 as appropriate for editing, whereas the marketing page for the MacBook Pro M1 specifically sites processing. Sounds more like a "wrong tool for the job" scenario.

 

[denzdaniel]

Thanks for sharing!

Out of curiosity - have you removed insulating tape from the back cover before you closed it or you left it in place?

P.S. I am not suggesting it as it may void warranty but since you already removed the one from the top of the CPU heatsink you may as well not care

Hi I did removed the thermal tape. VOID the warranty! But in return a work horse machine!
Thanks mate!

 

[denzdaniel]

I would not recommend this Mod for most people for two reasons,

1. You will void your warranty.

2. Transferring heat to the case, can make the case uncomfortably hot and can transfer additional heat to the battery, thus reducing the life of the battery.

Yes you could use a cooling pad and a fan, but not really convenient for a portable, and one of the key attractions for me was to lose the fan noise.

Compared to the last Intel generation of MBA’s the processor in the M1 MBA still runs cooler even under load so it is doubtful that M1 will have a shorter life.

if you really need the extra 15% sustained performance you would be better off with a MBP.

Yes I agree! Buy the M1 MBP if you don't want to worry about heat and thermal throttle...But to me Since I already have it and I have the experience, thats why I did it! and It's worth it! For me... It works.
I'm not suggesting you to do it... But it is possible to fix it and it's already done.

Thank you Mate!

 

[denzdaniel]

Maybe I missed it in the video but, outside of the Cinnebench test results, (which is really meaningless) what real world substantive difference has it made in day to day use?

I definitely would not have done this mod on a brand new M1. If something happens to that M1, you are on your own.

I appreciate it friend! Yes I did the Mod at my own risk!

Thanks!

 

[Apple_Robert]

I appreciate it friend! Yes I did the Mod at my own risk!

Thanks!

I am glad it worked out for you. What kind of actual results are you seeing outside Cinnebench?

 

[denzdaniel]

I can't imagine rendering is a use case for the MacBook Air M1. Apple's marketing pages list the MacBook Air M1 as appropriate for editing, whereas the marketing page for the MacBook Pro M1 specifically sites processing. Sounds more like a "wrong tool for the job" scenario.

The M1 Air and M1 MBP have the same Chip! They both have the same capabilities! The only difference is the fan!

I know I bought the Air because its less expensive! And Its what I can afford at the time.

Thanks for your response!

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

What do you mean, "fix thermal throttling"?

'Fix' suggests that the product/design is broken. Like other computers, the M1 MBA throttles to prevent overheating, only it takes far longer to reach this point because the thermal capacity of the notebook is much greater than previously.

If you need sustained performance, particularly for video tasks, then a MBP would be the sensible option.

 

[Leon1das]

I havent modded my MBA despite seeing great results with it.

I decided to settle with MBP due better screen (no red glow on right side), 20% larger battery, more firm keyboard and trackpad, and finally fan that I can fully control. MBP does not throttle - and with full fan (in sustained high workload) can keep battery temp at 36 C, while with modded MBA it goes above 40 C.

So yes - MBA can be moded and this is great proof of concept.

To anyone who is interested doing it - be careful to make it reversible (without visible modifications) as it voids warranty.

I would say "so what" to voiding warranty, but recent posts of users with M1 units being bricked after using USB-C hubs - made me not to think of any modding that Apple would blame for my bricked device - and refuse refund/repair.

Cheers

 

[malcky77]

No thanks...this is not for me.
If I was a person doing sustained CPU tasks, I would never have bought a fanless laptop.

 

[mszilard]

exactly. if you have to disassemble you notebook to work for you, as you want, than you bought the wrong notebook

 

[Deadlywrong]

Not sure the negativities here. The original poster likely paid $300 less than comparable MBP, got no Touch Bar and similar performance. From the detail, the battery did not seems to heat up. Other than the warranty, it is a win for him.
In terms of the warranty, I would test the performance difference between applying thermal pad directly on the black cover and after scraping it to see if it is worthy to void the warranty.

 

[Leon1das]

Not sure the negativities here. The original poster likely paid $300 less than comparable MBP, got no Touch Bar and similar performance. From the detail, the battery did not seems to heat up. Other than the warranty, it is a win for him.
In terms of the warranty, I would test the performance difference between applying thermal pad directly on the black cover and after scraping it to see if it is worthy to void the warranty.

All respect to the OP.
He did got CPU results - but MBA battery did went above 40 C with or without mod if you carefully look at the video.
Like said - great proof of concept, but not worth it if the battery temp stays high during long workload + warranty is lost...

 

[DHagan4755]

People who tinker inside their new computer like this has always fascinated me. This is something that very few people will do, including me. To each their own!

 

[Apple_Robert]

If the M1 had a design defect etc., and modding in such a manner made a significant difference as to use of the CPU, battery, and overall length of use, (in days and years) I could see attempting such a mod on an older machine out of warranty.

If I was the OP, I would have noticed throttling with heavy sustained video (and some others) use if it were part of my daily workflow. And I would have returned it forthwith for the MBP or held on to what I had. If the throttling was only found with Cinnebench or GeekBench etc., then I would have keep the machine and not done the mod.

I asked the question about if the throttling only occurred with test twice, and the OP never answered the question.

Doing the mod puts the M1 at risk for further damage in the coming days. You may end up with a fried CPU or swollen battery. And this comes to fruition, that will be a hard $1K lesson learned.

The OP is happy now and I hope that continues but, I have my doubts.

 

[malcky77]

Maybe the OP misses an intel laptop too much that he wanted to replicate the hot leg feeling when stressing the machine. Lol

Seriously though...has it worked as well as you intended....I don’t think so because you now have to use a cooling pad and a fan now....because the base it too hot to handle comfortably.

The M1 air may well have reached 100C but it would have throttled to protect itself from damage as it’s designed to do.....and in the grand scheme of things, the one thing that was not mentioned was how long did your handbrake task take to complete before and after the mod? How much time did it actually save you?

 

[MBHockey]

Technically interesting, but seems like the wrong tool for your workflow OP.

 

[denzdaniel]

What do you mean, "fix thermal throttling"?

'Fix' suggests that the product/design is broken. Like other computers, the M1 MBA throttles to prevent overheating, only it takes far longer to reach this point because the thermal capacity of the notebook is much greater than previously.

If you need sustained performance, particularly for video tasks, then a MBP would be the sensible option.

Hi thanks for the response!
Not necessary broken... Fixing in the sense of enhancing....

 

[denzdaniel]

No thanks...this is not for me.
If I was a person doing sustained CPU tasks, I would never have bought a fanless laptop.

ok Agree! But I can only afford whatever amount I spent for the spec of this M1 Air!

Thank you though.

 

[denzdaniel]

I am glad it worked out for you. What kind of actual results are you seeing outside Cinnebench?

Faster rendering... Sustained speed! The 3 min render before Mod no its 1.5 min.
The Temp still reaches 95C but but no Throttle thats the main thing...

Thank you.

 

[denzdaniel]

Not sure the negativities here. The original poster likely paid $300 less than comparable MBP, got no Touch Bar and similar performance. From the detail, the battery did not seems to heat up. Other than the warranty, it is a win for him.
In terms of the warranty, I would test the performance difference between applying thermal pad directly on the black cover and after scraping it to see if it is worthy to void the warranty.

Thanks! I appreciate you.

 

[downshiftdre]

What thickness did you use for that fujipoly thermal pad?