MacBook 16-inch Fan Noise

Just to say, I've also got this issue of over heating but most annoyingly the very loud fan noise.

I've had many apple computers over the years and never had this issue.

My last one before my 16inch Macbook was a 2017 Macbook air which was absolutely solid. I really regret selling my air to 'upgrade' to something I thought would give me better performance.

Even doing the most basic tasks like copying photo files from my external hardrive with Chrome open it sounds like I've got a airplane taking off on my desk, over a good set of audio technica headphones with music on.

Massively disappointed my 16inch macbook can't seem to quietly perform even the most basic of tasks.

I bought it from John Lewis in Dec so guess too late to return.

Anyway, I'm hoping a software update addresses this horrific fan noise issue with the 16inch macbook Pro.

Just wish I'd stuck with my 2017 air, never once heard any noise and performance was solid, only upgraded as wanted retina screen.

Please address this issue apple..

I just called Apple Support for the fan issue on the 16 "MBP. I informed my interlocutor about the software I use, the fact that I use the dual monitor, that I analyzed the current draws with iStat and that the graphics card is constantly absorbing 17 Watts, that I have two other MBPs that do not have the problem on equal terms, that I reset the SMC, that I formatted the computer and loaded the operating system directly from the network, etc. I spoke at length with the Apple technician but not we have found a solution, we can only wait for a software update hoping that it will solve the problem. For the moment I have no more news.

This is surprising how different this community is from every other online community - usually people with most rank points provide most useful information. In this thread these are the people who keep repeating that the problem doesn't exist whereas people who are new to the community keep posting possible temporary workarounds to the problem.

I myself was finally able to keep my macbook silent after following some of the advices on this thread: I either stick to 1920x1080 over HDMI or use higher than default refresh over DP. That combined with turboboost off gives me a 45C temp when doing basic stuff. It never goes above 60 even when I play world of tanks.

This is something that I will never understand - how someone can claim that for a powerhouse that has 1920x1200 monitor attached to run fans at 5500rpm while browsing facebook and be 15C cooler and silent while running 3d game on 144hz 2560x1440 is expected behavior. Don't even get me started on 'very helpful' v8 analogies :D

EDIT: Especially when Apple themselves have confirmed this to some of the participants of this thread that they are looking into the ISSUE. Furthermore, at least a handful of members got their computers replaced under WARRANTY. This didn't help, but Apple themselves DO NOT consider this as NORMAL behavior because they wouldn't proceed with warranty claims.

WizardTheGreatest wrote:

This is surprising how different this community is from every other online community - usually people with most rank points provide most useful information. In this thread these are the people who keep repeating that the problem doesn't exist whereas people who are new to the community keep posting possible temporary workarounds to the problem.

That's not accurate. Those of us who have been around a while are posting accurate information, it's just others don't want to take what we have to say as factual data and instead continue to insist that the way the MBP 16 is working is somehow "defective" or wrong simply because it doesn't comply with their expectations of how the machine should act and that less powerful machines manufactured in past years didn't behave that way.

This is something that I will never understand - how someone can claim that for a powerhouse that has 1920x1200 monitor attached to run fans at 5500rpm while browsing facebook and be 15C cooler and silent while running 3d game on 144hz 2560x1440 is expected behavior. Don't even get me started on 'very helpful' v8 analogies :D

Because in some ways Facebook is a more graphically intensive application than the 3D game is; games don't often have multiple streams of full motion video running in multiple parts of the frame like a Facebook page often does., plus Safari isn't as heavily GPU optimized as a game typically is.

EDIT: Especially when Apple themselves have confirmed this to some of the participants of this thread that they are looking into the ISSUE. Furthermore, at least a handful of members got their computers replaced under WARRANTY. This didn't help, but Apple themselves DO NOT consider this as NORMAL behavior because they wouldn't proceed with warranty claims.

That's not entirely true, either. Apple will often replace items that they don't actually believe are defective as a customer satisfaction measure. Rather than argue the point, they often will just swap out a machine for a new one to try to keep the customer happy.

At the point the new one acts exactly the same as the old one did, that's when determination of where the problem actually exists begin to take shape.

That's not accurate. Those of us who have been around a while are posting accurate information, it's just others don't want to take what we have to say as factual data and instead continue to insist that the way the MBP 16 is working is somehow "defective" or wrong simply because it doesn't comply with their expectations of how the machine should act and that less powerful machines manufactured in past years didn't behave that way.

What I am seeing so far is that you keep providing the same statement over and over again without providing any data to prove this is normal and expected behavior. Others have posted data supporting their claim that this computer is defective.

EDIT: Even if this WAS TRUE (which unless provided any written evidence cannot be considered that way), the information that you keep posting hasn't helped anyone so far - saying "this is not defective" doesn't stop people from returning their machines as they perform way below their expectations (which doesn't help Apple). This also doesn't help to get temps down so it doesn't help users either. What newcomers have posted, gave people a peace of mind and allowed them to enjoy their purchase. If the purpose of this community is to help others, you are clearly doing it wrong. What is worse, you have so many posts with the same information, that valuable information that helps getting fans silent gets lost in the noise.

Because in some ways Facebook is a more graphically intensive application than the 3D game is; games don't often have multiple streams of full motion video running in multiple parts of the frame like a Facebook page often does., plus Safari isn't as heavily GPU optimized as a game typically is.

Nice try. That would be true if computer would keep overheating while browsing facebook on 2560x1440 @ 144hz too. Now however it only does on 1920x1200 @ 60hz which is clearly less work for GPU. Driving 1.6 times more pixels @ ~2.5 higher refresh rate (so roughly 4x amount of pixels) results in 20 celsius lower temperature while performing the same task. You will tell that the interface is different (hdmi vs dp), but results are the same if resolution is brought down to 1920x1080 @ 60hz using DP interface.

That's not entirely true, either. Apple will often replace items that they don't actually believe are defective as a customer satisfaction measure. Rather than argue the point, they often will just swap out a machine for a new one to try to keep the customer happy.

And that is not true. Do you have any official data to back this up? Or is it just your opinion that we should again take as a fact? You can't come in and ask for a replacement product (well you can, but that will never happen). You have to prove that your current product is misbehaving. The proof they ask for is lesser than what other manufacturers usually ask for, but they will NEVER replace a perfectly working machine with no weird behavior. Especially not 3 times in a row :)

WizardTheGreatest wrote:

What I am seeing so far is that you keep providing the same statement over and over again without providing any data to prove this is normal and expected behavior. Others have posted data supporting their claim that this computer is defective.

Data that has nothing to do with the specs that have been published. I don't care how much power it is drawing or what the temperature is. It hasn't shut down thermally, and there are no specs for what the acceptable temperature range "should" be. I've seen lots of "the fan is too loud" and "it's too hot" based upon personal feeling or third party tech site.

EDIT: Even if this WAS TRUE (which unless provided any written evidence cannot be considered that way), the information that you keep posting hasn't helped anyone so far - saying "this is not defective" doesn't stop people from returning their machines as they perform way below their expectations (which doesn't help Apple). This also doesn't help to get temps down so it doesn't help users either. What newcomers have posted, gave people a peace of mind and allowed them to enjoy their purchase. If the purpose of this community is to help others, you are clearly doing it wrong. What is worse, you have so many posts with the same information, that valuable information that helps getting fans silent gets lost in the noise.

I've posted several workarounds that allow people to use their laptop they way they want to if the noise bothers them.

Nice try. That would be true if computer would keep overheating while browsing facebook on 2560x1440 @ 144hz too. Now however it only does on 1920x1200 @ 60hz which is clearly less work for GPU. Driving 1.6 times more pixels @ ~2.5 higher refresh rate (so roughly 4x amount of pixels) results in 20 celsius lower temperature while performing the same task. You will tell that the interface is different (hdmi vs dp), but results are the same if resolution is brought down to 1920x1080 @ 60hz using DP interface.

Once again, please prove that lower resolution is "less work." Depending upon the internal implementation of the GPU, it may actually be more work if the GPU needs to do more processing to scale video to the lower resolution in question.

As an example, some HDTV video processors have to work harder to provide 720P video because they process it internally at 1080P and have to resample everything to generate 720P.

And that is not true. Do you have any official data to back this up? Or is it just your opinion that we should again take as a fact? You can't come in and ask for a replacement product (well you can, but that will never happen). You have to prove that your current product is misbehaving. The proof they ask for is lesser than what other manufacturers usually ask for, but they will NEVER replace a perfectly working machine with no weird behavior. Especially not 3 times in a row :)

Official data, no; I don't work for Apple and wouldn't have access to that kind of data anyway.

But I've personally seen it again and again, both here on the forum and in this thread and on many others. Apple often replaces product for customer service reasons, from cables to computers. No, you can't just say "I want a new one," but if you can demonstrate what you believe to be an actual issue they often will just swap a machine out if it's the easiest way to solve the problem for you.

I also stated that on a second replacement they aren't likely to do a customer service swap, but on a first replacement, maybe.

Just wish I'd stuck with my 2017 air, never once heard any noise and performance was solid, only upgraded as wanted retina screen.

If all you wanted upgraded was to retina display, why didn't you get the newer Macbook Air with the better keyboard? It has a smaller fan, weighs less and has the screen you wanted. I love my Macbook air. It was/is great for about everything but processing video was slow.

"EDIT: Especially when Apple themselves have confirmed this to some of the participants of this thread that they are looking into the ISSUE."

Anytime a member states that APPLE SAID THIS TO ME over the phone or APPLE SAID THAT TO ME over the phone that would be considered hearsay, and until Apple makes an official statement the forum cannot accept that as fact.

TimUzzanti, just want you to know that you're my HERO!

Your claims are so justified, and you represent the opinion of many people here, even if it doesn't seem that way because of 3 people who write spam here nonstop.

I would like to see those moderators erasing their comments, just as they erase your comments, and more of many like you who express their frustration.

This post has long been of no use to any of us, it has become a philosophical debate for some people who are probably boring because of the Covid-19.

[Link Edited by Moderator]

antonreshetov wrote:

How do I unsubscribe from this flood? The system still sends me these messages.

Sadly, at the moment there is an Apple Support Communities forum bug that prevents you from doing so.

Apple is working the issue.

Several months and this post is still going on; except it is now full of comments with just annoying arguments that "this is normal" blah blah. And, ironically, Apple email "unsubscription" issue isn't solved yet, which made me mark these emails as spam.

It's hard to calibrate the fan speed. Some users use their computer to do heavy simulations and some are just for entertainments. It is important for the Pro line to maintaining its performance than keeping it quite I guess. Macbook pro shortened my simulation by 45 mins. hahaha.

I just got my 16 inch MacBook Pro and have the same issue.

This is my setup:

MacBook Pro (16 inch, 2019)

2,4 GHz 8-Core Intel Core i9

32 GB 2667 MHz DDR4

AMD Radeon Pro 5500M 4 GB

Intel UHD Graphics 630 1536 MB

with

Kensington TB3 Dock

with

LG 32 inch 4k display via Display Port

My tests results match what others where saying:

The MacBook 16 inch is staying cool when I use it only with internal monitor, or if I use my external 4k monitor with MacBook in Clamshell mode (display closed).

The graphics card is struggling, if I use both an external 4k monitor and the MacBook’s internal monitor and use high resolutions, e.g. 3360 x 1890 (HiDPI)

When I choose 3360 x 1890 in low DPI for the external display, the graphics card relaxes and the system cools down.

Even with HiDPI resolution the load of the system isn’t high and it’s only at around 65°C, but the fans still go crazy at around 4000 - 5000 rpm.

To summarize: The performance is very nice, but the fans go crazy when the graphics card needs to power an external 4k monitor together with the internal monitor.

I reported it to Apple and AMD.

I'm about to receive a refurb 16 this week but am now very worried since I found these threads as I plan on using 3 monitors over HDMI with it. (2x 1440p@60hz + 1080p@60hz)

Are there any feedback from Apple about this? I called them today and even the representative I talked to noticed that the fans run louder on her 16" compared to her 2019 15". She told me that if its on discussions.apple.com, then the engineers know about it and to just return it if I'm not happy with it.

Personnally I can't accept that a new $2.4k+ laptop can't even handle a single monitor attached to it without the fans blasting at maximum speed. Especially when the page product mentions: "Supports up to two 6k displays".

I know some people have some success using third-party programs and different adapters but coming from a Windows environment, I thought paying the Apple tax meant no more thinkering for basic usage of the product.

Reading about it here and on this macrumors thread, I understand Apple won't bother since the majority use the laptop without external monitors, and the issue could be deflected on AMD so nothing gets done.

I guess I should wait for the next 16" to come out, hopefully later this year? I just want a somewhat future-proof macOS 15"+ laptop with no keyboard / heat / noise issue when programming with a browser and photoshop opened.

I noticed today that disabling Turbo Boost when using my 4k monitor reduced the fan speed to 2.500 to 3.500 rpm without noticeable performance drops in my daily work. Still not perfect, but I'm much more at ease now with my setup.