MacBook 16-inch Fan Noise

This computer was built with a ninth generation 14nm processor. The only way to meet the target performance was to make it a six or eight core processor. This processor generates an enormous burst of heat when it does Turbo Boost, and there is only one cooling rail shared by both the CPU and GPU. So getting either side too hot ramps up the fans.

This processor was supposed to be an eleventh-generation 7nm processor (which would be faster with far less heat generated) but intel is three years late, and is only starting to ship its tenth generation 10nm processors now.

Apple is fed up as well, and has told the public Apple can do better by including Apple silicon instead of Intel silicon in some future Macs.

Yes, as stated some time. Defect either in driver or in MacOS. However, will not be possible to compete against competitors with the price.

Maybe the defective thermal design needs to get another round. Similar to the MBP keyboard...

William Kucharski wrote:

The thermal design is not defective.

It is handling the load without shutting down, it's just it needs to run the fans to remove the heat being generated.

Of course it's not a defect. It's a feature that makes computer throttle while idling :D It's not very promoted, but attention to the detail is at its best. It's strange they didn't brag about it as no other macbook ever had this feature.

I just bought a MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019), with a 8-core i9, 32GB of DDR4 memory and an AMD Radeon Pro 5500M with 8GB. With nothing installed, as soon as I plugged it into my Samsung 24" monitor running at 1920x1200, the fans ramped up to maximum and stayed there. I can hear it in the next room.

I could use advice on what to do

1) I could wait for Big Sur. Does anyone running a beta version have feedback on whether this issue is fixed in Big Sur?

2) I could return it an get a similar machine with a 5600M. Does anyone have feedback on whether it has the same issue?

3) I could return it and go back to my 2017 MacBook Pro that doesn't have the issue even with two monitors attached.

Hey Dem107,

i’m running the same exact spec/ model:

(8-core i9, 32GB of DDR4 memory and an AMD Radeon Pro 5500M with 8GB 2TB

MBP 16” ).

alongside my LG 34WK95U-W 34" Class 21:9 UltraWide 5K2K Nano IPS LED Monitor with HDR 600

i’ve gone back-and-forth with Apple and I’ve gotten nowhere with this issue I have been asked to do an Smc reset , Reinstall OS absolutely no luck my fans ramp up to 3500 rpm and as high as 5000 rpm while doing very light tasks on LOGIC PRO X whether ‘I’m connected or not’ to an external monitor .....,,,,,

anytime the fans sit over 3500 rpm it hits about 48 - 50 decibels .

The only workaround has been disabling turbo boost, you are very lucky to be within your 14 day return. Please do proper research and make the right decision.

unfortunately I got my external monitor after the 14 day return period. I am also interested in hearing if the 5600M has fixed this defect!

this reminds me of the butterfly keyboard fiasco... which Apple did take care of.. so I’m sure it will be dealt with it👍Apple always makes good it just takes a while.

thanks!

Anyone know if the mbp16” can be upgraded

to the 5600m?

TIA

I got the same configuration almost a year ago when it was released and if you are going to use it with an external monitor the only recommendation I can give you is to return it and wait for a new model.

I’ve tried everything including the future version of macOS and nothing works.

The only partial fix I found is using a 144 hertz monitor with macOS 10.15.4 but it’s not a perfect solution, I still get the fans to got crazy but not as much as with other macOS versions or different setups.

itunestux wrote:

Absolutely. Until Apple fixes this defect it is not recommended to operate a MBP flagship with external displays attached to a 5500.

That's simply not true.

It seems to depend upon the monitor, the interface, and how sensitive you are to fans in your environment.

That simply is true and no matter how much some here profess otherwise, know that the computer you bought is defective and you should return it and specifically say "because the fans are noisy and it heats up after only attaching an external monitor, I want to return this". Wish I could have done that.

If fans spinning at 2400 RPM are noisy to you so be it, but you also won't find any other high performance laptop that suits your needs.

"Heats up" depends largely upon your monitor and its connection method.

You make it sound like the issue is universal, and I (and others) have posted data that shows it is not.

If it bothers you and you are within the 14 day return period, feel free to return your machine for a full refund.

Same here. 5000+ rpm just watching a twitch stream.

I've tried TB3, HDMI, and DP monitors. 4k, 2k, 1920x1080.

I can't believe this. SMDH. Unacceptable.

Watching the same twitch stream. The EXACT same twitch stream.

With the same monitor - on my 2015 MBP - whisper quiet.

I get it that the machine is more powerful. I accept and acknowledge

that faster silicon results in greater heat. I do not accept that watching

a simple streaming video on a 5 year old MBP is perfectly silent while my 2019 16" MBP

sounds like the deck of an aircraft carrier actively engaged with an enemy.

Absolutely true as no one can believe there was a specification to let fans spin up with specific displays. It is also a defect in regard of the fan RPMs (not the sensivity). I am happy you to provide evidences it is not a defect but the intention to produce more noise than all flagship macbooks in the past.

As stated already. Unless Apple fixes the defect or offers choosing intel graphics as workaround you have to buy an external solution (eGPU, USB graphic adapter) or live with the fan noise. If you need to concentrate while working or work in/with silent environments you have to look for older machines or hope Big Sure will fix the bug.

I've gone through 4 units all with the same problem.

Sir most people won't detect these issues within 14 days. Alot it's months after they see the pattern.

Let's all work on a solution not try to downplay the issues because yours might be defective.

What I will say, is the vast majority of people here have shown there is some form of engineering issue be it software hardware combined with these units.

No doubt about that.

So, what is Apple currently doing? Are they offering repairs, attempting repairs. Have they made a statement?

Also has AMD made a statement on the matter?

Has anyone escalated this to the upper tiers of apple?

Thanks!

[Edited by Moderator]

So, today - no twitch stream. Just one tab of Firefox (to post this comment).

No coding, no music, no streaming, no email, just your old single tab web browsing to make a forum post on an external monitor.

Right fan: 5583 rpm

Left fan: 5208 rpm.

Fans have been at this speed for over 15 minutes.

Not getting very far with Apple Support. I will post when/if I get a satisfactory response. I believe I've set

records for SMC and NVRAM resets (in concert with support). If not a global record, a personal best for me - tracing my Apple roots back to before the Apple II Plus. Yes, I'm old. Yes, I've come to expect more from this company.

I'm very glad I have AppleCare for this machine.

This is one solution where you lose your CPU burst speed and get fan noise of intermediate notebooks or or you take an adapter (and lose your GPU power) and get the usual silence.

I cannot agree more with the comment on Apple. But is it required to learnt to take several notebook models, test at home and keep only the best fit while returning all the other?