MacBook 16-inch Fan Noise

I see constantly defending the users issues as not helpful in the sense of usersupport.

Following options are there:

Use of USB to HDMI converter (does not work for all kind of work but usual office)

Do not use external display

Try another Macbook without GPU

I trust Apple will invest in noise reduction and going back to an acceptable level.

Am willing and have tried alternatives, none of which work in my situation. Glad you’ve got the time to confirm it’s not working, tell us we should get used to it and that I should find a way to get my job done. Helps.

I never said to use a USB-C to HDMI converter, and in fact HDMI is likely to be the worst choice.

I have said when using a USB-C to Mini DisplayPort converter, I can run full screen HD video to my external monitor all day and my fans never go above 2450 RPM or so.

Every MacBook will have a GPU or you wouldn't see anything on the screen.

If you mean a discrete GPU, those MacBooks will not have acceptable performance parameters for most.

Right now it appears choosing the 5600M GPU will ameliorate the issue, but it costs more - that's the trade off for using HBM2 VRAM.

You can try an Apple Silicon machine when they come out if you like; Apple's 14 day return policy makes it a no-brainer if you're serious.

trevormeier wrote:

Am willing and have tried alternatives, none of which work in my situation. Glad you’ve got the time to confirm it’s not working, tell us we should get used to it and that I should find a way to get my job done. Helps.

I didn't say it's not working, what I said was based on the fact that I assume you have work to do and the most pragmatic thing to do is to do whatever you need to to get your work done.

If the fans annoy you, try headphones. That sounds silly but if it allows you to get your work done it's what you need to do. You can complain all day about the money you spent for your computer and that it shouldn't be this way, but ultimately I don't think any of those complaints would assuage your clients as to why your work isn't complete.

Of course it's not the perfect solution, but it does allow you to get the work that you need to get done done.

For what it's worth, I'm also perfectly serious when I say that I know of at least three different laptop PCs where simply using Windows 10 normally and clicking through control panel settings on the internal monitor will result in the fans ramping up to speeds I've never heard from any Apple laptop, so it's not just a matter of Apple being user hostile - shop carefully.

It is many time more annoying to hear your unbelievable replies in this thread since a year.

One year on and we still have to hear you:

defending the impossible

claiming it's the users fault and it's working as expected

It is simply not. this is a defective product.

As acknowledge and many times repeated and confirmed in this thread:

It is not just fan noise.

The hot temperature affects the longevity of the Mac ,

the battery gets drained fast and its longevity is reduced fast.

There was a reason why people paid a premium to buy Apple and surely not to have a similar experience to other laptops product. Thanks for confirming it is no more the case.

Apple should

1) acknowledge the issue

2) recall, fix, or exchange for a working product

All others reading and prospective buyer are highly recommended to avoid buying this product until there is a fix.

Hi I can only confirm my fans 1830/1690 RPM with the USB (not usb-c) to HDMI converter for 1920x1200. It is flicker free and not clear why do you think it is not a perfect choice.

You are right. To be precise it is the dedicated GPU where a defect leads to too high fan noise. Regardless whether AMD or Apple, a fix should be found rather fast.

5600 with HBM2 might resolve and I will try as soon as Apple Silicon is out which pathway I will go. I hope ARM processor is not just an intel CPU replacement and the dedicated GPU chapter remains on current unsatisfactory level.

I'm not sure what you were expecting, but once again with a Dell U2717D connected to my MBP 16/5500M, with the USB-C to mDP adapter and a mDP cable running from the adapter to the monitor, it does draw 19w, but the fans also never go above 2500 RPM despite running full screen 1080p video on the Dell while surfing the web on the built-in display.

What silvann is looking for is 1850 on one and below 1700 on the second fan. One fan covers for the heat from the side where USB-C powercable is plugged in. Preferably the right side, pluged in the left side produces more heat than on the left side. 2500 is to high. In a silent environment this is not acceptable as idle mode. As soon as used with a cam for confcalls the rpm will increase, noise reach a level which is too high. I had to use USB to HDMI adapter (not direct cable) wich can resolve. If I compare to the fan-less minicomputer serving for three displays with 1920x1200 without any flickering (and as fan-less without any noise) it is really sad Apple cannot provide the skills to offer an adequate solution.

Now you are demanding something never designed into any MBP, ever. It might have happened in the past but it certainly wasn't an advertised feature, I know I've said that before about the fan noise, but demanding fans always be below an audible threshold and a minuscule 2500 RPM is too high?

I'm sure Apple has the skills to design a device that can do what you want, were there huge demand, but it's likely to be something only found in a custom device built by a third-party integrator, and it certainly won't be one with the raw available horsepower of the MBP 16.

You don't buy a diesel one ton pickup truck if it must be no louder in use than an electric go-cart.

So, I've got my laptop from Apple service.

They changed:

605-06157 Logic Board 2.3Ghz 32GB, AMD Radeon 5500M, 1TB

605-06552 Touch ID Board

610-00352 Fan Left

610-00351 Fan Right

So, they are basically changed whole LAPTOP!!!!

Left the same screen and keyboard

MacBook were always advertised as the silent ones (though they produced more heat which I am used to). Now it changed - heat is down the noise is on. I was using MacBooks since ten years with external displays and never had such noise level with all previous models. But not with the current MBP in resolution 1920 x 1200. I can have to displays attached with direct USB-C to DB with resolution 1600x1200 and 4.5 Watt usage. Or I use two displays with 1920 x 1200 with 18 Watt usage. No flickering or issues with both resolution. With 5 Watt noise level is great. With 18 Watt not acceptable.

I have tried to get the current 16MBP running silent with an external GPU (RX5700 XT) and an USB to dual HDMI adapter to get to the same noise level when consuming 5 Watt.

If you can help with finding other solutions to get the noise level down you’re invited to provide your help. Downplay the issue would not be any help.

Just because you’re not seeing flicker doesn’t mean there isn’t a risk of it that AMD doesn’t consider worthwhile.

Regardless, you’re actively seeking a solution and I applaud your efforts and wish you the best of luck, it is a difficult issue to solve.

I returned my Macbook Pro 16" with the 5500M GPU and got one with the 5600M GPU. The 5600M is running about 6W until I start something like Zoom and then it goes up to 10W or so. The fans rarely go over 2000 RPM and the machine is essentially silent. Expensive solution, but I'm happy with it now.

Note that's exactly why the 5600M uses HBM2 VRAM rather that GDDR6.

GDDR6 is more power hungry, HBM2 is more efficient but more expensive.

I mentioned in an earlier post, tests show GDDR6 typically consumes 3.5x - 4.5x more power than HBM2, and that's pretty much the difference you see between 20w and 6w.

Well then Apple didn’t took that in consideration when they designed this machine and that is the reason the machine becomes almost impossible to use when connected to an external monitor.

a few days ago I had zoom and another app open and the fans were running full speed the whole time and then machine stared throttling big time, the mouse pointer was moving 2/3 seconds slower than usual, a “pro” machine that can’t handle 2 apps open at the same time........