You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

MacBook 16-inch Fan Noise

We are testing two new 16-inch MacBook's before doing a rollout across our organization. Under low loads (25% cpu utilization), fan noise will get annoyingly loud. We're not doing any GPU related and more routine work such as: using web applications, debugging web pages, Microsoft Teams conferencing (audio/video) with a handful of people, Photos downloading from iCloud, Mac Mail downloading a new mailbox from Exchange.


We DID NOT notice this on our 2015 MacBooks and this might prevent us from continuing the 16-inch MacBook rollout in our organization.


Interested to hear others experiences.


Tim

MacBook Pro 16", macOS 10.15

Posted on Nov 21, 2019 11:34 AM

Reply
4,224 replies

Nov 22, 2020 11:50 AM in response to sehgal1991

DisplayLink technology creates a "fake" display buffer in RAM, sends the data out over a slower interface to a stunt box with DisplayLink custom chips that put that data back onto a "legacy" interface. It is not a true "accelerated" display, and it suffers from lagging.


It may be acceptable for a second display showing slow-to-change data such as computer listings, stock quotes, or spreadsheets, but NOT for full motion Video, and mouse-tracking on that display can lag, and can make you feel queasy.


--------

It is really nice to know that you can use a DisplayLink display if you MUST have an additional display for some of the types of data I mentioned. But that is NOT the same as the computer supporting a second, built-in, accelerated display.


These displays depend on DisplayLink software, and are at the whim of Apple when they make MacOS changes. There have been cases where MacOS changes completely Borked DisplayLink software, and it took some time for them to recover.


--------

I think the Big Surprise for a lot of Hub/Dock buyers is that they thought they were getting a "real" display, but actually got a DisplayLink "fake" Display. If you got what you expected in every case, I would not use such strong terms to describe DisplayLink.

Nov 22, 2020 12:15 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

You can even watch easy videos. As long as Apple does not fix the heat issue which comes up used a direct attached display. I do not know where you took your experience about the lag which is simply not true.


No issue, driver do not require kernel module and is ready for Big Sur already. MacBook Pro is working silent now and the there's not really a lag. I can just recommend it. However, I invested also in a eGPU with an Radeon 5700XT. However, since the quality of the dual HDMI adapter is so good I do not use the the eGPU lot of time.


Furthermore, the DisplayLink is also the solution for the new MacBook Air M1 where only one external display can be attached.

Nov 24, 2020 4:23 PM in response to itunestux

I am still waiting on news regarding my MacBook Pro 16 that I bought a year ago, the one that gets melty-hot when I plug in my T3 Hub or my external monitors.


In the meantime, I bought a Surface Pro 7 (16 GB RAM, 10th gen i7) and it runs dead silent with the same 2 monitors and Surface Hub attached. So...yep. Waiting, but at least its quiet.

Nov 29, 2020 5:32 AM in response to BerkaySirin

Read through the thread and you will find many solutions. I run dual 4K displays and have no problem. The fans generally run less than 2000 RPM. This really is a good machine, and very powerful. There are some scenarios that the AMD GPU Doesn’t like.


Another option would be to return this one and get the new MacBook Air. It has no fan at all.

Nov 29, 2020 7:11 AM in response to Sergei_Usatov

I use the CalDigit TS3+ thunderbolt dock so I have only one cord to plug in when I go to the office. the computer is in clamshell mode then. The TS3 is connects two identical monitors - BenQ EL2870U 28 inch 4K Monitor. One is connected to HDMI to HDMI (latest as of 2018). The other is connected TB3 (USB-C connector) to Display-port. All devices such as scanner, ethernet, etc., are connected to the dock.

I also use TurboBoost Switcher pro to disable Turboboost. I cannot see that it does anything for performance when I ran my tests. So, I couldn't see any good reason for it to shoot temperatures up every time I launched a program or window.


Dec 1, 2020 2:14 AM in response to brycesteiner

Nice solution but it cost almost 200 usd. + shipping.

Why I can't use basic functions of MacBookPro 16 which already cost 3000 usd in my country.

Without spending more money for 3th party accessories. Im really don't understand!


It must be solution like Driver update from AMD or OS X update from Apple. If they can't solve overheating problem, they must physically repair MacBook Pro 16 for customers who have this Issue with External Displays/Monitors.

Dec 1, 2020 2:17 AM in response to Sergei_Usatov

It's not overheating per se, the fans are just louder than you would like.


There is nothing to "repair."


AMD has stated they need to drive the GDDR6 VRAM in some configurations at full speed to avoid possible flicker, and that creates heat.


If your monitor supports Mini DisplayPort, you could try a TB3 to MDP adapter; those usually cost under $20 US.

Dec 1, 2020 2:29 AM in response to Dogcow-Moof

I still don't agree, I have MacBookPro 13 2017 year, that does not make noises! Even then im using LightRoom editing photos. And it doesn't make flicking and something...


Why I need to search special "adapter", I'm already bought original Apple USB-C to HDMI... for almost 100 usd.


I know what you saying. But AGAIN if it would be Nvidia, It would not make such noises. AMD always have bad reputation about Heating. In past time that I have PC, I would never bought AMD cpu which is overclocked with crazy heating...


And yes I see those 18W power to GPU every time then im using TWO monitors for surfing ...

Dec 1, 2020 7:10 AM in response to Sergei_Usatov

Sergei_Usatov wrote:

I still don't agree, I have MacBookPro 13 2017 year, that does not make noises! ...

My experience is completely different. I had a 2018 MBP and still have a 2019 early MBP (15") and the fans both were loud and would kick up faster than my 2019 16". This 16" MBP has been my best experience with heat and noise that I have had.

Dec 5, 2020 7:26 AM in response to Dogcow-Moof

I come back to this thread after half a year looking for a real solution, having left because discussions were unproductive.


Yet here you are, William, still telling people there's no problem. That their laptops are designed to heat up during normal use and run their fans at full speed, causing not only annoying noise but also accumulation of dirt within the case which is known to cause higher temperatures and possible damage to electronic equipment.


I personally come back here because summer kicked in in the southern hemisphere and it's become a lot more common for my MBP 16 to get really, incredibly hot. Like, more than uncomfortable to the touch hot above the touch bar. Do you still believe that's normal? Do you have one of these? Did you pay for it? If you do, don't you feel scammed yet?



[Edited by Moderator]

Dec 5, 2020 7:33 AM in response to estebani

estebani wrote:

I personally come back here because summer kicked in in the southern hemisphere and it's become a lot more common for my MBP 16 to get really, incredibly hot. Like, more than uncomfortable to the touch hot above the touch bar. Do you still believe that's normal? Do you have one of these? Did you pay for it? If you do, don't you feel scammed yet?


Yes, I bought and paid for mine with my own money, and if I had it to do all over again, I would, though of course I'd opt for the 5600M GPU today as it's even more powerful.


This is the best and highest performing MacBook Pro I've ever owned, and I use it daily, sometimes with an external monitor and sometimes not. Beyond that, I have yet to hear its fans "ramp up" except when installing a new macOS version, like the upgrade to Big Sur (and even then the fans were not at a volume or frequency I would rate as objectionable.)


So I'm not sure why I would feel "scammed" when it does everything it was advertised to do and for me it does it quite swiftly and efficiently.

Dec 9, 2020 11:46 PM in response to Dogcow-Moof

So I'm not sure why I would feel "scammed" when it does everything it was advertised to do and for me it does it quite swiftly and efficiently.

William Kucharski wrote:
....
So I'm not sure why I would feel "scammed" when it does everything it was advertised to do and for me it does it quite swiftly and efficiently.

William is your silent with DisplayLink adapter or without? I read earlier that you used one - but I'm not sure if you used one just for testing or in daily use.


Since I bought a DisplayLink adapter it is solved for me. My MacBook Pro is mostly quiet (works for weeks now!) but if it does spin up during development and I don't want it to be loud, I just turn on CPU-Throttling in Endurance and it is quiet again. And if I really need the power, I disable CPU throttling and then it is such a powerhouse.


I spend so much time in testing and searching. Luckily i have not so much workload for an external Monitor so DisplayLink with CPU can handle it silently. But if even a CPU Core can mange it with most of the time 20% load, it's a shame that this gpu-setup is so badly designed with aspect of energy effenciency.


Luckily Apple have it on it's agenda - M1 show that the Watt by Performance is a important topic for Apple - badly we invest to early with this AMD setup.

MacBook 16-inch Fan Noise

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.