MacBook 16-inch Fan Noise

Regarding Turbo Boost, actually the device has no issue when the scheduler handles user land processes (ie as your user). The problem starts when the kernel itself goes haywire (process id 0). You can run as many tests and push the CPU high and the device will perform fine (do not connect external HW though!). This is because those run as a user so the scheduler does a pretty good job.

When you connect an external device (for example my latest is to connect a very fast TB3 2TB nvme - WDC D50), then the fun begins :-/

Infamous "kernel_task" which is the kernel itself (pid 0). This brings the device to its knees by something going haywire.

What you are describing is not a flaw in kernel_task -- it is by design. When the Mac gets too hot, kernel_task activate a low-heat-impact "idle" loop your Mac uses for cooling off.

When it starts to get too hot, the priority of the cooling-off loop is raised. This acts to reduce processor availability for more heat-producing tasks.

Hey everyone,

I have a solution that has worked for me. My big issue was I use an external monitor and I produce music so I can't have my fans loud while I am using guitar. Just like you guys I faced the fan issue---even with temps in the 60-65 degree celsius range my fans were on blast with an external monitor. I did 2 things this evening that seem to have COMPLETELY resolved the issue (not sure which did it or if it was both together)

1) Click on your battery/charging icon in the menu in the top right of your screen -> Click "Battery Preferences" -> Power Adapter -> Automatic Graphic Switching (uncheck)

2) Go to System Preferences by clicking the apple icon on the top left of your screen (make sure to select this icon on your laptop monitor, not your external monitor). System Preferences -> Display -> Uncheck True Tone

I went from having my fans running full blast in my music software and even browsing the internet to now having them be inaudible. It was so bad for me that I considered selling the machine, but after discovering this resolution this evening I'm taking my listing down. Honestly I notice no difference without the true tone. If anything my external monitor looks a little better.

Hope this was helpful!

I've had True Tone off and makes no diff for me.

Additionally, Zoom + Logitech C920 camera = sometimes horrible CPU, camera lag (3-4s). Camera remains "quick" to update, just delayed in time. kernel_task goes to 1000% CPU.

I think this is a recently started problem for me - since upgrade to Big Sur.

Mac quality has really gone downhill... I keep finding more examples of stuff just not working well every day.

Sorry to hear that others are not having the same success as me. I am using the official Apple HDMI dongle connected on the right side of the machine, while also having the power cable connected to the right side.

Also, to be clear my model is the 2019 16 inch if that makes any difference

Deffo something iffy on My mac book pro 2019. The kernal_task doest venture much past 20 max. However if I plug in an external monitor i get spikes of over 1000 in Kernal_task within a few minutes and they will not stop unless I unplug the monitor. Machine becomes unusable, and the only remedy is to unplug external monitor. Changed the settings as per some posts here but to no avail.

Been there. 2019 16'' Macbook pro, 1T SSD + 5500 + 32G RAM + 32 Monitor UHD Samsung. Changed cables, Montiors, resolution configurations...

All problem solved by clearing the fans and vent. I know the problem will com back agian after certian times, but at least this is a solution. Apple shall face it and give a list of solutions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zChakEmz6OI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zC-0MhPsCmk

@lukeliu001 post makes me think that the fan might be activated due to a small increase in internal temperature, driven by dust - or by a slightly higher room temperature. My GPU uses 17W but the fans are reasonably quite in this colder day (was extremely noisy during the heat wave).

I've tried 3 posts, but the autobots keeps blocking em because I mention the nono word.. check out the new option from Apple, which is coming soon guys.. there is a new setting which made my GPU run at 4.7watts instead of eighteen.

yea... so annoying .. and my initial message can't be cutn'pasted now because i mentioned it in the first post..

Anyway.. it seems to disable turbo boost as well, but apparently after a reboot with it enabled, I could turn it on again and GPU stayed at low wattage..

You can set to open turbo boost on startup.

On my 16inch intel Radeon 5500 (8gb) with low power defined the GPU wattage stays between 6 and 12 watts, normally 9watts, and 18 watts when low power is disabled.

Noticed the fans have been well in control for the last 2 days.

I am running a crappy 1080p Samsung on a hdmi to usb-c cable

[Edited by Moderator]

Hey everyone! I bring awesome news for you.

I've been trying all the informed solutions on this thread, and I got no success until now. I find one through the many websites searched https://axu2.medium.com/solved-by-1440p-hidpi-macbook-pro-16-is-hot-noisy-with-an-external-monitor-f8af19c30f81, where the author suggests using a script to disable HiDPI on the external monitor, and it worked!

The GPU wattage goes from the problematic 18w to an average of 6w ~ 7w. Now my MacBook is finally silent. I highly recommend giving this script a try. The only drawback it's the need to use the default resolution for the screen instead of a scaled one.

Thanks and good luck!

Fans are always 100% on. Extremely Noisy. I used it with 2 external monitors. I bought it with 64gb, and still fails.

What should I do? is there a replacement or upgrade program?

macos Big Sur: 11.5.2

MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)

2,4 GHz 8-Core Intel Core i9

64 GB 2667 MHz DDR4

AMD Radeon Pro 5500M 8 GB

Same issue with the fans. Are there any solutions?

I have the best and most expensive MacBook Pro 16' configuration available (24/9/2021), which even with the 64GB RAM, the fans still run at 5200rpm. Can't concentrate.

Please someone from Apple can provide us a solution, without having to return the computer.

several useful solutions have already been posted in the 278 pages of this discussion.

If you would like individual attentions, post a new discussion and the specs of your Mac and your MacOS. also, be sure to include the make&model and resolution of your display, and what devices/adapters/cable you are using to make the connection.