MacBook 16-inch Fan Noise

Yes, it's crazy but using 144 hertz has solved my problem (except for the issue I mentioned before with Quicktime).

As you can see, I'm using the higher resolution available for this monitor and still only using 8 watts.

Hello,

I think that even with 60Hz limited monitors we can have access to the "hidden" refresh rate menu.

Hit Option key while clicking on Scaled should show the menu.

Unfortunately the monitor that I'm using doesn't support 144Hz.

I just wonder if all 144Hz compatible monitors reduce power needs for AMD card in open lid mode.

I want to contribute also by saying I don't really suffer with too much fan noise (2500 RPM) when I connect an external monitor, even after hours of use, but I have the heat and consumption of 18W issue. I use a 3D software a lot (Maya) and the fans only speed up when it must, so nothing fancy.

I've tried at the beginning a lot of different cables to connect the external monitor, even some specific usb-c to DisplayPort without any conversion embedded system, but the only way to get the GPU power down is with lid close and 1080p resolution max.

I have an i9 1To 32GB with 5500 and 8Go MBP from January bought in France, I still use the previous Catalina release 10.5.3 (I'm a little bit afraid of changing anything...)

I hasn't fixed anything. Still 18W on my MBP 16" dGPU, both in closed lid and open lid mode.

Monitor len27q-10, pluggied via HDMI cable connected via Dock Station.

Temporary aid for me was to install Windows 10 via bootcamp, it works flawlessly, only 5w in whatever mode, two external display, one external display, close/opened lid combinations. Fans are just at 1800 rpm, and super silent.

I now have my MBP 16" 2019 for almost a week and the noise combined with the heat was really disappointing, especially the noise. I almost returned it back to Apple but then I found a little gem in software Turbo Boost Switcher Pro which turns off the turbo boost from the CPU. (https://www.rugarciap.com/turbo-boost-switcher-for-os-x/) it cost my 12 bucks with taxes applied but must say I have run for 3 full days on full speed and machine doesn't go above 65c and fans stay below 2000 rpm.

I have chrome running with about 20-30 tabs open, 6 presos I am working on with a total space consumption of 4GB and 16GB memory pressure. Some word docs, excel, outlook, gitbook, VLC, internet radio, VMware Fusion and 4 VMs running and some other things at the same time.

I have an old 27" Apple Thunderbolt 2 screen connected with an adapter to a TS3+ docking and that is connected to my MBP 2016 with the lid open.

For my daily work I do not need turbo boost on the CPU to be active. Heat stays between 60-65 while CPU cores are on average between 60-80% load. I prefer to have a work environment without the noise but still like the MBP as design and speed it delivers combined with 64GB memory to have a portable home lab for fiddling around, running on the same machine.

So to report back - last update it destabilised the system - sometimes it runs smoothly with turbo boost, ext. display under 60c, and 2600rpm, then next day same usage and environment, it runs 95-100c , with max fans, until i turn OFF turno boost, and it can stay then in 70s C. When i reboot and apps are opening it hits a 100 every time.

What worries me more is that i just got now for the 4th day in a row an issue with graphics card, which could be the result of overheating, or whatever is the DEFECT in these machines. I was browsing and had a zoom call today when this happened:

Please any suggestions?

Hey Tim, it happened again today, and barely started working. Can i ask you that you are alert of CPU usage when this happens again to you - i noticed that my CPU was 80% working, no idea what caused the spike - it looks like playing youtube causes it.

Whole system just gets very unresponsive - over 1s delay for any click - youtube video lagging - was jsut a coffe cup steam animation on a meditaion video - changing tabs, apps etc. I just closed youtube tab and it went back to normal, the behavior and CPU dropped. Can you confirm the CPU behaviour when this occurs ?

So look, what can you say about this, you guys look so knowledgable please: This is getting so bad i cant even browse - click delays 1-2 s, i have restarted 3 times today. I have currently opened Whatapp, skype, safari with only 1 tab of apple support and notes. My system takes 70%, can you see why?

There's a large thread on MacRumors titled "16" is HOT & NOISY with an external monitor! :(" that I'm also following. I'd post the link but I don't know if posting a competitor is allowed.

As for my situation, my MBP stays under 2000 RPM, but it still jumps to 18+ watts.

That's not true. The 16 MBP I use has an Intel UHD 630 while the 2019 Air I used has a 617. From what I read the 630 is about 10% faster.

I understand what you're saying about how the machine is meant to be used, etc. I just want the option. I confident that the machine can run both displays with the integrated chip or certainly the external in clamshell. We just don't have the option to.

Anyway, here's what I observed with my machine:

I agree with you. I would like more control over which GPU is being used for everything but unfortunately, we don't get that and maybe it's not possible as DPJ is implying that this chip isn't made like the others. Intel and Apple are selling it as if it is a better integrated GPU but I don't know.

Side note:

I ran ZOOM today in a meeting and because of the complaints earlier I decided try with Turboboost enabled and then turned it off just to see and my temperature only reached 50C and most of the time it stayed at 47C.

The fans never turned on audible. It ran fine. I did notice that the battery life dropped significantly when the camera was on. Literally cut the predicted battery time in half.

SO guys what should i choose here lol? This issue is getting exponentially worse and worse. I just missed my own webinar, this computer costed me couple of thousands sofar . DO NOT buy this computer if you need it for work!

[Edited by Moderator]

I think there's a solution. I took some advice in one of the forums. I installed SwitchResX and set my Dell U2715H monitor to 40Hz refresh rate. After that, in clamshell mode, the RHS went down to ~8W.

I think it's a miracle after all this.

Here are the two screenshots that show that this computer is defective. No, not the fact that it works not the way I want it to work, but the fact that it's defective. As others have stated previously - same gaming monitor supporting up-to 160hz running in clamshell mode:

1) 60hz and 85hz mode GPU draws 17w+

2) 100hz, 120hz, 144hz, 160hz draws only 5w.

How on earth this is not defective, that increasing load on the computer by up-to 2.5 times reduces its power draw / thermal load? William, please stop trolling everyone, you are providing no real value to this conversation and you only keep annoying everyone by cluttering otherwise useful thread with your "it's not defective" nonsense.

Btw, interesting fact - even though on 60hz the power draw is more or less stuck, on high refresh it seems to actually react to what is happening on the screen - the more stuff is being rendered, the more power it draws.

For all the people here saying that there is no proof that the overheating (or heating more than it should, to avoid any issues with the overheating word), every day more people is posting here and on different websites problems with their GPU, kernel panics, weird sounds from the fans and today I have to add a new one, I always connect my external monitor to the same USB-C port, today that specific USB-C port started failing (check the attached image), coincidence? Maybe, but after seeing all the issues related to this problem I'm pretty sure that it was caused by the high wattage when connected to an external monitor. If I connect the external monitor to another USB-C port the screen goes back to normal, how long until the other USB-C port start having issues... we'll see.