MacBook 16-inch Fan Noise

HI at All

Loud fans & less power: MacBooks can be loaded incorrectly

Image source: iFixit

The MacBook Pro can be charged on both sides via the USB-C ports. Reports suggest that the choice of page can affect the performance of Apple notebooks. It is therefore better to plug in the charging cable on the right.

With the MacBook Pro, the choice of port seems to make a difference

Apple's official recommendation is clear: the company writes in a support document that MacBook Pro models can be loaded on both sides. As Techspot now writes in its report, there have been user reports for months that contradict this reference. As a user of the StackExchange platform writes, he investigated the cause of an unusually high CPU load and the resulting heat development by the process "kernel_task" and found unusual results.

Apple itself states that the corresponding process is responsible, among other things, for controlling the fan control in connection with the CPU temperature, and the access options of programs to the performance of the processor are also determined here. The curious finding during a detailed examination: If the charging cable is connected together with other devices on the left, the temperature and system load increase significantly. A closer look at the values ​​of the sensors on the Thunderbolt connections confirms this observation, according to the user concerned.

Just load on the right

The solution to the problem is similarly curious: If only the right side is used for loading and the left side is used exclusively for peripherals, the heat problem does not occur and the kernel process is also ended. As a further investigation by another user shows, the measurable differences of up to 15 degrees are very clear. Currently, two models seem to be affected by the problem: the 15-inch MacBook Pro 2017 and the 16-inch MacBook Pro 2019. Apple has not confirmed the problems so far - but the company is happy to take a lot of time to make such statements. Apple, teardown, MacBook Pro, Ifixit, Apple MacBook ProiFixit

https://winfuture.de/news,115555.html

It's easy to do - use what is now an underpowered and uncompetitive GPU as was used in previous generations of MacBook Pros, but for many the capability of the GPU outweighs the need for absolute silence.

There is a reason: extremely poor design and QC from apple.

if this was a pc no one would be excusing the behaviour and apple is the one that you pay a premium for ‘it just works’.

i dunno why they made the 16” when their focus is clearly on their arm laptops which everyone at apple is (justifiably) excited for.

Hello everyone. I just talked with Apple support on a follow up of my 16" Base mode MBP. As many of you have commented, they just told me it is expected behavior. I told them im very disappointed with the quality of the product and that fans spinning so fast depletes my battery in just a couple of hours.

They just filled my complaint and said there was nothing else they could do to assist me. So I think now its just a matter of filling complaints and waiting to see if its gets fixed with the new Mac OS. Very disappointed at Apple.

The move to add the new 5600 GPU so quickly, 7 months after introducing the first MBP 16, was a tacit admission that something wasn't right with the 5500.

This was also done quickly to limit the number of machines that were out there; most high-end machine hunter will choose the new 5600 GPU with the HBM2 memory. I would be surprised to see the first two GPU models out there much longer.

If this don't fix this, they will be sued for it. But it doesn't seem to matter, because even with all of Tim Cook's face time in the media for the app store lawsuit, the stock keeps going up.

I'll just keep it covered under Apple Care and use noise cancelling headphones. And run my air conditioner. And make this my last MacBook Pro.

I just found out when I connect at exact 60Hertz with 1600 x 1200 (after pressing option to receive the resolution) the watt consumption on Radeon high side went down from 18 to 5 watt. Which brings the fans down. I have two external monitors (Eizo EV2455) over OWC Thunderbolt 3. However, the standard monitor resolution is 1920 x 1200 at 59.88 Hertz. Change to 50 Hertz seems not possible. After switching one or two of my monitors to that resolution the watt consumption goes back to 18 and fans are starting. So seems a driver issue. 18 watt consumption is not needed. Apple please fix.

<<And make this my last MacBook Pro. >>

I think Apple sort of agrees with you, in a backhanded way ...

Some in the trade press have suggested that the fundamental problem is the Intel CPU. Lesser processors do not have 'over 16GB memory' capability.

There were supposed to be Intel processors with this sort of performance available in 7nm technology, with far lower power requirements, but Intel has missed its promised dates repeatedly, and can't really get even its 10nm process working properly.

In my opinion, THIS SYTEM is the reason Apple announced "We are moving to Apple silicon" over the next few years.

I had the same issue, and already ordered a new one and will send the defected one. I didn’t get a replacement with 0 cost (at least temporarily I have to stay without a laptop and pay the price twice since it is a CTO device)

The lid is closed but actually it does not matter. Sometimes, the lid is open and I'm working on 1x 32" EV3285 at 3360x1890 (60Hz) and the fans are also spinning like crazy.

I just restarted and opened Safari again and right now, it's pretty silent. Maybe something is going crazy when you have not restarted the system for a long time? I will observe it.

Be sure you connect the power adapter and leave it connected (at least overnight) as an article posted above suggests (for a slightly different model, so far), and run software update to receive any changes to charging profiles afterward.

Three micro-controllers are cooperating to keep your Mac form over-charging. It will essentially NEVER over-charge.

Confusion about battery charge levels is a well known cause of problems (such as kernel task running 100 percent) and could be contributing to bad heat performance and therefore, excessive fan noise.

Another quick way to tell if performance or temperature problems are used by "too much stuff" in the background is to restart in Safe mode, and see if the game problems occur in Safe mode. (Hold Shift at startup, and be prepared to supply your username and password, even if you normally auto-login.)

Safe Mode loads a very small set of Apple-only extensions, not including graphics acceleration, and NO third-party extensions. Screen re-draw will be wonky and slow, but ultimately correct.

If the problem does not occur in Safe Mode, it is caused by "something you added".

Computers whose internal temperatures approach the boiling point of water, 100 C/212 F, have a serious problem, and should be sent for service.

Computers whose temperatures are in the neighborhood of up to 60 C may be functioning as designed. Remember that the temperature throttling on older Macs is less likely to kick in. Be sure you have:

• Fully charged the battery for 8 hours or more, at least once, preferably while the computer is OFF.

• Run software update to incorporate the latest changes, including possible fan profiles changes.

• Run a clean MacOS (no add-ons) either by doing a re-Install and NOT adding your Applications back in, or running in Safe Mode.

• Reset the SMC

If you have done all of those and fan noise is still intolerable, your computer may need service.

Update on dynamic wallpaper theory

After more testing, it seems like I was wrong. Dynamic wallpaper vs static made no difference. Running the exact same software and conditions:

2017 unit does not go above 2000-2500rpm when connected to external monitor

2019 unit goes above 4000-5000rpm within 1-2 minutes of connecting to external monitor and stays there

Both were using the same external monitor and connector, Dell U2715H.

I will try testing on other screens in a shop later and see if it makes any difference.

Also, Apple genius appointment couldn't work out the issue as well and advised just to return for a refund lol. No hardware issues, but they did acknowledge the issue exists and that it seems users are starting to report the issue. They said it's a very new model and maybe try it out later on. So basically:

• You can try different monitors and connectors to see if there is any difference
• Return for a refund
• Test the unit out in store in a few months to see if this stuff goes away and repurchase

So there is an issue, hopefully there is a fix coming.

What screen are you using? Brand and model?

I'm having the same issue and I'm just wondering if it's specific to my screen. If it's happening with an 'Apple approved' screen, then this is definitely an issue. I'm using a Dell, but it sounds like you are using a proper Apple supported screen.

About to return mine for a refund and go back to my 2017 MacBook. Just want to rule out screen issues. Btw, did this not happen with my 2017 unit with the same screen.

TimUzzanti wrote:

All,

We are kind of wrapping up all our testing and working with the Apple Business Team to figure out how we move forward.

This thread is getting a little side tracked with monitors and so I wanted to point out that these issues discussed are completely unrelated to brand/model of monitors being used. That said, it IS related to having monitors connected and the internal GPU within the MacBook, along with the CPU and the overall heat that both generate.

In our final testings, we did clean installs with 10.15.2 and primarily tested an eGPU using a Razor Core and a Radeon RX Vega 64 so we could eliminate the internal GPU in the MBP.

It became really clear the combined heat from the internal Radeon Pro 5500m GPU and the i9-9880G CPU is too much for the current thermal management system, especially when using all USB-C ports. (I.e., for power, USB-C hub, USB-C to Display Port video cables).  From all the testing and heat generated by the unit, it looks like our Radeon Pro 5500m GPU is fried because we are seeing artifacts on text (laptop display and external monitors) but not when we use the eGPU.

Just so you understand our configuration with the eGPU:  We have one USB-C Hub connected to the MBP and one USB-C cable connected to the eGPU.  The one USB-C cable to the eGPU is powering the MBP but also the eGPU has the two Display Port cable to the monitors.  Now the MBP has two free USB-C ports.  This was producing about 38 degrees less heat in Airflow on the MBP.

When the eGPU is connected, we can push the MBP to about 60% CPU for sustained periods before hearing the fans at about 4500 RPM. But as many of us have noticed, when we don’t have an eGPU, we’re seeing this at 5% to 10% CPU.

We have installed Parallels and ran Windows 10 on three monitors on separate space and have done Geekbench tests and a variety of stress tests with the eGPU and its operating normally.  

Bottom line, the combination of using the GPU and CPU is pushing the MBP into heat conditions causing the FAN issues and in our case, possibly damage to the GPU.  

Apple had a similar issue with the 2018 MacBook Pro and people were starting to stick their machines inside a Freezer to see if they could avoid the CPU’s from stepping down prematurely.

Hopefully Apple can find a solution because these new 16 inch MBP could be incredible.

Please start a support case with Apple so we can get this resolved sooner than later and it will also protect you a bit more if you need to return your units beyond the return policy. Moving forward, its all on Apple!

Tim

Thanks Tim!

My troubleshooting yielded similar results, but I got some inconsistent results, so I was not sure if I was correct that this is not a monitor issue.

I'm going to return for refund for the time being until the issue is worked out. An external eGPU is hardly a solution. Extra cost and it's silly for idle to cause this issue.

Can you keep us updated with what happens with the Apple Business Team?

I hope they resolve it, the laptop is otherwise perfect.