MacBook 16-inch Fan Noise

What I haven't seen in this thread is people trying to replicate the behavior running Windows in bootcamp. I know that a very low number of users are going to run Windows on this laptop, but it can be a useful exercise to narrow down the issue to software or hardware, taking Catalina out of the equation.

Anyone willing to try? I'm looking to buy one of these machines, but decided to hold off because of this issue, i have two external displays at my desk and I'd like my machine to perform well.

Thank you!

I don't think it would be appropriate to recommend buying the MBP 16'' until this issue is resolved.

It seems that it is only working normally when not using an external display (apart from an iPad with sidecar) or when using a eGPU with an external display.

Once again, that depends entirely on your use case for the machine.

None of the reports here indicate the MBP has gone into thermal shutdown or otherwise has failed to do whatever it is asked to do, just that it seems to be heating quickly and the fans run loudly while it does so.

Apple does design their machines to shut down if thermal parameters are exceeded, so even if you believe it is running too hot, if it does not shut down, it isn't.

The reports of graphical glitches and such seem to be unit to unit failures that may be addressed by repair, save for glitches when connecting/disconnecting eGPUs.

I would have no issue recommending the MBP 16 to anyone in the market, especially if I knew they didn't use an external monitor or know what laptops with really loud fans (looking at you, Acer Ferrari 3400) sound like.

Right, if they don't or won't need to use an external monitor at some point then I agree it is not a bad choice, you also have sidecar with an iPad for an additional display option that does not seem to cause abnormal overheat and works quite well.

Over the years more than 50 people (family members and coworkers) switched from Windows to Mac because of my recommendation but in this specific case I can't recommend this MacBook Pro until all issues are fixed, specially the heating/fan issue and the cracking/popping sound. That will change once they fix all these issues.

William,

if we go far away , according to Apple on the official web you can read following: “The studio three-mic arrays rivals professional third-party microphones, for creating superclean podcast or music recordings on the go”.

If you have the MacBook connected to an external display or hub, the fan cause so big noise (Some people measure 50, 60 dB ). With such a noise I don’t think so you can create a SUPERCLEAN podcast.

Maybe Apple has to rework the description. Only valid if you use the MacBook Pro without any external connection.

There is a way to cause the fans to pause instantly; just press the Siri button.

There is no way that happened by accident. Since Siri has a hard enough time understanding what you say in a quiet car or room, for sure she couldn't have tolerated the fans running over 3K.

Someone added that little touch at some point. It seems Siri finds the fan noise annoying as well.

In my opinion the fan noise issue on MacBook Pro 16, it can be only a hardware Issue. Or combination of hardware and software.

If this was a software issue, I would assume, Apple would have already resolved it. After three months I have my doubts that it is a software. I would like to be wrong.

I am waiting to Apple for ordering my third MacBook.

But in the meantime I bought a PC (desktop)with similar characteristics for half price. (I moved to the dark side after several years with Apple). Wooauu!!!. it is running good. But I am still depending from Apple eco- system. In special Logic Pro. Anyway I found a DAW , Studio One, that works really good on windows. Now I am on learning phase.

I am still waiting for Apple, but if it takes long, maybe I would not need it anymore. Within the last years, windows looks like more to Apple and Apple to Windows. I hope Apple resolves the fan noise issue fast before is too late.

BradyT_ wrote:

Is this worth cancelling an order over? I have a MBP 16 in processing and work with external monitors everyday. This would be unfortunate.

If I were in your shoes I'd cancel it, but I've been burned twice so far on the MBPs.

You could be lucky as some people swear up and down it doesn't happen to them, so maybe worth getting it and seeing, otherwise return it quickly.

I would go ahead and get it. The 16" is an incredible machine. For me it is extremely quiet. It doesn't run nearly has hot has my 2019 15".

People on here have said that everyone has the overheating problem. That is not true by any means. At work I have it connected to dual 4k displays through a TS3+ dock in clamshell mode and the fans rarely turn on. At home I don't use a dock and it works great - I use a iPad Pro as the 2nd display. I do find that at home during the screensaver the fan will run and I really don't think it should but it does.

It really is a great computer with lots of of power. There is just lots of negativity here, and from many that don't even own the machine.

And when you open the lid you will not be able to sync your photos or Mail.app can get stuck syncing because of the thermal daemon suspends all sync processes and starts waiting till the machine becomes cooler and this will never happen. As we discussed here many times, and until now no one could show the opposite: every MBP 16 doesn't work properly when it is connected to an external display while lid is opened.

"S3+ dock in clamshell mode and the fans rarely turn on. At home I don't use a dock and it works great - I use a iPad Pro as the 2nd display. "

That's great, you have a good working setup there. So it works well in certain situations for some people, the thing is using these work-arounds: extra display, keyboard, dock (eGPUs for some) isn't an option for everyone and quite frankly shouldn't need to be to get a setup working properly.

I wouldn't say there is negativity, apart from a few people saying there is no problem move on, there is a lot of frustration. Here we have a reproducible problem effecting a lot of people and it doesn't seem that it is being taken seriously enough at this point.

I've never had the mail app stop nor photos. Thermals are not bad on mine. I know people think that it's all of them. That is not true at all. Otherwise, it would be all over the news and youtube. That does not mean it is not a few of them as shown here.

Tails you have stated this happens for everyone, and you've mentioned the word overheat. This is not true for everyone.

I run it in both modes - clamshell and not and I use the microphone for recording. I have probably one of the best rounded experiences because I use it in many different ways.

That does not mean you don't have a problem, I can tell you do, but it is not effecting me, my work, or my recordings. The fan speed is virtually nil.

What does that mean? It means that not all people are having the issue that you are experiencing. Even if the RFS is high in a certain scenario - and it is - doesn't mean there is something wrong (Even in that situation it's still nearly quiet for me). There might be a reason when it's connected directly that I just don't understand why it needs to go up. Since it bothers you ask AMD as they made the drivers.

This machine is not perfect but it has been the best MBP i've EVER had, and I've had many. That does not mean you don't have a defective version.

Which model do you exactly own?