2020 Macbook Pro overheating

I have the same problem I bought my Mac in January. It's so annoying, I have two tabs open and the noice the computer makes is unbearable. The local apple store here is still closed, I talked with support and they just gave me a few articles to read In order to make it better, but it's still making the same noises. Im honestly really disappointed considering this computer is very expensive compared to others.

I don't see how that is related to Intel Turbo Boost.

Some sites I found say Turbo Boost runs for a max of 1-2 minutes. Others say almost indefinitely, as long as the thermal limit is not exceeded. Others say there are different boost states of Turbo Boost.

Obviously it depends on what apps are running but I just want to get an idea of how easily its gets triggered.

A number of people in this thread are barely using their MacBook Pros and yet have fans going constantly. Does Turbo Boost kick in even when opening a browser?!

AppleQer wrote:

OK thanks. Well, if that is the case, then I doubt turning Turbo Boost off will solve the problem for some of the people here who are having heat and noise issues that last a lot longer than that.

"Don't knock it until you have tried it."

Fatima

If your computer is faulty - which it sounds like it as you shouldn't have to be tweaking a brand new item - you have 30 days to return it - not 14 days. This is your right under the 2015 Consumer Protection Act.

Regards

Ron

Hey Ron!

I didn't know that, thanks for letting me know! How would I tell Apple about that? Because when I talked to them all they told me was that it was under the 14 day warranty so I didn't know I had 30 days. I'm just scared that if I exceed the 14 days and only found out that it's not getting better, it would have been too late to return (like how some people took almost a month to find out it's actually defective). Thanks!

Hi Fatima

I understand if you don't want to get into an argument about this, but if you bought it direct from Apple over the internet you shouldn't have a problem. If you exercise your 14 day return clause you also usually get another 14 days to send it back - again if you bought it direct.

I have to say that I always find Apple direct very fair and a model of consumer excellence.

There are also plenty of model letters you could use to help you on the Which and Citizens Advice website.

However if you want peace of mind I would send it back within the 14 days and at the same time order another new one.

If that too exhibits the same problem - as mine did - send that back as well, and perhaps look at another model or another brand.

I have always been a big fan of Apple with iMac, iPhone, MacBooks and iPads, which I have bought for many years.

Personally however I feel that the company is now, in some cases, producing goods that DON'T just work', and do not have the quality they once did.

Much as I hate Windows or Android, I am looking at them as alternatives for my next products.

Anyway I hope you get it sorted to your satisfaction.

Regards

Ron

I bought my mid-2014 build MacBook Pro (i7 quad-core 2.2Ghz processor, 256 GB SSD, 16 GB RAM) refurbished from an Apple store directly in July 2016. I started to notice the same overheating and whirring fan-like sounds within a year, and since that time periodically -- to the point of it occurring now almost every other day. It happens when, as everyone has stated in this forum, I am simply looking at a few web pages (Safari and/or Chrome), have a MS Word letter document open, and perhaps also have open at the same time the Apple Mail App and/or the MS Outlook e-mail application. These, even when opened at one time, should not be causing overheating. This happens when I am using my laptop off battery and at other times when it is plugged in to the charger. My CPU Activity Monitor does not show overuse of the system during overheating. I don't have an app installed to determine the exact temperature but my fingers on the keyboard and the revving sound of the fan, gaining in speed and heat, are enough for me to know that it is overheating. In 2017, I brought my laptop to an Apple store and they tested diagnostics PRAM, SMC, the battery, motherboard, and ran for 12 hours straight several web pages, YouTube, etc., and their technician said they could never replicate the overheating and revving of the fan. However, they said there was debris/dust inside the machine and vacuumed it with a special tool. I don't know how it became dirty, as I kept the computer in its original box between using it only indoors. Perhaps it was always filled with debris/dust when I had bought it from Apple as a refurbished machine. Who knows? I do know that while the system for a few years did not overheat during my "limited" use, and I have kept it boxed and in a closed-door closet in between use, I have started to use the computer more regularly this last half year, and, guess what? It is started to repeat with overheating and this revving of the fan. Today, it occurred within the first 10 minutes of being on and I only had two simple web pages open, the Apple Mail app, my MS Outlook app, and a LinkedIn page. (By the way, I only use this laptop indoors within my residence and never outdoors or in direct sunlight. I also only use it on a flat table surface to allow for proper ventilation.) I have the latest O/S Catalina (Vers. 10.15.6) installed, too. Reading all these nearly exact complaints of even newer MacBook pro machines makes me wonder why Apple Support seems to approach my repeated complaints as unique and indicating the overheating may be due to the user (me!). Wow! Needless to say, throughout my intermittently problematic years with this mid-2014 build machine (within one year of my purchase, so 2017 to the present time), I have not felt it to be completely stable to attempt to have it handle more CPU-intensive programs such as graphic software (Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, large/complex MS Excel spreadsheets, etc.). If it can overheat with two or three Safari or Chrome website pages open, and a Microsoft Outlook and/or Word application open, how could it handle graphic design applications or more complex spreadsheet preparations? I have an upcoming appointment to bring it in one more time to Apple or an authorized Apple service provider. Looking back, I should have demanded an exchange of this laptop in 2017 -- only one year after the first overheating occurrence. But I was new to Apple devices and was made to feel somewhat that my complaint was unusual for this system. I also attributed the overheating to my indoor residential unit ambient temperature being somewhat warm because of an older boiler radiator system. But, no, this cannot solely be the cause with so many nearly exact complaints as noted.

I'm not new to Apple, I've been with it for decades. I have called Apple Support seven times since I got my 2020 13-inch MBP and each time they treated me as if my case was a one-off, that given enough time, would be worked out. I took my hot laptop to the Apple Store yesterday and they told me the same thing - I must have one of those rare MBPs in which something was wrong in the original software.

But if you go to Heads of Technology's "2020 MacBook Pro - Too Hot with External Display? / Fan Noise" they show that the temperature on the CPU of their 13-inch MBP is 98 Celsius when running a YouTube video and recording on OBS. And if you go to Linus Tech's "Now THAT's Hot... - 13: MacBookPro 2020 Review", he shows a 13-inch MBP with a CPU past 95 Celsius with 100 Celsius peaks.

Keeps us updated. I solve it out with a work around disabling i7 turbo boost. Is not ideal but it dropped down from 65/100 to 45/65 Celsius.

When I used the Intel gadget Turbo Boost lasted a few seconds here.

This isn't from that test, but to show you what it shows...

I'd return it, that is dangerous.

You might try upping the Fan speed to much higher if you can stand the noise, watch temps when pressing it hard... I'd still return it myself