Indeed the same behavior.
For people following this topic, these are my recipes to avoid this issue. If ever I find better solutions, I'll tell you on this thread.
BootCamp
For those you like to game, the first thing to do is disabling TurboBoost.
Go to the configuration panel, then to power settings.
On advanced power settings, go to processor power management, then max processor state, and set it to 99% instead of 100%.
This will disable TurboBoost, which will give you 2 benefits:
- it won't use more than 20W max, so less heat
- it will leave 76W for the rest of the machine, in particular the GPU (you could also reduce the brightness of your internal display when using an external one)
This first trick is actually valid for every MacBook Pro gamer on BootCamp, as it avoids CPU throttling and gives max power to the GPU, which is more important for most of the games.
It won't however be enough to avoid the GPU high temp crash, which will happen if fans won't be spinning soon enough when the game will push the GPU (and sometimes the CPU) hard.
So now it's time to use Macs Fan Control. For gaming, I would simply put everything to max from the beginning.
With these 2 tricks, I did not encounter any crash on BootCamp.
I would not recommend to have fans maxed out for several hours per day, but I doubt anyone would buy a Mac to play games under Windows for several hours per day. On a funny note, with fans at max, the machine will be hot and loud, but less than any gaming laptop with similar performance.
MacOS
Oh man this is really more complex.
Adjusting the fan curve and disabling TurboBoost will avoid the crashes, but there are drawbacks and no "one size fits all" setting.
The tools I'm using now are TG Pro (for the fans) and TurboBoost Switcher.
Although it's a paid software (14 days of trial), I do prefer TG Pro over Macs Fan Control for 3 reasons:
- the AutoMax feature is "on top" of the system fan curve, so it won't replace the system fan curve (safer), but will take control over the system fan curve if the such or such temp is rising above this or this threshold
- you can set the time it takes for the fans to max out, to avoid sudden fans boosts (which are not great for the longevity of the fans)
- finer and deeper controls compared
My settings on TG Pro is to use AutoMax to watch CPU and GPU. I'm still searching for the perfect parameters, but the idea is pushing both fans to 100% in case CPU or GPU is starting to heat up, with a somewhat slow adjustment duration.
As per TurboBoost Switcher, you have to put it in the Application folder to work. You can then use it for free, but with the paid version:
- no more password every now and then
- specific disabling / enabling based on the software you're using (more on that below)
Last but not least, those two software are said to be Apple-notarized, which is always safer, and indeed I did not have any alert from MacOS.
Now depending on the software I need, I won't use the same config.
Everyday loads
TG Pro AutoMax, TurboBoost disabled.
This setting gives me more battery life, uses less power (hello Earth), produces less heat so my MBPro will last longer.
There could be some performance loss, but hey I can't even feel it.
TG Pro AutoMax will push the fans in some occasion, in particular for Photos / iCloud syncs.
Dev, VM, heavy CPU stuff
TG Pro AutoMax, TurboBoost enabled.
The machine will be louder than with the system fan curve, but temps are really better.
For those stating TurboBoost is a marketing stuff, during complex workloads I would lose 30 to 50% of performance / time is not using TurboBoost. I've measured this.
3D only
TG Pro AutoMax, TurboBoost disabled.
Same as gaming under BootCamp.
3D Pro Apps
TG Pro AutoMax, TurboBoost enabled.
In the case of Unity, you can bounce from heavy CPU demand to heavy GPU demand.
Music / Photo / Video Pro Apps
System fan curve, TurboBoost enabled.
For Music Apps, you need the CPU, and you need silence.
For Photo Apps, you need the CPU, but if you adjust the fan curve the fans won't stop kicking in / stopping.
For Video Apps, you need CPU and GPU, and if you adjust the fan curve the fans won't stop kicking in / stopping.
Guess what, Apple nailed it, the system fan curve has been planned for these usages, and no system crash.
So Apple did optimize the machine for most popular usages of its pro customers.
And there are tools for other usages.
If you wonder whether heat could damage the machine or affect its longevity, then AppleCare+ is a must.
Hope this helps.
