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The 16" MBP is terrible with an external monitor (or at least mine is with my external monitor). Fans spin up like crazy and the case gets hot enough to fry an

The 16" MBP is terrible with an external monitor (or at least mine is with my external monitor). Fans spin up like crazy and the case gets hot enough to fry an egg on. It's the one terrible weakness of an otherwise great machine.

breck 6y ago
Oh wild, didn't know that. This is the M1 16" MBP, or the older Intel one?
- varjag 6y ago
  There's no M1 16" MBP.
- eyelidlessness 6y ago
  Only the low end 13” MBP has an M1 release currently.
- justincormack 6y ago
  The old one, there isn't an M1 16" yet
  - breck 6y ago
    Ah thanks! Didn't realize that.
thatswrong0 6y ago
Yeah this this has been abysmal for me. It does this even if you use it with the main display closed (clamshell mode) Makes my 2018 "Pro" machine feel like an 8 year old device struggling to keep up with very basic tasks because of thermal throttling (and this is even after getting the fans cleaned by Apple recently)
- eyelidlessness 6y ago
  Clamshell mode is generally worse for thermals. Even though you’re not dedicating power to the internal screen, you’re trapping more heat in the case. Other than that, take a look at my sibling comment for a potential solution.
nklmilojevic 6y ago
How is that? Which external screen do you run? Mine is 3840x1600 (38") and MBP 15.4 (with discrete AMD graphics) and fans never spin up just because it is hooked on external screen.
x3sphere 6y ago
Had the same issue. I sold my 16" MBP and moved to the 13" M1 MBP. Performance is comparable (if not slightly better) and the fans almost never go on unless I'm compiling code and maxing out all cores.
eyelidlessness 6y ago
I’ve had this experience and seen many others mention it too. I always make a point when I have time to mention how I’ve solved it. If you haven’t already, try plugging the power in on the right side, and the display/any other peripherals on the left. It sounds crazy, but this has been the solution for tons of people. Apparently the heat generated by power input (even at a steady full charge) is enough to spike the sensors near the components on the left side. I haven’t experienced any downsides to this change other than having to spend a few minutes rearranging stuff on my desk.
- joegahona 6y ago
  Just confirming: By "right side," you mean _my_ right when looking at the computer? "Left side" is the side closer to the Esc key?
  - eyelidlessness 6y ago
    Yes, I should have clarified that.
- dtech 6y ago
  That seems crazy but plausible. Explains why so many people complain about it while my office and home never had issues, it's all laid out so you plug in the power on the right.
  - eyelidlessness 6y ago
    It apparently affects all of the USB-C models with ports on both sides, it’s kind of surprising to me that the workaround isn’t more well-known, and even more surprising that it’s gone so many generations without a fix (although honestly I have no idea how involved the fix would be, and it’s probably moot with Mx around the corner).
    - PostThisTooFast 6y ago
      Look how many years Apple crippled the laptops with a dogshit keyboard. And Flexgate: Their displays are all failing because they ran a ribbon cable through a hinge. The sad “thinness” gimmick has driven Apple’s quality to ever-lower levels.
jsjohnst 6y ago
I wish we could narrow down why some have this experience and others don’t. I’ve connected 8 external monitors (all at once) to three different 16” MBP and still couldn’t produce a similar issue as some have with just one.
emrah 6y ago
I have an external monitor with my 16" MBP and it works great. I haven't experienced any of the issues you mention. I have one of the Apple monitors though. It might be an issue with non-Apple monitors.
Qub3d 6y ago
Yeah, its a known limit of the Intel CPU. I'm no expert, but my understanding is that any external monitor essentially requires pushing through the dGPU and therefore your system will be consuming ~100W minimum, no matter the load.

breck 6y ago

Oh wild, didn't know that. This is the M1 16" MBP, or the older Intel one?

varjag 6y ago
There's no M1 16" MBP.
eyelidlessness 6y ago
Only the low end 13” MBP has an M1 release currently.
justincormack 6y ago
The old one, there isn't an M1 16" yet
- breck 6y ago
  Ah thanks! Didn't realize that.

thatswrong0 6y ago

Yeah this this has been abysmal for me. It does this even if you use it with the main display closed (clamshell mode) Makes my 2018 "Pro" machine feel like an 8 year old device struggling to keep up with very basic tasks because of thermal throttling (and this is even after getting the fans cleaned by Apple recently)

eyelidlessness 6y ago
Clamshell mode is generally worse for thermals. Even though you’re not dedicating power to the internal screen, you’re trapping more heat in the case. Other than that, take a look at my sibling comment for a potential solution.

nklmilojevic 6y ago

How is that? Which external screen do you run? Mine is 3840x1600 (38") and MBP 15.4 (with discrete AMD graphics) and fans never spin up just because it is hooked on external screen.

x3sphere 6y ago

Had the same issue. I sold my 16" MBP and moved to the 13" M1 MBP. Performance is comparable (if not slightly better) and the fans almost never go on unless I'm compiling code and maxing out all cores.

eyelidlessness 6y ago

I’ve had this experience and seen many others mention it too. I always make a point when I have time to mention how I’ve solved it. If you haven’t already, try plugging the power in on the right side, and the display/any other peripherals on the left. It sounds crazy, but this has been the solution for tons of people. Apparently the heat generated by power input (even at a steady full charge) is enough to spike the sensors near the components on the left side. I haven’t experienced any downsides to this change other than having to spend a few minutes rearranging stuff on my desk.

joegahona 6y ago
Just confirming: By "right side," you mean _my_ right when looking at the computer? "Left side" is the side closer to the Esc key?
- eyelidlessness 6y ago
  Yes, I should have clarified that.
dtech 6y ago
That seems crazy but plausible. Explains why so many people complain about it while my office and home never had issues, it's all laid out so you plug in the power on the right.
- eyelidlessness 6y ago
  It apparently affects all of the USB-C models with ports on both sides, it’s kind of surprising to me that the workaround isn’t more well-known, and even more surprising that it’s gone so many generations without a fix (although honestly I have no idea how involved the fix would be, and it’s probably moot with Mx around the corner).
  - PostThisTooFast 6y ago
    Look how many years Apple crippled the laptops with a dogshit keyboard. And Flexgate: Their displays are all failing because they ran a ribbon cable through a hinge. The sad “thinness” gimmick has driven Apple’s quality to ever-lower levels.

jsjohnst 6y ago

I wish we could narrow down why some have this experience and others don’t. I’ve connected 8 external monitors (all at once) to three different 16” MBP and still couldn’t produce a similar issue as some have with just one.

emrah 6y ago

I have an external monitor with my 16" MBP and it works great. I haven't experienced any of the issues you mention. I have one of the Apple monitors though. It might be an issue with non-Apple monitors.

Qub3d 6y ago

Yeah, its a known limit of the Intel CPU. I'm no expert, but my understanding is that any external monitor essentially requires pushing through the dGPU and therefore your system will be consuming ~100W minimum, no matter the load.