2016 MacBook Pro Running Slow

[tensixturtle]

Hello,
I have a 2016 MacBook Pro that I have used for multiple years now. It has always been very fast, but in the past year, I have noticed it to slow down significantly in general. For example, doing something like a Skype call causes its fans to become so loud to the point that the other person cannot hear me, which is a problem. It is odd because my 2010 MacBook Pro can do the same thing without breaking a sweat! I was wondering if anyone might have a suggestion to speed this computer up a bit? Should I downgrade from Monterey?
Thank you in advance.

 

[metapunk2077fail]

At almost six years old the thermal paste is drying up and if you kept updating all the software then the demands on your processor is higher than ever.

Yes I'd advise you downgrade that one to Mojave or Catalina and apply only security updates to it. Only consider replacing thermal paste if it can be done with little risk.

 

[tensixturtle]

@metapunk2077fail thank you very much for your solid advice. It totally makes sense that for what you said about the CPU paste and I did not think of that. I am not quite ready to break my newest and only fully working Mac quite yet, but meanwhile, I will downgrade to an earlier operating system definitely.

 

[MBAir2010]

Big Sur and intel MacBooks running hot using "Zoom" was the #1  complaint last year.
the thermal paste replacement might be too much of a hassle while downgrading will be easier.
if say Mojave and catalina does not stop the heating, you could always return to big sur,
then look into re-thermal pasting.

hope this suggestion helped!