Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
AMD Radeon R9 or Intel Iris Pro?
- Thread starter TokMok3
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Would get the Iris Pro. I have owned the M370X model, and the heat will make it throttle and the fan noise is unbearable if you hook it up to an external monitor, even in light uses as YouTube video and browsing Safari with a few tabs open. When connected to an external display, only the AMD card is active.
The catch with the new model (MBP 2016/2017) is that it has problems with wake/sleep when connected to an external monitor.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/reproducible-crash-with-2016-mb-pro-sleep-wake-failure.2028092/
If you want silent operation and stability, I would opt for the MacBook Pro 2015 with Iris Pro. It is true and tested. If I wasn't covered with a Mac Pro and an iPad, I would buy the 2015 Iris as the my only computer.
The catch with the new model (MBP 2016/2017) is that it has problems with wake/sleep when connected to an external monitor.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/reproducible-crash-with-2016-mb-pro-sleep-wake-failure.2028092/
If you want silent operation and stability, I would opt for the MacBook Pro 2015 with Iris Pro. It is true and tested. If I wasn't covered with a Mac Pro and an iPad, I would buy the 2015 Iris as the my only computer.
The M370X is definitely at hot-running card... very true about the fan noise - particularly connected to an external monitor. Much louder/ hotter than the model with the old 750M.
I believe the sleep/wake issue with the 2016/2017 Pros has been resolved in software, if I'm not mistaken. I have a 2017 15" and I often leave it connected to my external monitor via Thunderbolt 2 dock and is has no issue waking from sleep when connected (in clamshell mode). I just click the bluetooth keyboard or mouse and the display comes right up.
The 2010 one is way slower than even the Iris Pro model. If it's "just a bit of skate footage" the Iris one will do you well. You'll save money and even get better battery life with it. For your usage, I'd consider it the better option.
Yeah. For an iGPU, it's really rather impressive. Depending on the workload, it matches a mid-tier GPU from that time.
The problem arises when you disconnect it, and you go from clamshell to laptop modus. I've had six different MacBook Pros 13 and 15 from the new batch, and they all have the same issue.
I've also tried a wide range of adapters, docks and other stuff. They all give me the same result. Even the LG screen that sells in the Apple store has issues. Not resolved in software, check the thread in my last post.
That's interesting... I had seen that threat, but I assumed it had been address in software because I am not able to reproduce it with my machine. I am not in anyway saying it is not an issue. Very frustrating to those affected, I'm sure.
My 2017 15" Pro connects to my Dell 4K monitor via Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter > Thunderbolt 2 Dock > mini display port to the monitor. I often sleep my computer via Apple menu > Sleep. Even if left for an extended period my machine always wakes from sleep when disconnected from the monitor. Perhaps the issue is somehow mitigated by the means in which I connect my display..?
I guess you don't own a 4K monitor? I tried that approach, but couldn't get the resolution to scale properly via Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter > Belkin Thunderbolt 2 Dock > mini display port to the monitor. It may have been resolved with software, did you have any issues with earlier versions of the software update? Who made your Thunderbolt 2 Dock?
Interesting... I have an almost identical setup other than the monitor and dock manufacturers. My monitor is a 24" 4K Dell P2415Q. It is connected to my Mac via an OWC Thunderbolt 2 dock.
Connected as follows... MacBook Pro > Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter > OWC TB2 cable > OWC TB2 dock > regular mini-DisplayPort cable > Dell P2415Q display.
I have absolutely no issues with scaling in this setup. I run the monitor on the "looks like 2560x1440" setting in System Preferences. In which case the GPU renders the desktop at 5120x2880 then downsamples to 3840x2160 to fill the monitor (Apple's scaling shenanigans).
What macOS version are you running? My computer shipped with 10.12.5 and has been updated to 10.12.6; no issues with either version.
I was running 10.12.5 on the last MacBook Pros, but yeah, I gave up on the sixth Mac and moved on. I got my MacBook 12" back from service earlier today, may work out until next revision of MBP comes out.
I also tried using a dedicated and active USB-C to DP converter which worked great until I unplugged it. I tried all types of reinstalls, excluding certain software etc, but I got the same result. May try again in 2018 or jump ship whenever a new revision comes. Hopefully the time has come for a 13" with quad core with the next revision of Intel CPUs.
The hardest part with the 2016 was getting new cables, and living in Norway, outside of the EU, made it hard for me to get people to ship it to me, and the Norwegian outlets mostly sold cables who only supported 4k@30hz, which is a waste of time.
Do you run at 4k@60hz? I have a Dell UP3216Q.
Last edited:
That is so frustrating... I'm sorry to hear you had such issues. I can't imagine what may have been causing your problems. My wife's 2017 13" machine connects to my setup without issue as well. No scaling or sleep problems on either of our machines.
Yes, my monitor runs at 60hz refresh. I agree, 30hz is unbearably slow for computer use.
Wow, that maybe changes a lot looking for a new set of the 2015 pro..
Beside editing i always got a few tabs open in Firefox which slows my 2010 often down..
If the Iris is indeed the more silent option and also handles video editing very good it would be enough.
Maybe i look now for the 15, 2,5/2,8 512gb Option without the Graphic Card.
Unsure, cause the most i read till now was always pro for the m370x over the Iris...
Last edited:
If your main task on a MacBook Pro is video editing, I would get the new baseline 2017 with 560 CTO.
Hi, think the newer ones are too expensive for me, plus i want the ports of the old one...
I just found the comparision between integrated graphics and the amd interesting - strange that apple suddenly only had the iris in the stores also as refurb.
I just found the comparision between integrated graphics and the amd interesting - strange that apple suddenly only had the iris in the stores also as refurb.
Last edited:
so there is nothing to solve the fan noise on this model when running an external monitor?
its extremely annoying how loud these fans get when just browsing websites.
is this also the case with the 2016/2017 discrete gpu MBP while running an external 4k monitor?
Not like the 2015s. I run my 2017 15" (RP560) with a 4K monitor in clamshell mode and it runs about 10C cooler on average than my 2014 model (GT 750M). Fans are generally silent in web browsing.
so basically my only option is to sell my MBP 2015 and get a 2017?
that kinda pisses me off lol because i just added AppleCare to it too
Is the fan noise really that intolerable? I would suggest using it for a while to see if you can adjust. Your machine is a very capable one; I wouldn't necessarily discard it because of the fan noise.
What is the ambient temperature of the room you a running the monitor in? Do you have a temp monitor installed on your computer (iStat Menus or something similar)? If so, what CPU/ GPU temps are you seeing? Just to rule out a hardware issue...
yes fan noise is awful. haven gotten used to it even with headphones on.
room temp is always nice and cool. my house is temp controlled. istat shows temps getting higher from just browsing youtube. once a video starts playing the jet engines start going.
i also dont use chrome which i found to be a cpu hog and i dont have more then 2-3 tabs open on safari.
room temp is always nice and cool. my house is temp controlled. istat shows temps getting higher from just browsing youtube. once a video starts playing the jet engines start going.
i also dont use chrome which i found to be a cpu hog and i dont have more then 2-3 tabs open on safari.