Any downside to speeding up the fans constantly on my 16" M4 Macbook Pro?

[Turnpike]

I use a new Macbook Pro M4 with 64GB RAM and still when I have a lot of tabs open (which is most of the time), it gets hot and shuts off.

I downloaded Macs Fan Control and turn the fans up a bit to the point where I can just hear them, the Macbook runs cool and gives me no issues now. I'll be here working for the next 6 months, and if I let the fans run while I am working over those months, is there any down side? Or is it just extra power consumption?

I have the macbook closed, in a stand with the hinge up, and connected to an external Mac Studio Display if that makes any difference.

You think I can just keep working with the fans turned up a bit over the next 6 months with no damage or excessive wear on anything?

Thanks in advance.

 

[rb2112]

It is unlikely the fans would fail on your new macbook anytime soon. If within warranty period, no problem to replace (assuming you backup your data regularly. I did have a fan fail once on my 2011 MBP 17...when it was 10 years old. Seems safe to run them.

 

[JSRinUK]

My 14” MBP can get really hot with sustained use of LLMs. It doesn’t turn off, but it can be uncomfortable to the point you don’t want it on your lap.

My solution was to get a fan with USB powerbank, and direct it at the back of the MacBook at full power (the fan has three settings). It works surprisingly well.

 

[DanneP]

Hello? Anybody even reading the first sentence?

"when I have a lot of tabs open (which is most of the time), it gets hot and shuts off"

There is something wrong with your MacBook. It should never (not in any normal circumstances) shut off but instead increasing the fan speed and throttle down, especially not because you have a lot of tabs open.

Contact Apple and get it repaired or replaced.

 

[navaira]

I use a new Macbook Pro M4 with 64GB RAM and still when I have a lot of tabs open (which is most of the time), it gets hot and shuts off.

DanneP beat me to it. Even if ‘lots’ is a thousand, it shouldn’t get hot and shut down without the fan turning on. Something is very wrong there.

 

[raythompsontn]

I use a new Macbook Pro M4 with 64GB RAM and still when I have a lot of tabs open (which is most of the time), it gets hot and shuts off.

Return that machine under warranty and get a new machine. It should never shutoff under maximum load. The fans should come on, cool if they can, throttle the CPU if the fans are unable to keep the machine from overheating. Don't play games with utilities, external fans, etc. Take the machine back, get it replaced. Something is seriously wrong with the machine.

 

[haralds]

Agree. This behavior is not normal. My M4 MacBook Pro with M4 Pro chip never does this under heavy use (Xcode or media conversion.)

 

[Alpha Centauri]

Simply tabs open..hot and shuts down...there's quite an inherent issue there.

Admittatly I only have used RAW converters for stills, no video editing BUT have not once heard my M2 fan's spinning up at all. Return the unit asap.