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Are newer M1 MacBook Pros better with external monitors than 16" I9s?

S

samiwas

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Aug 26, 2006
1,598
3,579
Atlanta, GA
I have a 2019 19 MacBook Pro which I use with two external 2k monitors with the MacBook lid closed. It has gotten to the point that I cannot work any more because kernel_task inevitably goes ******* after a little while and the temperatures shoot sky high. This should not be happening. But, it's happened since day one on a consistent basis. The laptop just overheats and ceases to function in a usable fashion.

According to the specs, two 2k monitors shouldn't even phase the thing, but it's completely unable to handle it. I've tried charging from either side. I've tried splitting the monitors to two sides of the laptop instead of using my dock. I've tried taking the dock out completely and just using the main charger. Nothing works. It just overheats, all the time. iStat Menus claims the fans are running at full, 5200-5600 rpm.

So, I'm wondering if the newer MacBook Pros are better suited to external monitor usage. Has anyone else seen better results from upgrading, or is this just some flaw in the system?
 
Yes, much better, no comparison. 16" M1 Pro is completely silent with 4k monitors.
 
I have the M1 Pro 16 and it's cool when working with dual 4k monitors. But I did have various monitor issues in the past:

  • Memory leaks. Really bad with Monterey but it is better with subsequent maintenance releases. Not totally fixed though.
  • Black screens where the screen turns off for a few seconds and then comes back on. Resolved with a better and shorter cable.
  • Screen flickers, resolved with a shorter cable.
I have 2014 and 2015 MacBook Pro 15s and they can both handle dual 2K external monitors. They get hot with 4k monitors though. Going to the thinner design in the 2016-2019 MacBook Pros was a bad idea from a thermal standpoint. The 2021s are much thicker and the CPU/GPU runs a lot cooler.
 
TSE said:
Yes. They are. I had a 14" M1 Max where I ran it with the 14" Display, two 4K displays, and an iPad Pro with Sidecar all at the same time. No fan noise. Get it.
Click to expand...
Ugh...the only 16" models available before June it seems are the very base models.
 
samiwas said:
I have a 2019 19 MacBook Pro which I use with two external 2k monitors with the MacBook lid closed. It has gotten to the point that I cannot work any more because kernel_task inevitably goes ******* after a little while and the temperatures shoot sky high. This should not be happening. But, it's happened since day one on a consistent basis. The laptop just overheats and ceases to function in a usable fashion.

According to the specs, two 2k monitors shouldn't even phase the thing, but it's completely unable to handle it. I've tried charging from either side. I've tried splitting the monitors to two sides of the laptop instead of using my dock. I've tried taking the dock out completely and just using the main charger. Nothing works. It just overheats, all the time. iStat Menus claims the fans are running at full, 5200-5600 rpm.

So, I'm wondering if the newer MacBook Pros are better suited to external monitor usage. Has anyone else seen better results from upgrading, or is this just some flaw in the system?
Click to expand...

Howdy, some preliminary spelunking seem to indicate that the base AMD 5300 4 GB GPU has a driver bug when running at sub 4K resolutions on these MacBook Pros. The solution has been to run a higher res monitor (like 4K) or force HiDPI mode on the lower resolution. If your only reason for going to a 2021 (or newer model) is for better external monitor support, it might be a good idea to give the HiDPI option a test That will cost you nothing, and could solve your problem. See this post for details:
forums.macrumors.com

(2019) 16" is HOT & NOISY with an external monitor! :(

TLDR: My 2019 Macbook Pro 16" 5300M gets hot and noisy when connected to a 2560x1440p60 monitor, even when idle and the lid is closed. This post outlines a partial solution that enables silent operation. The 2019 MacBook Pro 16" with base 5300M GPU has a problem. If you connect models with...
forums.macrumors.com forums.macrumors.com
 
LinkRS said:
Howdy, some preliminary spelunking seem to indicate that the base AMD 5300 4 GB GPU has a driver bug when running at sub 4K resolutions on these MacBook Pros. The solution has been to run a higher res monitor (like 4K) or force HiDPI mode on the lower resolution. If your only reason for going to a 2021 (or newer model) is for better external monitor support, it might be a good idea to give the HiDPI option a test That will cost you nothing, and could solve your problem. See this post for details:
forums.macrumors.com

(2019) 16" is HOT & NOISY with an external monitor! :(

TLDR: My 2019 Macbook Pro 16" 5300M gets hot and noisy when connected to a 2560x1440p60 monitor, even when idle and the lid is closed. This post outlines a partial solution that enables silent operation. The 2019 MacBook Pro 16" with base 5300M GPU has a problem. If you connect models with...
forums.macrumors.com forums.macrumors.com
Click to expand...

Nice find. I'm amazed that there isn't a fix by now.
 
Absolutely! I’m running 4 x LG 49” widescreen at 5120 x 1440. No heat, no fans, no lagging, NADA. Runs quiet and fast as it should. Go for it!

And yes, I know exactly what your talking about on the i9 models. My 2018 MBP went bonkers with just 1 monitor plugged in. Fans running at full speed, computer performance lagging, etc. If I unplugged the monitor the computer would run normal lol
 

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samiwas said:
I have a 2019 19 MacBook Pro which I use with two external 2k monitors with the MacBook lid closed. It has gotten to the point that I cannot work any more because kernel_task inevitably goes ******* after a little while and the temperatures shoot sky high. This should not be happening. But, it's happened since day one on a consistent basis. The laptop just overheats and ceases to function in a usable fashion.
Click to expand...

What version of macOS are you using? Unfortunately you will see high fan usage on a 16" Intel in a lot of scenarios with anything below 12.3.
 
Thanks all. Finally found an available M1 Max and have spent the past few days transferring stuff over. About to put it into daily usage! But so far, I've noticed that the fans haven't even come on one time, according to iStats. Even when I ran a 3D render. Sweet.
 
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For information purposes I thought I'd add, I have a dual monitor setup with a Mac mini, 2 x LG27UP850-W's. I thought I'd see what the MacBook Pro M1Pro 14" is like with those monitors. No fans and 39 degrees. Cool, both scaled to 2560 x 1440, one on USB-C and charging and the other HDMI.

MacBookProM1ProDualScreens.jpg
 
Fozziebear40 said:
For information purposes I thought I'd add, I have a dual monitor setup with a Mac mini, 2 x LG27UP850-W's. I thought I'd see what the MacBook Pro M1Pro 14" is like with those monitors. No fans and 39 degrees. Cool, both scaled to 2560 x 1440, one on USB-C and charging and the other HDMI.

View attachment 2045409
Click to expand...

I'm spoiled by Apple Silicon - I have heat and fans when I'm on my Intel Macs.
 
Diablo360 said:
Absolutely! I’m running 4 x LG 49” widescreen at 5120 x 1440. No heat, no fans, no lagging, NADA. Runs quiet and fast as it should. Go for it!

And yes, I know exactly what your talking about on the i9 models. My 2018 MBP went bonkers with just 1 monitor plugged in. Fans running at full speed, computer performance lagging, etc. If I unplugged the monitor the computer would run normal lol
Click to expand...
Which MacBook Pro are you using?
 
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