I want to upgrade my desktop setup. I currently have 2013 27” iMac. I am just tired of the iMac design and really want more freedom to choose my own monitor. I really want an ultra wide. I was thinking Mac Mini but no Dedicated GPU is a bummer. Mac Pro is out of my budget plus overkill for my needs. So I understand it’s possible to hook a MacBook Pro to a monitor to use in desktop mode. Does anyone do this permanently treating it as a true Desktop? Thanks for any input.
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Does anyone use a MacBook Pro strictly as a desktop in clamshell mode?
- Thread starter SteelBlueTJ
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I pretty much do so with the 2020 Mbp. Works just like a normal desktop with the option to pull the plug and take it with you. Getting a stand is great.
Good question S,
How does mackbooks work with drivers for all the different types of monitors out there?
Can one install specific drivers, by App Store or whatever, or are you stuck with generic drivers as part of the OS?
I currently have a Ipad, and when I tried to plug into a monitor by HMDI, the screen is square and pretty grainy. It is just a badly blown up duplicate of the ipad screen. Pretty poor for a Ipad “Pro” considering the modern tech we have today.
Hoping the macbooks are a better proposition, as I‘m thinking about getting one in a couple of years as the next replacement laptop.
Regards
Martin
How does mackbooks work with drivers for all the different types of monitors out there?
Can one install specific drivers, by App Store or whatever, or are you stuck with generic drivers as part of the OS?
I currently have a Ipad, and when I tried to plug into a monitor by HMDI, the screen is square and pretty grainy. It is just a badly blown up duplicate of the ipad screen. Pretty poor for a Ipad “Pro” considering the modern tech we have today.
Hoping the macbooks are a better proposition, as I‘m thinking about getting one in a couple of years as the next replacement laptop.
Regards
Martin
I do this, have done for many years. My current setup is very simple. I use a PC for everything other than web development, I have a MBP for that. Not a particularly powerful one as I don't need it, all I have is that 2019 MBP 13", 8GB Ram, 128GB SSD.
I have recently switched from a 2 monitor set up as a friend got a widescreen and I loved it, so went for a 34 inch LG 3440x1440. I need only 1 cable for the MBP. A single USB-C to USB-C provides both video and power/charging then I have the magic keyboard, magic mouse then a stand to sit the MBP vertically and allow any expelled heat to rise.
The great thing about this is that it's so tidy with just a single cable and when I need to take it on travels just remove a single cable, the power brick is already in my bag and off I go.
Even with such a big monitor, the MBP handles it just fine, and the LG software allows an easy way to split the screen if you want multiple windows.
If you don't need portability the Mac Mini is fine depending on your GPU needs and gives you a bit more flexibility in ram upgrades and you can always add on an eGPU if you wanted more.
I have recently switched from a 2 monitor set up as a friend got a widescreen and I loved it, so went for a 34 inch LG 3440x1440. I need only 1 cable for the MBP. A single USB-C to USB-C provides both video and power/charging then I have the magic keyboard, magic mouse then a stand to sit the MBP vertically and allow any expelled heat to rise.
The great thing about this is that it's so tidy with just a single cable and when I need to take it on travels just remove a single cable, the power brick is already in my bag and off I go.
Even with such a big monitor, the MBP handles it just fine, and the LG software allows an easy way to split the screen if you want multiple windows.
If you don't need portability the Mac Mini is fine depending on your GPU needs and gives you a bit more flexibility in ram upgrades and you can always add on an eGPU if you wanted more.
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Not with a MBP, but with a 2015 MBA. I've used it that way for the five years I've owned it. It only has 105 battery cycles on it, so I don't take it out very often, but it's convenient to be able to do so when I want to.
I'm considering moving up to a MBP soon myself, and will continue to use it mostly tethered to a monitor.
I'm considering moving up to a MBP soon myself, and will continue to use it mostly tethered to a monitor.
I had the same 2013 iMac and in the same way, I got a bit tired of it and wanted a new Mac. I wasn't keen on shelling out £2k for another iMac which looked exactly the same and again wouldn't be cost effective to replace later on. I don't really want to wait 5 years+ before upgrading every time.
In late 2018 I got the MBA which was mainly for light use but only since lockdown have I been using it everyday in clamshell mode for work. Speedwise it was ok but a little frustrating when I had many things open. But because it was so much cheaper, I didn't mind too much knowing that I could easily replace it.
I got a great deal for the MBP 13" 10th gen a couple weeks ago (£1375) and so far its been great. Everything is nice and quick and it seems to be reasonably cool pushing a small 24" non 4k monitor. I plan to get a slightly larger 4k monitor at some point and also sell the MBA soon. But best of all is that I know that I can easily replace the MBP after a couple of years if I want to without spending an arm and a leg and plus have the flexibility of a portable on the odd occasion. I don't think I'll be going back to a desktop all-in-one any time soon...
In late 2018 I got the MBA which was mainly for light use but only since lockdown have I been using it everyday in clamshell mode for work. Speedwise it was ok but a little frustrating when I had many things open. But because it was so much cheaper, I didn't mind too much knowing that I could easily replace it.
I got a great deal for the MBP 13" 10th gen a couple weeks ago (£1375) and so far its been great. Everything is nice and quick and it seems to be reasonably cool pushing a small 24" non 4k monitor. I plan to get a slightly larger 4k monitor at some point and also sell the MBA soon. But best of all is that I know that I can easily replace the MBP after a couple of years if I want to without spending an arm and a leg and plus have the flexibility of a portable on the odd occasion. I don't think I'll be going back to a desktop all-in-one any time soon...
My wife does this with hers. Only problem we are currently having is that the USBC adapter we got for the external display causes the laptop to crash if you try to wake the computer without opening the display first. The work around is to just open the display to wake the laptop or just not let it sleep. I firmly believe it is just the adapter we got but it is what it is.
I use my MacBook Pro 13 mostly in clamshell. The main issue for me is getting it to wake up. Even though all the preferences are set for it never to sleep. I sometimes have to go through an elaborate cycle of opening the lid to wake it up, then unplugging and re plugging the monitor cable to get it working again.
I do >50% of the time on my 2020 13" and internal temps generally run between 33-45C.
On older Mac's you may encounter excessive heat issues with 4k or higher resolution displays...
On older Mac's you may encounter excessive heat issues with 4k or higher resolution displays...
Have you considered a Mac mini with Thunderbolt eGPU? I use a 13" MBP in clamshell mode a fair amount and it's fine, but need a laptop as there's a significant minority of time where I use it on the go. I would definitely feel like I was wasting money on the screen, Touch Bar, integrated keyboard/trackpad etc. if I solely used it as a desktop.
One thing you should keep in mind is that if your laptop is constantly plugged in and is at 100% charge, it greatly increases the chance of getting a swollen battery. I have been using my MBP 15" 2018 in calmshell mode connected to external monitors for the last few months and have ended up with a badly swollen battery. Unfortunately, its out of warranty and a swollen battery replacement can cost USD $500-800 depending on where you are in the world.
I recommend that you search the forums for MacBook swollen batteries in the forums to make sure you know the issue you might face and how to avoid them.
I recommend that you search the forums for MacBook swollen batteries in the forums to make sure you know the issue you might face and how to avoid them.
Up until recently I used to run a 2018 macbook pro (still have it, great little portable) with an eGPU (RX580).
The machine is an i5, 8Gb ram and I opted for the bigger SSD of 512, as I often took it portable on holidays, otherwise it stayed at home sitting atop its egpu.
Once I heard about the new MS Flight Simulator, I decided I needed more grunt. The macbook is now my portable, and I have a powerful 16 core Ryzen machine with 32Gb ram and 2 ssd's, sporting an AMD RX5700XT. Which I then hackintoshed on one of the drives, so I could still enjoy my macOS, but switch to windows to play the sim. The only thing on the windows SSD is the game and windows itself.
The machine is an i5, 8Gb ram and I opted for the bigger SSD of 512, as I often took it portable on holidays, otherwise it stayed at home sitting atop its egpu.
Once I heard about the new MS Flight Simulator, I decided I needed more grunt. The macbook is now my portable, and I have a powerful 16 core Ryzen machine with 32Gb ram and 2 ssd's, sporting an AMD RX5700XT. Which I then hackintoshed on one of the drives, so I could still enjoy my macOS, but switch to windows to play the sim. The only thing on the windows SSD is the game and windows itself.
I don’t think that’s from using clamshell mode though.
I’ve used it primarily with my Macbook Pros since 2012, I’ve only had one swollen battery in that time (2016 13”), and I don’t think that has anything to do with Clamshell mode, more just luck, as no other ones had it.
Also - still contact Apple, as that’s a fire hazard and would be terrible PR for them if one of their laptops exploded and injured someone or property. They did the recall on the 2015 15” due to battery issues after all.
If you're really looking to only use this as a desktop, then I'd strongly advise against buying a laptop as you'll kill the battery over time. If you want the freedom of picking your own monitor but do not like the Mac mini's lack of a discrete GPU, just get a Mac mini with an eGPU. You're basically paying for a 21.5" iMac, but with the benefits of having an ultra-fast SSD, the freedom to pick which eGPU (and underlying GPU) you go with) and monitor combo you use. My advice would be to go with an i5 or i7 and not an i3, however.