High Power Mode on 16 inch MBP Only 😡

[GrindedDown]

So it has been revealed that there is in fact a High Power Mode in Monterey, but it is only available on 16 inch models. No 14 inch models, including 14 Max, can use high power mode.

Is this just Apple’s tricky way of dealing with the 14 inch Mac throttling?! Rather than find out the 14 throttles, they simply state that the 16 can go faster… ?‍♂️

 

[xtaker]

Smaller chassis compared to the 16" is likely the biggest reason, although that should have been disclosed.

 

[njn007]

Only if the 16” has the M1 Max, btw

 

[Blue Sun]

I’m fine with it, but Apple should have released this information when they started selling the notebooks. This is important information for some people.

 

[macphoto861]

Is this just Apple’s tricky way of dealing with the 14 inch Mac throttling?! Rather than find out the 14 throttles, they simply state that the 16 can go faster… ?‍♂️

Sounds a lot like “we don’t charge extra if you use a credit card, we just give a discount if you pay cash!”

 

[EPO75]

They should have told about this mode in the presentation. I cancelled my 14 M1 Max and don't want a big 16 inch.
With the right stuff and cooler (which they were bragging about) that higher mode should be possible with the 14 inch.
Guess they just don't want negative press using this mode and battery only last three hours or so.
Also if they just used the 5nm+ node like the A15 it would have been more easy, guess chip shortage and stuff is affecting Apple also now.

For me personally buying something and you can't use it feels a bit weird. Still it's a great machine, but I'll sit out this round.

 

[TheRealAlex]

They should have told about this mode in the presentation. I cancelled my 14 M1 Max and don't want a big 16 inch.
With the right stuff and cooler (which they were bragging about) that higher mode should be possible with the 14 inch.
Guess they just don't want negative press using this mode and battery only last three hours or so.
Also if they just used the 5nm+ node like the A15 it would have been more easy, guess chip shortage and stuff is affecting Apple also now.

For me personally buying something and you can't use it feels a bit weird. Still it's a great machine, but I'll sit out this round.

Same here I cancled my 14” M1 Max until this issue is fully investigated and resolved it’s like paying for an M1 Max +32GB RAM but you can never fully utilize its potential that and no HDMI 2.1 or WiFi 6e.

It’s just not ready.

 

[terminator-jq]

I actually think it makes sense for thermal reasons. 16” has a larger body, larger intake and exhaust and larger fans. Beyond thermals, the 16” also has a larger battery.

That being said, assuming the Geekbench scores were done in “normal” mode (which the listed clock speeds would suggest) then even the 14” is getting basically 3070m level GPU power and CPU power that’s up there with $10,000 Mac Pros…

I’m having a hard time understanding why some people are getting nitpicky about these Macs. CPU wise they are giving us performance better than most desktops. GPU wise they are finally giving us equivalent performance to other high end laptops while using less power and producing less heat. Not to mention the MiniLED screen (which is still fairly new tech BTW) and the extra ports… This is meeting or surpassing what everyone was hoping for. I don’t get the disappointment…

 

[azentropy]

This is the closest a smaller Pro has been to the larger Pro in quite some time if not ever, yet people are still going to be upset or disappointed about something. For me I'm much more disappointed that the "base" 14" is 8cpu/14gpu.

As others pointed out there are just some things the larger chassis with most likely a larger cooling system would have some benefits. We still don't know but some are assuming the M1 Max on the 16" actually comes with a better cooling system than the M1 Pro versions which would account for the weight difference listed.

 

[CosmoPilot]

Apple really did some shady things this time around IMO.

1. An 8 Core CPU for the 14” was never conveyed during the keynote. After watching, you’d be certain $1,999 would get you a baseline 10/16 M1 Pro…NOPE!
2. Base 14” gets the smaller charger taking away fast charging? Seriously Apple? Someone should be fired over that decision. Just throw in the same charger….the battery size is the SAME regardless of CPUs.
3. HDMI 2.0? They tout 120Hz ProMotion…then give you a 60Hz 4K display port? How long has HDMI 2.1 been out? This is a pro machine…it should have the latest standards for its ports. I mean I’m glad we have HDMI, but seriously…how much did Apple save by using 2.0? Was it worth it to stiff your Prosumers to an outgoing standard? Same with the SD Card reader….??
4. High Performance Mode for the M1 Max? This is GREAT stuff for a mobile machine!!!! Just tell the consumers BEFORE they make a purchase decision…not after.

I’m super excited about the new MBPs. Love them! Can’t wait to get mine…but come on Apple! These poor decisions create bad optics and cast a shadow over an otherwise amazing MBP that most of us are super excited about.

 

[MrGunny94]

We don't exactly know what the High Powered Mode does in the technical way but I assume it will use the 16" chassis to dissipate heat and increase performance.

I don't mind it not being available for the 14" and it does make sense because the description means

 

[macintoshmac]

This is the closest a smaller Pro has been to the larger Pro in quite some time if not ever, yet people are still going to be upset or disappointed about something. For me I'm much more disappointed that the "base" 14" is 8cpu/14gpu.

As others pointed out there are just some things the larger chassis with most likely a larger cooling system would have some benefits. We still don't know but some are assuming the M1 Max on the 16" actually comes with a better cooling system than the M1 Pro versions which would account for the weight difference listed.

I have a feeling it is because of binning that we have those 'base' models.

 

[lixuelai]

The Pro may not need high power mode. It is able to run on full power by default on battery.

 

[Jára Tyky]

We don't exactly know what the High Powered Mode does in the technical way but I assume it will use the 16" chassis to dissipate heat and increase performance.

I don't mind it not being available for the 14" and it does make sense because the description means

I do not mind as well because I bought 16” M1 Max ?

 

[arche3]

What exactly is high power mode?

 

[macphoto861]

What exactly is high power mode?

From what I understand, speculation is that by default, there will be at least some throttling to keep heat down during extended processor-intensive tasks, and that high power mode will reduce or disable that throttling (allowing the computer to get hotter and have the fans run faster).

 

[arche3]

From what I understand, speculation is that by default, there will be at least some throttling to keep heat down during extended processor-intensive tasks, and that high power mode will reduce or disable that throttling (allowing the computer to get hotter and have the fans run faster).

Thanks. Coming from a 16 w 5600m I don't mind. My current one is like a turbine when exporting prores4444.

 

[macphoto861]

Thanks. Coming from a 16 w 5600m I don't mind. My current one is like a turbine when exporting prores4444.

Yeah, 16 w/5500m here. I love the computer, but I'm just not thrilled with how warm it gets during just normal work, and how it goes into vacuum cleaner mode when exporting images or doing other heavy tasks. Hopefully the new machines will be far better overall in terms of heat generation and heat management, but I do also like the idea of a setting that allows the user to prioritize cool operation / battery life vs. performance, depending on the need for that moment.

 

[GrindedDown]

I have a feeling it is because of binning that we have those 'base' models.

Not only is this certainly the case, but I also suspect that chip shortages are a decent reason to have this base 8cpu 14gpu model. Binning the 14 model and putting out that base config allows apple to better keep up with demand during times of a chip Shortage. If no binned base model was available, imagine how long the wait for a base 14 would be now...