Not in Clamshell Mode, But Only for Typing

[iRun26.2]

Apparently the 16" MBP uses a lot of GPU power when driving an external monitor with the MBP open (not in clamshell mode).

Is it possible to have the computer open for typing/trackpad purposes only (disabling the display) to keep the GPU power low? What if the brightness was turned all the way down on the built in display?

 

[chabig]

Brightness doesn’t change anything. That’s just backlighting the pixels, which are still being driven by the GPU. If you‘re willing to turn the internal screen off, you ought to just use clamshell mode. Apple’s Magic Keyboard and Trackpad are very nice.

 

[iRun26.2]

But suppose I don't want to do that. The question I would like an answer for is can I turn off the internal display (use only the computer's keyboard and trackpad) and thus use lower GPU power (keep it at 5W)?

I've seen a lot of references to the 16" MBP using a large amount of power with the computer driving the internal display and an external 4K monitor. Can I turn off the internal display with the lid open?

 

[chabig]

Can I turn off the internal display with the lid open?

No you can’t.

 

[sakagura]

Can I turn off the internal display with the lid open?

No but you can turn the brightness down all the way. That won't change how much energy the GPU/CPU uses. Would be cool if we could turn off the internal display.

 

[iRun26.2]

No but you can turn the brightness down all the way. That won't change how much energy the GPU/CPU uses. Would be cool if we could turn off the internal display.

The Dell computer (Windows 10) I use for work has that option. I surprised it isn't a choice in OS X.

 

[edubfromktown]

What sort of display are you connecting?

Sure sounds like the MBP is working overtime doing double interlacing on a non-native resolution display.

 

[iRun26.2]

What sort of display are you connecting?

Sure sounds like the MBP is working overtime doing double interlacing on a non-native resolution display.

I don’t have a MBP yet. Right now I drive a 4K monitor with my 12” MacBook. It is not a fast machine but I really like the additional work space.

 

[tbloomq]

I don’t have a MBP yet. Right now I drive a 4K monitor with my 12” MacBook. It is not a fast machine but I really like the additional work space.

Why are you focused on the GPU power consumption? What is it a proxy for? Noise, battery life, cost, longevity? Since you don't have the MBP there isn't an actual problem to solve, I am curious.

 

[iRun26.2]

I am considering buying the 16" MBP. I often like to type on my computer with the screen open but tilted down (I don't want to type on any keyboard than the one on my laptop even when I use the external display). I have heard that the 16" MBP uses a lot of power (GPU wise) if you have it connected to an external display and are also using the internal display. I don't currently use the internal display and I didn't plan to use it with the new computer when I'm hooked up to the external display.

The additional power drained (GPU) will limit how much I can tax the computer doing other processes. It can only dissipate so much heat and wasting some just because the computer is open is something I hoped to avoid.

However, I'm getting very close to just ordering the 13.3" (rather than the 16") because I want the portability (but the additional processing power of the 16" sure would be nice)...

 

[bill-p]

If you absolutely cannot ever run in clamshell mode and cannot stand a 15-30% drop in CPU performance, get the 13".

If you even "think" that you may potentially eventually possibly need the portability, get the 13".

But...

If you can live with clamshell, an external keyboard, and mouse, get the 16".

If you need maximum performance, get the 16".

If you think you need more performance than the 13", get the 16".

If you think you need more than TWICE the performance of the 13" under the WORST possible condition, get the 16".

If you think you need the GPU for anything more than basic desktop, get the 16".

If you just need the best MacBook ever, get the 16".

 

[iRun26.2]

If you absolutely cannot ever run in clamshell mode and cannot stand a 15-30% drop in CPU performance, get the 13".

If you even "think" that you may potentially eventually possibly need the portability, get the 13".

But...

If you can live with clamshell, an external keyboard, and mouse, get the 16".

If you need maximum performance, get the 16".

If you think you need more performance than the 13", get the 16".

If you think you need more than TWICE the performance of the 13" under the WORST possible condition, get the 16".

If you think you need the GPU for anything more than basic desktop, get the 16".

If you just need the best MacBook ever, get the 16".

Dang, you make it so hard to decide!

I was planning on possibly ordering my 13.3” tonight... but now I’m having second thoughts.

I look at the 16” as a “moveable computer”, and not so much a “notebook/laptop computer”. When I saw it in person, it looked gigantic compared to the 13.3”!

I imagine myself as wanting to use my computer sometimes in bed, when lying down, with the computer on my chest. I do that often with my 12” MacBook. I can’t see that being practical with the 16” (maybe the 13.3” is too big for that too).

The hardest thing to get over is that right now I am upgrading because my MacBook is too slow for a new task I need to do for work. The 16” would be ideal for this but once I am done with the development / testing of this project I would begin to miss the portability I once had. I foresee a huge boost with the 13.3” compared to my (2015) MacBook. The 16” would be another big boost again over the 13.3” but maybe I could tolerate the lack of that performance for the moment and be happy with the huge gains I would now gain over my old MacBook.

If I bought the 13.3” I would almost certainly ‘max’ it out to optimize the performance. In single core scores the 13.3” looks to be slightly better than the 16”. Even the multi-core scores aren’t that terribly bad (not 1/2 of the 16” more like 5/8 of the 16”). Maybe I’m reading too much from the Geekbench scores. The 13.3” also has the advantage of the faster/lower power RAM.

I’m starting to ramble, thinking out loud. I better stop...