Pushing the GPU too hard

[SRTM]

2016 MBP. So i've been doing some gaming, and sometimes will play for 3-4 hours without stopping. The fans are usually running full blast for most of it. I'm wondering if pushing it too hard, for too long, will harm the GPU/Fans.
I know macs aren't made for gaming, but is it recommended that I don't game at all on them? I feel like i'm going to melt the internals or cause GPU artifacts if I keep doing this for extended periods of time...

 

[Weaselboy]

It won't hurt the GPU at all, but I guess in theory the fans might wear out sooner. That said, in all my time on this forum, I can't think of a single post I have ever seen about a MacBook's fans breaking or wearing out. I would not worry about it.

 

[SRTM]

It won't hurt the GPU at all, but I guess in theory the fans might wear out sooner. That said, in all my time on this forum, I can't think of a single post I have ever seen about a MacBook's fans breaking or wearing out. I would not worry about it.

Good to know. Thanks

 

[wolfaaron]

Good to know. Thanks

As long as your temperatures stay within normal operating ranges you'll be fine. Heat is what kills electronics. Moving parts are killed by wear and tear (fans and Hard Drives).

 

[ZapNZs]

While I don't personally think there is any way to say for certain one way or another for at least a few years, my guess is that it will likely have a minimal impact and the overall design will do very well coping with the heat.

In most cases, Apple designs seem to do well in that area...but there are some instances where that wasn't the case. The 2011 MacBook Pro 15/17 is an example, because the dGPU it used was poorly designed/implemented, and heat expedited the failure of a bad design. On the other hand, my 2014 15-inch has been running for going on two and a half years continuously using the dGPU driving dual displays, and has spent at least 6-8 hours a day with the CPU temp approaching 185-200F with the fans running near max speed, and thus far all has been great. Having a 2011, with the 2014 I chose to go for AppleCare and to just enjoy using the computer.

Also, given Apple & AMD looked really bad with the 2011 fail, I imagine every GPU they have implemented since has been meticulously designed & tested to avoid the embarrassment & financial loss that a poor design can bring should it fail prematurely (especially considering how the new MBPs have been marketed in a fashion with more emphasis on gaming.)

 

[steve62388]

Also, given Apple & AMD looked really bad with the 2011 fail, I imagine every GPU they have implemented since has been meticulously designed & tested to avoid the embarrassment & financial loss that a poor design can bring should it fail prematurely (especially considering how the new MBPs have been marketed in a fashion with more emphasis on gaming.)

And 2012 and 2013. Just sayin'.

https://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro-videoissues/

 

[leman]

There is no such thing as "pushing the GPU too hard". These things are designed within certain parameters and will operate accordingly.

P.S. the issues with the GPUs that Apple had in the past were completely independent of whether the GPU was used a lot or not.

 

[SteveJUAE]

In addition to above comments I would say it maybe worth a bit more frequent cleaning for dust ingress as this is more likely to impact your system

 

[DanDilla]

The fans sure wear out.
In my 2011 both died, one after 3 years, the other after 4, but they were easy to replace in that model, in contrast to the TouchBar ones.
On the other hand the fans of the new one seem to turn up way less than in the old 2011 one, so I think they shouldn't die that fast...

If it comes to the point one starts rattling you will hear it. Mine never just stopped spinning, I replaced them always within a few weeks.
An - absolutely pain-free - friend of mine is producing (shure on headphones ) on a rattling and snorring MacBook since a year or so and it's getting louder and louder but it's still spinning. And he will immediately hear if it stops.