Running 16” MBP in clamshell mode 99+% of the time? Or Mac mini?

[xraydoc]

So I need a new desktop Mac. I‘m currently using a late 2013 27” iMac with a quad core i7 and 32GB RAM. It’s remarkable that it’s been going strong this entire time, but it’s time for something more powerful as I’d like to run two 4K displays off it.

I was thinking about a higher-end 6-core Mac mini, but I’m afraid the integrated graphics isn’t going to be sufficient for two 4K displays at scaled resolutions. Another iMac doesn’t fit into my plans (the two displays will also be connected to a work-specific PC, and I’ll change inputs on the displays depending on which I need to use — bootcamp unfortunately is not an option). And the Mac Pro, while I’d love one, is massive overkill... not to mention 2x-3x what I intend to spend.

Adding an eGPU to a spec’d out Mac mini gets me to essentially the same price as a 16” MBP, which of course has a dGPU, and it looks like the MBP would have better performance anyway.

Apps and usage model is mostly office-type apps, light image editing and multiple (8+) browser windows, but multiple apps running at same time and spread out over two 4K displays (32” Dell UP3216Q). It will also act as a home iTunes/AppleTV/Plex server with an external 8TB for movies

So is buying a 16” MBP and using it like a headless desktop Mac a ridiculous notion or a valid solution?? Oh what I wouldn’t give for the mythical mid tower Mac.

 

[ncrypt]

Get the MBP. I have a Mac mini and driving a 4K display with it was not fun.

I went back to just docking my 2015 15" and it runs far better.

Plus you'll have the benefit of portability whenever you need it

 

[Ploki]

Get the MBP. I have a Mac mini and driving a 4K display with it was not fun.

I went back to just docking my 2015 15" and it runs far better.

Plus you'll have the benefit of portability whenever you need it

I run UltraFine 21.5" 4K + PackedPixels 9.7" 2K. It works absolutely fine and fun.
I have 32GB of RAM tho, works like crap on 8GB.
Will probably get an eGPU down the line because FCPX works like garbage. Logic runs absolutely wonderful tho.

So is buying a 16” MBP and using it like a headless desktop Mac a ridiculous notion or a valid solution?? Oh what I wouldn’t give for the mythical mid tower Mac.

If your usage is GPU oriented, eGPU will squeeze more out of it than the mobile-oriented cooling solutions.

Also, MBP16" running two 4K screens will be loud probably all the time. Mini is quiet even when fan spins at max, much more quiet than any 2018+ 15"/16".

Another option would be iMac 5K + another 5K display, you get dGPU and 8-core i9 that's better than the 16". Or a 2nd hand iMac Pro?

Although 16" is a great bang for the buck, i wouldn't go for it as a desktop solution.

 

[xraydoc]

I run UltraFine 21.5" 4K + PackedPixels 9.7" 2K. It works absolutely fine and fun.
I have 32GB of RAM tho, works like crap on 8GB.
Will probably get an eGPU down the line because FCPX works like garbage. Logic runs absolutely wonderful tho.

--

If your usage is GPU oriented, eGPU will squeeze more out of it than the mobile-oriented cooling solutions.

Also, MBP16" running two 4K screens will be loud probably all the time. Mini is quiet even when fan spins at max, much more quiet than any 2018+ 15"/16".

Another option would be iMac 5K + another 5K display, you get dGPU and 8-core i9 that's better than the 16". Or a 2nd hand iMac Pro?

Although 16" is a great bang for the buck, i wouldn't go for it as a desktop solution.

My apps aren't really GPU dependent, but running 2 x 4K displays on the integrated GPU at uneven scaled resolutions is going to make for some seriosuly janky UI.

An iMac plus external display isn't going to work -- I need two displays can can both be simultaneously connected to two separate computers. The iMac won't work as a display for a PC.

Didn't consider fan noise on the MBP. Definitely something to think about.

Thanks for the insights.

 

[Ploki]

My apps aren't really GPU dependent, but running 2 x 4K displays on the integrated GPU at uneven scaled resolutions is going to make for some seriosuly janky UI.

An iMac plus external display isn't going to work -- I need two displays can can both be simultaneously connected to two separate computers. The iMac won't work as a display for a PC.

Didn't consider fan noise on the MBP. Definitely something to think about.

Thanks for the insights.

I run unscaled, because I find the workspace/size ratio on the 21.5" perfect, and as i said, 4K+2K is not jerky here at all.

just for test, i switched the ultrafine to the largest scaled available. Anything in particular you'd want me to try? I'm not observing anything jerky here.

in any case, if you swap RAM yourself, Mini + eGPU will still be cheaper than the 16".

MBP 16" is not loud on its own, but every dGPU macbook for the last decade fires up its fans immediately after dGPU is activated, even if you don't do anything on it.

 

[xraydoc]

I run unscaled, because I find the workspace/size ratio on the 21.5" perfect, and as i said, 4K+2K is not jerky here at all.

just for test, i switched the ultrafine to the largest scaled available. Anything in particular you'd want me to try? I'm not observing anything jerky here.

in any case, if you swap RAM yourself, Mini + eGPU will still be cheaper than the 16".

MBP 16" is not loud on its own, but every dGPU macbook for the last decade fires up its fans immediately after dGPU is activated, even if you don't do anything on it.

Thanks. I'll probably run each monitor in "looks like 2560x1440" mode. Native resolution makes text too small to be comfortable for me, and running at the standard "looks like 1920x1080" doesn't give me enough screen space.
Even if smooth with one display, I'm worried about two. But perhaps it's worth trying the Mac mini first. I suppose I can always return it if it's not working out.

 

[ncrypt]

I'll probably run each monitor in "looks like 2560x1440" mode. Native resolution makes text too small to be comfortable for me, and running at the standard "looks like 1920x1080" doesn't give me enough screen space.

This is how I ran mine too. Scaled doesn't go too well, but yeah I can see why others have found it to be fine when running unscaled.

 

[Steve121178]

Mac mini would be the sensible choice for the requirements you outlined.

 

[x3sphere]

Using my 16" as a desktop replacement and it's been great. I mainly use it for programming, running VMs with Parallels, etc. Most of the time when I am not compiling code it's super quiet. I don't run 4K monitors or use a scaled resolution though, it's hooked up to a single 3440x1440@144Hz display.

 

[mouthster]

Get the MBP. I have a Mac mini and driving a 4K display with it was not fun.

I went back to just docking my 2015 15" and it runs far better.

Plus you'll have the benefit of portability whenever you need it

Agreed. I have a 40" 4k display that I like to run in HiDPI mode (3200x1800) so I considered the Mac mini. I would have to get an eGPU setup to drive it smoothly which drives the cost (and complexity) up so for myself the 16" was a better choice.

 

[mightyjabba]

This is literally the decision that I faced recently. Part of what influenced my decision was the fact that the Mac Minis are a year old at this point, while the 16" MBP is brand new, so from a price-performance standpoint this is the best time to buy a MBP. But anyway, when I specced out a Mac Mini, there was not as big of a difference in price as you might think, especially when you consider that it doesn't include a display or input devices. And I like being able to use the computer on the go from time to time.

I do recommend actually using the computer on battery on a semi-regular basis, however. I experienced battery swelling twice while using a 2014 MBP as a desktop, and I was told not letting the battery discharge occasionally contributed to this.

 

[Ploki]

This is literally the decision that I faced recently. Part of what influenced my decision was the fact that the Mac Minis are a year old at this point, while the 16" MBP is brand new, so from a price-performance standpoint this is the best time to buy a MBP. But anyway, when I specced out a Mac Mini, there was not as big of a difference in price as you might think, especially when you consider that it doesn't include a display or input devices. And I like being able to use the computer on the go from time to time.

if you add RAM yourself (which you should) same config is 1000€ in favor of Mini (for 16GB/512GB SSD).
If you up it to 32GB, it's 1300€ in the favor of mini (480€ for 32GB of the MBP, 180€ is the aftermarket RAM for mini). This is all for 6-core CPU, getting a 16" means you should get the 8-core, so another 360€ in the favour of mini (we're at almost 1700€ in the favor of mini now).
That could get you a lot of screens and eGPUs, both which will grant you more screen real estate and better GPU performance.
The only thing is that 8-core CPU tho, Mini lacks that. It needs that.

Frankly getting a laptop for running it in clamshell (and wasting that pretty screens) since you need to add peripherals anyway doesn't make much sense to me.

I had a spec'd out 15" last year, and returned it. For the money I got a Mini, 13" and a 4K screen.

 

[Coyote2006]

Why do you want to run the MBP closed and do not use the monitor for example to read email etc. along with a bigger screen for design work?

 

[mightyjabba]

if you add RAM yourself (which you should) same config is 1000€ in favor of Mini (for 16GB/512GB SSD).

I’m just going by Apple’s prices since not everyone is comfortable upgrading the RAM on the mini themselves. But in the US anyway, you would spend $700 more to get the base 16” MBP versus the closest comparable mini configuration, which would still perform worse than the MBP (at least I think so).

 

[x3sphere]

Why do you want to run the MBP closed and do not use the monitor for example to read email etc. along with a bigger screen for design work?

For his use case running in clamshell is probably preferable. My experience is it runs a lot hotter with the built in display on. Fans are often audible when I have it open + a monitor connected. Closed it's always quiet unless I'm really stressing the CPU or GPU.

 

[mightyjabba]

It does seem to run cooler in clamshell mode, which was a little counterintuitive for me at first. Also, depending on how you have them arranged, it can be inconvenient to have the computer’s display running when you have large external displays. It may be too small to see/use properly

 

[Coyote2006]

Hm that's disappointing. You have an excellent 16" monitor and a fast, desktop-like computer but you can't use the monitor along with an external one. I was considering using the MBP as a 5,1 replacement with an external (an internal) monitor running (maybe even the 6K), but if the fans are running all the time, I can also keep my 5,1.

At least to have mail open to check the email on the 16" shouldn't bother working with a bigger external monitor along shouldn't it? If not, it seems to be a complete wrong design.

 

[ascender]

Are we sure there's not other things going on here with the external monitor problems some people are seeing? I know there was a thread discussing it, but I and others have got a 16" in laptop mode, driving a 4K display with no heat or fan issues.