Turbo Booster Pro is ideal for 2018 MBP

[SBruv]

This may have been done before, but I just wanted to draw all 2018 MBP owners’ attention to the awesome Turbo Booster and Turbo Booster Pro, as the latter has completely solved all issues relating to my MBP getting so hot all the time.

It's a menu bar app that disables Turbo Boost for the CPU, thereby massively reducing heat and fan speeds - and, as a very welcome consequence, significantly extending battery life. It comes at the expense of a certain amount of performance, of course, but you just won't notice that until you get into more intensive tasks. And it works fantastically - my 13" i7 MBP is soooooo much cooler now, and I can keep TB disabled the vast majority of time, as that extra power just isn't needed. I'm a music producer, so I have to reenable it when the plugins start piling up, but other than that, I've now got it Off by default.

It's just a GUI-driven replacement for a Terminal entry that you could make every time you boot up, but the convenience is great, and you get a few ancillary features, too (start at login, start with boost disabled, etc).

I highly recommend it if the heat (and/or battery life!) is bothering you. And no, I've got nothing to do with the developer in any way.

Thanks for reading!

 

[maflynn]

Volta is another solution, I've found that I'm getting more cooling from disabling the turbo boost then limiting the wattage on the Volta app. Both do something that helps us the owner adjust to the laptop overheating.

 

[matthewadams]

+1

Been using it for 5+ years ever since I got the 2013 MBP. Still doing a great job on my new machines.

 

[afir93]

Volta is another solution, I've found that I'm getting more cooling from disabling the turbo boost then limiting the wattage on the Volta app. Both do something that helps us the owner adjust to the laptop overheating.

Doesn't Volta require to disable SIP though to even run? I've been considering to try out a tool like that on my 2018 MBP since a while now but having to permanently miss out on one of macOS' core security features has been a bit of a deterrent to me as I don't want a slightly cooler MBP at the cost of a significantly less secure OS. If Turbo Booster (Pro) doesn't require that (from the website it looks like it doesn't), I might just try it out.

 

[maflynn]

Doesn't Volta require to disable SIP though to even run?

Not with High Sierra. I heard it might be for Mojave. If that's the case, I'll probably shift over to Turbo Boost as I seem to be only using the turbo boost feature on Volta right now.

Edit:

Here's what I had to do to install it.
Enter csrutil enable --without kext

I had to look at the install directions as I had done it so long ago, I forgot I needed to adjust the security.

 

[afir93]

Not with High Sierra. I heard it might be for Mojave. If that's the case, I'll probably shift over to Turbo Boost as I seem to be only using the turbo boost feature on Volta right now.

Edit:

Here's what I had to do to install it.
Enter csrutil enable --without kext

I had to look at the install directions as I had done it so long ago, I forgot I needed to adjust the security.

Ah alright, thanks. Probably gonna give Turbo Booster a try then, thanks OP.

 

[chrfr]

Not with High Sierra. I heard it might be for Mojave. If that's the case, I'll probably shift over to Turbo Boost as I seem to be only using the turbo boost feature on Volta right now.

Edit:

Here's what I had to do to install it.
Enter csrutil enable --without kext

I had to look at the install directions as I had done it so long ago, I forgot I needed to adjust the security.

To be clear, this is a partial disabling of SIP, and it does reduce security.

 

[maflynn]

To be clear, this is a partial disabling of SIP, and it does reduce security.

Yes, only the kexts but from what I heard you may have to disable SIP for Mojave. I'm not sure.

I'm debating the use of Turbo Boost as I've only been disabling turbo mode lately.

 

[poorcody]

Interesting... unlike Volta, Turbo Boost appears to use a signed kernel extension, so you don't have to disable anything in SIP. Definitely a plus over Volta.

https://www.rugarciap.com/2017/09/an-update-after-macos-high-sierra-release/

 

[maflynn]

Interesting... unlike Volta, Turbo Boost appears to use a signed kernel extension, so you don't have to disable anything in SIP. Definitely a plus over Volta.

https://www.rugarciap.com/2017/09/an-update-after-macos-high-sierra-release/

I'm liking that over needed to change SIP. I'm testing out Turbo Boost now, and if it works, well and it seems too, I'll buy the pro version

 

[poorcody]

I'm liking that over needed to change SIP. I'm testing out Turbo Boost now, and if it works, well and it seems too, I'll buy the pro version

My thinking as well. Would love to hear your experience with it once installed.

Found this blog post which recommends it, and also reports that disabling the processor's Turbo Boost gets you the best bang for your buck in terms of battery extension:

https://marco.org/2018/07/31/mac-low-power-mode

 

[CreeptoLoser]

Most laptop work benefits from short bursts of turbo boost.

 

[RobbieTT]

That burst of a sweeping statement was brought to you by the letter T.

 

[SBruv]

Most laptop work benefits from short bursts of turbo boost.

Your point being..?

 

[afir93]

Most laptop work benefits from short bursts of turbo boost.

... which only reinforces OP’s recommendation, as the feature of automatically turning on and off Turbo Boost based on what you‘re doing and what applications you are running that this app seems to have actually sounds pretty useful.

When you are doing heavy lifting, for example some video editing or rendering in Final Cut Pro X, then the app will automatically turn on turbo boost so that your laptop works at its full potential. Once you‘re done and quit the app and instead do (for example) some light webbrowsing or text processing, stuff you usually don‘t need that much CPU performance for anyway, the app will turn it off which might result in a longer battery life and colder temperatures. I mean I haven‘t tried it out myself, but from the description, that actually seems well designed.

 

[Fireproof!]

Thanks for the tip about Turbo Boost Switcher! Looking forward to some extra battery life when I’m traveling! Cool little app.

 

[Queen6]

All good stuff, however rather disappointing that such application's are needed in the first place. Reminds me of the 2011 MBP running red hot and needing constant babysitting. Apple seems incapable of learning from it's previous error's

Q-6

 

[afir93]

All good stuff, however rather disappointing that such application's are needed in the first place. Reminds me of the 2011 MBP running red hot and needing constant babysitting. Apple seems incapable of learning from it's previous error's

Q-6

Honestly, to an extend I agree. I love the design and the compact form factor of my current 2018 MBP, but I'm surprised how the fans will sometimes spin up during relatively easy and simple tasks that shouldn't even be so demanding, like downloading some large files off the internet for a couple minutes. It can be a little awkward to sit in a quiet lecture hall and suddenly your fans spin up because of some tasks you're running in the background that you figured can't be that demanding (I tend to put most big up- and downloads to the times where I'm at university due to the internet there being so blazing fast).

To be fair, when I'm doing actual CPU-demanding tasks then the fan noise is still fairly acceptable, compared to some other devices I've used in my life, and I'm fairly happy about that – I can still convert some videos or do some renderings in the background at home while concentrating on some other tasks on my MacBook Pro without having a jet engine blaring into my ears. it's just that the fans sometimes spin up during tasks that shouldn't even require a fan to still run efficiently.

The battery life I've been getting is also... mixed, which is one reason why I'm looking forward to running this Turbo Boost app over the course of some average university days and seeing how much of a difference it makes. I mean my battery life has still been good, I don't want to sound too negative about it, but it's still a bit awkward that my 2016 12" MacBook will last what feels like a good 1-2 hours longer than my 2018 MBP when I'm only using it for light tasks, so any improvement in that regard is welcome to me. I don't need that power in all situations; I'd rather have no turbo boost when I'm on a long day at university but therefore a somewhat longer battery life.

 

[RobbieTT]

All good stuff, however rather disappointing that such application's are needed in the first place. Reminds me of the 2011 MBP running red hot and needing constant babysitting. Apple seems incapable of learning from it's previous error's

Q-6

Are they errors?

Apple provides us with unlocked Intel CPUs that can operate continuously above their base frequency - given the form-factor that is pretty amazing stuff. Apple also gives us the option (BTO) to put high-end i7/i9 CPUs into a svelte laptop for those who require that particular niche and accept the thermal compromises.

I run a pretty stock 2018 MBP that runs cold with zero fan RPM when running any combination of office type apps, streaming, backup jobs and upload/downloads. I do not doubt that those running higher specs will run hotter, as that is just the nature of the current hard link between performance & thermal overhead. But this is all about user choice - Apple does not lock us into buying the hot & high versions of MBPs, we get to pick what suits us best. Those that want to tweak the balance of performance and temperature of their own MBP are also free to do so with the product named in this thread.

I like choices so the à la carte menu of Apple performance and CPU tweaking applications get a thumbs-up from me. I will, of course, vent where I find the absence of choice too frustrating (for me that includes card-reader, ports and soldered SSD - others will have a different list!).

 

[leman]

What’s the point of buying a machine with fast processor and then paying for a rudimentary software that will negate all the performance features? Just get a used Air and be done with it...

 

[maflynn]

All good stuff, however rather disappointing that such application's are needed in the first place.

On one level, it is, but overall the MBP is a fine machine, it just runs too hot

 

[Queen6]

What’s the point of buying a machine with fast processor and then paying for a rudimentary software that will negate all the performance features? Just get a used Air and be done with it...

Problem is Apple's range is significantly smaller than others, so if you want a 15"display your stuck with a Hex core CPU with it's current positives and negatives. I'm likely in the "same boat" as you with maximum performance being the order of the day.

One of the smarter implementations I've observed is the use of the "TDP down" feature at the touch of a button this allows for ultra quiet operation during basic productivity tasks by power limiting the CPU & GPU. Admittedly not very Apple like in execution, equally makes for a lot of sense with the new 8th Gen CPU's in a thinner chassis.

Doesn't help that Apple locked the Vids's on the MBP from 2016 onwards being able to undervolt the CPU would have helped a lot to mitigate the high operating temperatures, reduce the throttling and pull up the performance of the 8th Gen CPU's.

Q-6

 

[afir93]

What’s the point of buying a machine with fast processor and then paying for a rudimentary software that will negate all the performance features? Just get a used Air and be done with it...

Many people who need a lot of CPU performance don't need it all the time, they might be running CPU- or graphic-intensive tasks for hours on end but it's usually not all they do 24x7. Tools like this Turbo Booster will allow you to get full performance when you need it but will allow you to instead get a somewhat longer battery life and cooler machine in situations where you don't need turbo boost anyway. You usually don't need the CPU's turbo boost when you are only doing some web browsing or text editing, chances are you'd rather have your battery last a bit longer and for your MacBook to maybe run a bit cooler in these situations.

Personally I view these tools just like the low battery mode on iPhone – something that throttles your CPU (and, in case of low battery mode, a few other things like background tasks) to stretch out battery life by maybe another 2-3 hours when you need that, but that can be quickly toggled on and off whenever the need arises (or even automatically toggle itself on in certain situations). Doesn't mean that low battery mode is something you are always supposed to turn on, or that the performance of the iPhone's A11 isn't of value to you, just because you might sometimes use low battery mode.

To make an analogy here, your statement is a bit like saying "Well if you ever needed to turn on low battery mode on your iPhone 8/X that negates much of the great A11's performance features, why don't you just buy a used SE instead be done with it". Many people still need/want the performance of the current quad/hexa-core Coffeelake CPUs in their MacBook Pros (aswell as all the other features that separate the 2018 MBP from the last MBA), just like they want to have their blazing-fast A11 chip in their iPhones, they just want to get the most out of every situation.

 

[Queen6]

On one level, it is, but overall the MBP is a fine machine, it just runs too hot

That's rather my point, with every iteration of the MBP being flawed one way or the other. If I'm paying $3K - $4K for a notebook expect the cooling solution to be on point, equally I don't expect the OEM to bend the laws of thermodynamics.

Apple's design seems to have drifted from the holistic approach to one of single aspects and seeing what sticks. If your going to use the new 8th Gen CPU's it stands to reason that you need to bolster the cooling solution as there is a significant increase in power draw and associated temperature under load.

Apple opted to do nothing and leave the cooling solution at 45W hence why all the 2018 MBP's run hot and will not reach or sustain optimal Turbo Boost. Personally I don't think it's too much to ask for Apple to try harder and apply some common sense.

Q-6

 

[maflynn]

That's rather my point, with every iteration of the MBP being flawed one way or the other. If I'm paying $3K - $4K for a notebook expect the cooling solution to be on point, equally I don't expect the OEM to bend the laws of thermodynamics.

My issue, is they're more obsessed with thinness and not function. I understand, they want to produce beautifully designed machines and they do, but at some point too thin, is well, too thin. I would rather have a couple of millimeters of thickness if that meant my laptop wouldn't hit 90c at the drop of a hat.

Apple opted to do nothing and leave the cooling solution at 45W hence why all the 2018 MBP's run hot and will not reach or sustain optimal Turbo Boost. Personally I don't think it's too much to ask for Apple to try harder and apply some common sense.

They're not the only ones who got lazy, Dell is another one that quickly comes to mind, where they slapped a hot running processor into an inadequately cooled enclosure.