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Very disappointed with my custom built MacBook Air M1, need advice

Hieveryone

Hieveryone

macrumors 603
Original poster
Apr 11, 2014
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USA
I ordered the new MacBook Air M1 with a 16GB RAM upgrade to replace my 2019 base model 15" MacBook Pro (2.6/16/256/6-core).

I keep it in clamshell mode connected via thunderbolt to my LG UltraFine 4K display, which I bought from the Apple store.

I have live data feeds and live TV streams along with Microsoft Edge browser open with 100+ tabs 24/7. I never turn it off.

The M1 is not able to perform as well as my 15" in terms of speed and snappiness.

If I had upgraded not only my RAM to 16GB, but the graphics as well, would that fix my problem?
 
Did you get the 512GB version? That is the only way to upgrade the GPU. If you already have that there are no options left. . I think however that 7 or 8 cores do not have a great impact on graphics. 3DMark benchmarks suggest about 10% gain in performance.
 
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rdubmu said:
Your 2019 would be a 16 inch.. and I am not sure why you upgraded if you have it in desktop mode. You went from a pro to an air, you would have been better off going with the Mac Mini
Click to expand...

Ok, so there is no way to fix this? Like maybe get replacement with not only the 16GB RAM but ALSO a graphics upgrade?
 
Alive76 said:
Did you get the 512GB version? That is the only way to upgrade the GPU. If you already have that there are no options left. . I think however that 7 or 8 cores do not have a great impact on graphics. 3DMark benchmarks suggest about 10% gain in performance.
Click to expand...

I would be happy to try and upgrade the graphics, but I first I want to make sure it is a graphics problem I am facing. If upgrading the graphics solves the problem, I would be happy to give that a try.
 
You should not have bought this model. First off, sounds like you don't even need a laptop. But you bought the low end Air, that has known thermal constraints and lesser graphics performance.
You should have either gotten a Mini (a desktop that seems to suit your use perfectly, and has no thermal constraints). Or you should've not upgraded at all.
 
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Project Alice said:
You should not have bought this model. First off, sounds like you don't even need a laptop. But you bought the low end Air, that has known thermal constraints and lesser graphics performance.
You should have either gotten a Mini (a desktop that seems to suit your use perfectly, and has no thermal constraints). Or you should've not upgraded at all.
Click to expand...

Ok, but the one I got is custom. I upgraded the RAM to 16GB. Do you think if I got the higher end model air with the upgraded graphics that will solve my problem? I am willing to try. I do want this to work out.
 
It's hard to say. Yes, you should see slightly better performance, but I am not sure it is enough. I think the issue might be more related to the tasks you are running. How is performance if you open the same 100 tabs in Safari instead of Edge? There is a Beta M1 optimised version of Edge available from Microsoft now. Not sure if you are using it yet, but it could just make the difference: https://www.microsoftedgeinsider.com/en-us/download/canary
 
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Where are you feeling the speed is dragging? Is it the UI that isn't as responsive? What does Activity Monitor say about CPU usage? Have you checked the version of Microsoft Edge and other apps are M1 native?
 
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Alive76 said:
It's hard to say. Yes, you should see slightly better performance, but I am not sure it is enough. I think the issue might be more related to the tasks you are running. How is performance if you open the same 100 tabs in Safari instead of Edge? There is a Beta M1 optimised version of Edge available from Microsoft now. Not sure if you are using it yet, but it could just make the difference: https://www.microsoftedgeinsider.com/en-us/download/canary
Click to expand...

I have not tired it on Safari. I prefer Edge. I did not know that there is an optimized version. Maybe the softwares I am using is not optimized yet. I am not using any native software to Apple, such as Logic Pro. Not sure what's going on. It could also be why my Air is running hot
 
ab225 said:
Where are you feeling the speed is dragging? Is it the UI that isn't as responsive? What does Activity Monitor say about CPU usage? Have you checked the version of Microsoft Edge and other apps are M1 native?
Click to expand...

It's just slow overall. Things take time to load and also the UI is not that smooth (laggy). Not terribly laggy, like there's something wrong with it, but just not quite there yet. My 15" performs faster to load applications and also is snappy overall with UI as well.

The Activity monitor is saying about 70% CPU is idle and 12.5GB RAM used.
 
I am also finding out that dual monitor support is not available for the Air M1?

I have 2 LG UltraFine 4K monitors which I bought from Apple, and they use the thunderbolt connection. I do not use them at the same time, but would like the option to do so in the future.
 
M1 native version of Edge available here:

Become a Microsoft Edge Insider | Microsoft Edge

Be the first to preview what's new by becoming a Microsoft Edge Insider and downloading the Insider channels.
www.microsoftedgeinsider.com www.microsoftedgeinsider.com

You have to click the download button and then are presented with the choice of Intel or Apple Chip. Weird way of saying it...

Truly though, Edge is based on Chrome which inherantly doesn't perform as well as Safari.
As a simple A-B test, try opening all of your windows in Safari instead of Edge and compare cpu and ram usage in Activity Monitor.
 
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Hieveryone said:
It's just slow overall. Things take time to load and also the UI is not that smooth (laggy). Not terribly laggy, like there's something wrong with it, but just not quite there yet. My 15" performs faster to load applications and also is snappy overall with UI as well.

The Activity monitor is saying about 70% CPU is idle and 12.5GB RAM used.
Click to expand...
I'm personally interested in this while I'm waiting for my M1 to ship because of hearing conflicting things. Reviewers all seem to say the UI is much snappier (even snappier feeling than a Mac Pro):
. But there's been a couple of threads here noting how people are noticing lagginess. I doubt many people have tested your use case of 100+ tabs in Edge though...
 
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Hieveryone said:
I ordered the new MacBook Air M1 with a 16GB RAM upgrade to replace my 2019 base model 15" MacBook Pro (2.6/16/256/6-core).

I keep it in clamshell mode connected via thunderbolt to my LG UltraFine 4K display, which I bought from the Apple store.

I have live data feeds and live TV streams along with Microsoft Edge browser open with 100+ tabs 24/7. I never turn it off.

The M1 is not able to perform as well as my 15" in terms of speed and snappiness.

If I had upgraded not only my RAM to 16GB, but the graphics as well, would that fix my problem?
Click to expand...
Firstly, Edge is a memory hog and not optimised for M1 chips, so you need to use an optimised browser.

Also, why do you have 100+ tabs open? Close them!

Finally, your Air shouldn't be running hot, I've had mine running FCP encoding 4k video and it barely gets warm. I'd suggest there is something wrong with your machine if it gets too hot.
 
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Microsoft Edge is not a Universal Binary yet, which means it's running via Rosetta 2. This could very well be culprit for the additional lag introduced and the subjectively slow and unresponsive UI performance. Running a Canary Channel build, as suggested by @macsound1, could improve things dramatically.

Also: if you want a dual external monitor setup on an M1 Mac you need to either get the Mac Mini or make do with a DisplayLink connection for the second display, which will however introduce even more latency and lag to what you are already considering a slow system (side note: the 8-core GPU is not going to improve subjective performance at all). Without DisplayLink the M1 can only support two displays simultaneously with one of them being the Air's and Pro's internal one.
 
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Arctic Moose said:
Why do you want it to work out? It sounds to me like you already have a perfectly fine, very recent, Mac. If you want a significant jump in overall performance you probably need to wait for the "pro" Macs (14", 16", iMac and space gray mini) that are surely coming soon.
Click to expand...

I want to use one device rather than 2. Right now it's my 15" and my 12". I need both because neither one satisfies my needs perfectly.

A 13" MacBook Air would be perfect if it is as powerful as my 15", because it is certainly very portable like my 12"
 
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mj_ said:
Microsoft Edge is not a Universal Binary yet, which means it's running via Rosetta 2. This could very well be culprit for the additional lag introduced and the subjectively slow and unresponsive UI performance. Running a Canary Channel build, as suggested by @macsound1, could improve things dramatically.

Also: if you want a dual external monitor setup on an M1 Mac you need to either get the Mac Mini or make do with a DisplayLink connection for the second display, which will however introduce even more latency and lag to what you are already considering a slow system (side note: the 8-core GPU is not going to improve subjective performance at all). Without DisplayLink the M1 can only support two displays simultaneously with one of them being the Air's and Pro's internal one.
Click to expand...

I did not know this. So basically if I want my M1 Air to work with BOTH my LG UltraFine 4K monitors, I'm going to have to make sacrifices.

Well...

I think it's settled then for me. Sadly, I don't think I can keep this device. I wanted to work so bad but too many negatives.

Even my printer isn't compatible, and it's just a regular Canon one.
 
Hieveryone said:
I did not know this. So basically if I want my M1 Air to work with BOTH my LG UltraFine 4K monitors, I'm going to have to make sacrifices.

Well...

I think it's settled then for me. Sadly, I don't think I can keep this device. I wanted to work so bad but too many negatives.

Even my printer isn't compatible, and it's just a regular Canon one.
Click to expand...
Sounds like you should return the M1 MacBook Air and go back to using your 2019 machine, and wait until hopefully this Spring or Summer they release a new 16" Pro that will meet all your needs (better performance then your 2019, multiple external display support)
 
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CheesePuff said:
Sounds like you should return the M1 MacBook Air and go back to using your 2019 machine, and wait until hopefully this Spring or Summer they release a new 16" Pro that will meet all your needs (better performance then your 2019, multiple external display support)
Click to expand...

This is definitely on the table. My main issue is just having to carry two devices with me. I have my 15" which I need for the power, but I also need my 12" for the portability. I really can't just have one.

My hope was for the new M1 to deliver the power of my 15", and I upgraded to 16GB RAM in my M1 as well, which I thought would be make it perfect.

Sadly, it has not worked out.
 
OP,
You should have done some research before jumping to get the M1 just to say you had the M1. There are plenty of threads and posts on this forum that would have given you much needed insight and practical hands on information. The M1 doesn't fit your usage. And speaking of your usage, it doesn't make any sense. Why in the world are you using a laptop in clamshell mode with 100+ tabs constantly open? There is no reasonable workload that a singe person would need that kind of work for. Your description of usage sounds like nothing more than a kid bragging about what he is doing on the M1.
 
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