Apple's MacBook Pro 14 cannot handle the M5 Max

(notebookcheck.net)

41 points | by virgildotcodes a day ago ago

12 comments

  • matt_heimer 17 hours ago ago

    Is the article trying to discuss a thermal issue? It spends the entire time discussing reduced watt consumption over time which would sound like a good thing to most people and then at the very end it has one sentence about needing improved cooling.

    I think it's an entire article about thermal throttling that never once mentions it.

    • throawayonthe 16 hours ago ago

      it doesn't seem to actually identify thermal throttling as the issue with any evidence -- what if it's 'just' power throttling?

      that would be even more dissapointing of course, but all that's given in the article is the wattage chart

      actually, in the article linked at the top they say this: "The situation is much worse on the smaller MacBook Pro 14 with the M5 Max, where the maximum power input is capped at 97 Watts (even when you use Apple's 140W PSU or an even more powerful 180W USB-C PSU), which results in a battery loss of 15 % during our one-hour stress test."

      so it really does sound like a power throttling thisng to me https://www.notebookcheck.net/Apple-tries-to-hide-that-the-p...

    • brudgers 17 hours ago ago

      Lower wattage can mean higher efficiency, but the evidence in the fine article suggests it is thermal throttling and the laptop is not doing more with less.

    • aurareturn 16 hours ago ago

      It is saying low wattage isn’t a good thing to most people because it caps the power of the M5 Max.

    • ravila4 16 hours ago ago

      So the solution is to work over a bucket of dry ice! ( ͡ ° ͜ʖ ͡ °)

      • matt_heimer 16 hours ago ago

        If I remember correctly a previous MacBook air could have improved thermal dissipation by adding some thermal tape and turning the case into a heatsink.

  • undefined 17 hours ago ago
    [deleted]
  • tassadarforaiur 16 hours ago ago

    This does beg the question. For the 14" mbp, can those stands that heatsink the chasis give enough thermal headroom to compensate for the size difference, without relying on internally thermal padding the heatpipes to the chasis, and making it uncomfortable to use on a lap?

  • alpaca128 19 hours ago ago

    It's one thing to have trouble with the Intel CPUs, but that they still cannot sufficiently power and cool their ARM chips, especially in the most expensive models, is disappointing.

  • mortar 17 hours ago ago
  • throwuxiytayq 20 hours ago ago

    This laptop may simply not be for you. I only work for 2 seconds per day, so it actually fits my workflow perfectly.