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Ask HN: Should one buy Intel-based Macs now?

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Re: Ask HN: Should one buy Intel-based Macs now?

#31

Post by jandrese »

Jtsummers wrote: post #28
snowwrestler wrote: post #17

In general, I would not buy the first iteration of a major new Apple product. If you look back the first Macbook Air, first iPhone, first iPad, first Apple Watch... the third or fourth iteration absolutely blew away the first. So this seems like a great time to get the latest Intel Mac. By the time you're ready to replace it, Apple will be past iteration #1 of the ARM Macs, hopefully well past it.

It's probably a good idea to skip the first generation in general, but this is a bit different than those others. The first iPhone had a fixed function graphics pipeline and 2G cellular service. Unsuitable for the native application market that they set up afterward and changing cellular capabilities and customer expectations. The first iPad was similarly very constrained, though slightly better. For all practical pu…

I wouldn't be surprised if the first generation ships with firmware issues. The x86 emulator is also likely to be a source of friction. In the past when Apple has switched architectures the new one is so much faster that even emulated code see some benefit. That's not the case here, old x86 apps stand a good chance of performing poorly and having issues. I wouldn't blame anyone for holding off for a generation or two.

Re: Ask HN: Should one buy Intel-based Macs now?

#32

Post by reacharavindh »

Opinion:

Apple has indicated that ARM is where their future is. If you’re looking at using the product for 6 years and can afford to wait a bit, I would wait for the ARM ones. Even though the first generation may not be perfect. Based on the past experiences, Apple is pretty good at making the hardware. Software may take a bit to catch up, but the upside in performance and flexibility could be very high.

Re: Ask HN: Should one buy Intel-based Macs now?

#33

Post by SwiftyBug »

biztos wrote: post #11

My company assigned me a 16" MBP with gobs of memory and all that. I am sitting here right now with an extremely light set of applications running, CPU is 98% idle, I've got a 4K 27" monitor and the MacBook is in clamshell mode. Plugged in and fully charged. Ambient temperature is 25C and CPU temp is 60C. Both fans are running loud enough to notice: 2600RPM, about 27%, and that's about average when it's not asleep. I…

I feel your pain! When I got my first Mac, a 2012 21.5" iMac, I couldn't believe how quiet it was. Even my 2013 MacBook Pro's fans have barely made any sound. But this 16" MacBook Pro sounds as it is preparing for lift off if I merely start a regular Express server.

Re: Ask HN: Should one buy Intel-based Macs now?

#34

Post by biztos »

dotandgtfo wrote: post #25
biztos wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The reason I started running it in clamshell mode, after years of keeping my 13" open, was the the GPU would massively overheat when running an external monitor, so I'd have the fans running at well over 50% all the time in that case. Clamshell fixed it at the time. Seems to play nicer with my other (Dell) monitor but when I was using Garage Band (only on the external monitor!) it got so loud I had to quit GB and let…

My 15 inch mbp 2019 got super hot when I ran the dock (with HDMI and keyboard) on the same side as the charger. Having them on opposite sides helped loads with the temperature. YMMV

Whoa... this seems to have done it. (I think.)

Thanks a lot for the tip! Funny, that's how I had it connected with the previous monitor and I didn't have trouble with the clamshell mode.

FWIW right-side power didn't help, nor did the turbo switcher AFAICT (I'm not doing anything CPU-intensive) -- but as soon as I put the monitor in the left and the power in the right the fans dropped way down. Still running, which is annoying, but not especially loud.

I find it maddening that a $3600 computer has a problem like this, and Apple doesn't even tell you about it.

Re: Ask HN: Should one buy Intel-based Macs now?

#35

Post by biztos »

danfraticiu wrote: post #27
biztos wrote: post #11

My company assigned me a 16" MBP with gobs of memory and all that. I am sitting here right now with an extremely light set of applications running, CPU is 98% idle, I've got a 4K 27" monitor and the MacBook is in clamshell mode. Plugged in and fully charged. Ambient temperature is 25C and CPU temp is 60C. Both fans are running loud enough to notice: 2600RPM, about 27%, and that's about average when it's not asleep. I…

Not sure if it applies to the 16" but the 2016 15" was doing something similar if I would plug the display on any of the right USB-C ports. Something to do with Thunderbolt proximity sensor, problem went away as soon as I would switch to the left side.

Thank you, this seems to have done the trick!

As I commented above on another similar suggestion -- power on right and monitor on left appears to be the trick.

Re: Ask HN: Should one buy Intel-based Macs now?

#38

Post by biztos »

biztos wrote: post #11

My company assigned me a 16" MBP with gobs of memory and all that. I am sitting here right now with an extremely light set of applications running, CPU is 98% idle, I've got a 4K 27" monitor and the MacBook is in clamshell mode. Plugged in and fully charged. Ambient temperature is 25C and CPU temp is 60C. Both fans are running loud enough to notice: 2600RPM, about 27%, and that's about average when it's not asleep. I…

To all who posted suggestions, thank you very much! I tried them all.

Unfortunately despite some temporary relief nothing solved the problem and I remain at 2800 RPM with 93% idle CPU, though now without TurboBoost! :-)

On the positive side, the offending MBP now has its apple-face to the wall and the fans seem slightly quieter that way. Next I will look into locking it in a refrigerated safe.

Re: Ask HN: Should one buy Intel-based Macs now?

#40

Post by allenu »

I'm an macOS/iOS developer and I was on a 2013 13" MacBook Pro that was on its last legs. I finally decided to just buy a current-gen replacement. I need this machine to do day to day work and it was just dog slow (and battery dying), so I didn't have too many options. I suppose I could've got a replacement battery installed, but not sure if all the perf issues I encountered would go away.

My reasoning was I need it now and I feel like I could still get a few years out of it (Apple will likely support it even while moving to ARM).

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