Apple’s transition to in-house chipsets, such as the M5, is paving the way for improved thermal management in its devices. Unlike its predecessors, the M5 MacBook Pro avoids the overheating issues faced by earlier models equipped with Intel processors, particularly right after boot-up. However, recent benchmarking has revealed that the M5 can still reach temperatures of up to 99 degrees Celsius under load. Fortunately, it has demonstrated better thermal performance compared to the M4, reflecting Apple’s ongoing efforts to optimize thermal solutions while maintaining the same chassis design.
Comparative Benchmarking: M4 vs. M5 MacBook Pro
In an extensive head-to-head comparison, the 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro was tested against its M4 counterpart by the popular YouTube channel Max Tech. While it is anticipated that Apple will release the M5 Pro and M5 Max models early next year with dual-fan cooling systems, the base models of both the M5 and M4 utilize a single fan alongside a single heat pipe for heat dissipation. This cooling design, however, appears insufficient for managing temperatures during intensive tasks.
The Cinebench 2024 benchmark revealed that the existing cooling solution struggled to adequately cool the M5, which is important to note as such tests are designed to push processors to their limits. This can often lead to thermal throttling if a sufficiently robust heatsink isn’t present. On a positive note, the results indicate that the M5 operates at significantly lower temperatures than the M4, even while consuming slightly more power, though both models employ the same cooling architecture.
Examining this thermal behavior suggests two possibilities: either Apple has enhanced the fan response to activate more aggressively when temperatures increase, or they have utilized a more advanced thermal paste, like PTM7950, known for outperforming even liquid metal in certain situations. For further insights, refer to the comparison image below.
Temperature Metrics during Cinebench 2024 Multi-core
Results for M4:
- Average Core Temperature: 100.9°C
- Maximum Core Temperature: 114°C
- Minimum Core Temperature: 94°C
- Package Power Consumption: 18.4W
Results for M5:
- Average Core Temperature: 98.95°C
- Maximum Core Temperature: 99°C
- Minimum Core Temperature: 99°C
- Package Power Consumption: 21.81W
Moreover, the M5 MacBook Pro has shown a substantial performance boost while running intensive games like Cyberpunk 2077 with ray tracing enabled. The collaboration between CPU and GPU under heavy load might potentially elevate temperature levels further, yet the Apple Silicon seems to handle the strain effectively.
If you currently own a 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro and prefer not to upgrade to the M5 model—currently available for $1, 584 on Amazon in the Space Black finish—but are interested in lowering temperatures, consider investing in PTM7950 thermal paste. Priced at $35.99, this thermal pad can be reused across multiple applications. However, ensure you are comfortable with disassembling and reassembling your MacBook Pro before attempting to apply it.
Source of News: Max Tech
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