Marvin said: There were some tests here showing the Mac Studio power usage:
... Given that some tests show a 2x speedup between Ultra and Max suggests it is scaling ok but some software will be held back being CPU bound. The main thing holding back some of the 3D tests is lack of hardware raytracing but it is being compared to computers using as much as 5x the power.
Thanks, I was referring more to the fans, though. The Max Tech tests indicated they didn't spin up. Something is odd there, compared to what I'm hearing elsewhere.
Yeah, the lack of raytracing hardware is going to be an issue for some apps/situations and gaming (even if the games get optimized). That said, some of the game tests I've seen look like maybe once things get better optimized, some of the gaming might be playable. That would be nice for we Mac (casual) gamers if we're going to be getting one anyway (vs having to add a gaming PC). But, it clearly isn't a 3090 killer, or even a 3080 killer, or ... Seems more comparable to a mid-range PC GPU, except under certain circumstances (where it will shine).
tht said: Similar story for the GPU testing. It wasn't using 130 W. That was a measurement at the wall. Some amount of CPU is used for the test, in addition to all the aforementioned users of power in the box. So that 130 W probably meant 60 to 80 W were being used by the GPU cores.
Heh, yeah, AND using the software reported power consumption on the PC. I was 'screaming' the same thing as I watched... the whole rest of the system power uses isn't going just just be a few watts. Still, interesting videos.
Marvin said: There were some tests here showing the Mac Studio power usage:
... Given that some tests show a 2x speedup between Ultra and Max suggests it is scaling ok but some software will be held back being CPU bound. The main thing holding back some of the 3D tests is lack of hardware raytracing but it is being compared to computers using as much as 5x the power.
Thanks, I was referring more to the fans, though. The Max Tech tests indicated they didn't spin up. Something is odd there, compared to what I'm hearing elsewhere.
There was a video here testing temperatures and they ran both CPU and GPU tests for 3 hours - Cinebench, Redshift and 3DMark at the same time - and they said temperatures didn't go above 72C and fans stayed around 1300RPM (1:00):
Some temperature and fan noise results will depend on ambient temperature. Someone in Canada would get a different experience from someone in Mexico as it's harder for the computer to get the heat out in a warm environment.
There are a lot of variables to account for, some MBP users say their laptop gets hot and others say it stays ice cold. When a laptop is fast charging, the battery can get hot and cause the fan to come on. No battery in the Studio model but there's been cases of displays and peripherals heating up computers too.
Marvin said: There was a video here testing temperatures and they ran both CPU and GPU tests for 3 hours - Cinebench, Redshift and 3DMark at the same time - and they said temperatures didn't go above 72C and fans stayed around 1300RPM (1:00):
Some temperature and fan noise results will depend on ambient temperature. Someone in Canada would get a different experience from someone in Mexico as it's harder for the computer to get the heat out in a warm environment.
There are a lot of variables to account for, some MBP users say their laptop gets hot and others say it stays ice cold. When a laptop is fast charging, the battery can get hot and cause the fan to come on. No battery in the Studio model but there's been cases of displays and peripherals heating up computers too.
Thanks, hmm, so that mirrors the Max Tech results. Yes, I get the ambient temperature thing, but I wouldn't think people's environments vary that widely in general. I've read reports of the fans ramping up and actually getting noisy. If true, maybe those are the unusual reports?
Just as an aside, I can't wait to actually hear a Studio fan noise. I'm guessing it is probably somewhere between my Blackmagic eGPU and mini/MBP in tone. And, it is obviously louder than I had first thought, but I'm hoping it won't be annoying. I can hear (briefly) my Blackmagic eGPU when I start something intensive on it, as the fans spin up to ~800 RPMs or so until it settles in (ex: when ETH mining, it settles back down to ~500-600 RPM, and I can no longer hear it).
I'd figure 1300 RPM plus is going to make some noise, just a matter of how much. I've got some lower-speed magnetic-bearing fans (120mm I think) I've used for various purposes over the years, and they are pretty silent as well, but spin at lower RPM.
Anyway, looks like the Studio won't have any issues cooling itself, it is just a matter of how much noise there is and the tonal quality of it. It sounds like it isn't that much unless you're in a really quiet place.
Marvin said: There was a video here testing temperatures and they ran both CPU and GPU tests for 3 hours - Cinebench, Redshift and 3DMark at the same time - and they said temperatures didn't go above 72C and fans stayed around 1300RPM (1:00):
Some temperature and fan noise results will depend on ambient temperature. Someone in Canada would get a different experience from someone in Mexico as it's harder for the computer to get the heat out in a warm environment.
There are a lot of variables to account for, some MBP users say their laptop gets hot and others say it stays ice cold. When a laptop is fast charging, the battery can get hot and cause the fan to come on. No battery in the Studio model but there's been cases of displays and peripherals heating up computers too.
Thanks, hmm, so that mirrors the Max Tech results. Yes, I get the ambient temperature thing, but I wouldn't think people's environments vary that widely in general. I've read reports of the fans ramping up and actually getting noisy. If true, maybe those are the unusual reports?
Just as an aside, I can't wait to actually hear a Studio fan noise. I'm guessing it is probably somewhere between my Blackmagic eGPU and mini/MBP in tone. And, it is obviously louder than I had first thought, but I'm hoping it won't be annoying. I can hear (briefly) my Blackmagic eGPU when I start something intensive on it, as the fans spin up to ~800 RPMs or so until it settles in (ex: when ETH mining, it settles back down to ~500-600 RPM, and I can no longer hear it).
I'd figure 1300 RPM plus is going to make some noise, just a matter of how much. I've got some lower-speed magnetic-bearing fans (120mm I think) I've used for various purposes over the years, and they are pretty silent as well, but spin at lower RPM.
Anyway, looks like the Studio won't have any issues cooling itself, it is just a matter of how much noise there is and the tonal quality of it. It sounds like it isn't that much unless you're in a really quiet place.
It's closer to the Mac Pro at low speed than it is the Blackmagic or mini. Hard to describe.
Marvin said: There was a video here testing temperatures and they ran both CPU and GPU tests for 3 hours - Cinebench, Redshift and 3DMark at the same time - and they said temperatures didn't go above 72C and fans stayed around 1300RPM (1:00):
Some temperature and fan noise results will depend on ambient temperature. Someone in Canada would get a different experience from someone in Mexico as it's harder for the computer to get the heat out in a warm environment.
There are a lot of variables to account for, some MBP users say their laptop gets hot and others say it stays ice cold. When a laptop is fast charging, the battery can get hot and cause the fan to come on. No battery in the Studio model but there's been cases of displays and peripherals heating up computers too.
Thanks, hmm, so that mirrors the Max Tech results. Yes, I get the ambient temperature thing, but I wouldn't think people's environments vary that widely in general. I've read reports of the fans ramping up and actually getting noisy. If true, maybe those are the unusual reports?
Just as an aside, I can't wait to actually hear a Studio fan noise. I'm guessing it is probably somewhere between my Blackmagic eGPU and mini/MBP in tone. And, it is obviously louder than I had first thought, but I'm hoping it won't be annoying. I can hear (briefly) my Blackmagic eGPU when I start something intensive on it, as the fans spin up to ~800 RPMs or so until it settles in (ex: when ETH mining, it settles back down to ~500-600 RPM, and I can no longer hear it).
I'd figure 1300 RPM plus is going to make some noise, just a matter of how much. I've got some lower-speed magnetic-bearing fans (120mm I think) I've used for various purposes over the years, and they are pretty silent as well, but spin at lower RPM.
Anyway, looks like the Studio won't have any issues cooling itself, it is just a matter of how much noise there is and the tonal quality of it. It sounds like it isn't that much unless you're in a really quiet place.
It's closer to the Mac Pro at low speed than it is the Blackmagic or mini. Hard to describe.
One of the mysteries to be solved is that basically every one of Mac Pro reviewers has a noise meter in their Apple Watch and they can download a noise meter on their phone, and can download an air pressure meter on their phone too. There isn't any meaningful information being communicated when someone says this or that machine has a little noise between this other machine inside this room, never mind the 20 years of going to rock concerts they have been to. So, why aren't reviewers using the tools that are literally on their wrists and pockets!?
All you need to do is measure with the machine off for the ambient noise level in the room, and then with the machine on, from typical sitting position. If the Watch can't tell the difference, move to quieter room or turn off the air conditioning and other noise making stuff, and do it again. And if the Watch still can't tell the difference, the vast majority of people aren't going to be able tell the difference, and the reviewer can say the vast majority of people won't be able to hear it.
Marvin said: There was a video here testing temperatures and they ran both CPU and GPU tests for 3 hours - Cinebench, Redshift and 3DMark at the same time - and they said temperatures didn't go above 72C and fans stayed around 1300RPM (1:00):
Some temperature and fan noise results will depend on ambient temperature. Someone in Canada would get a different experience from someone in Mexico as it's harder for the computer to get the heat out in a warm environment.
There are a lot of variables to account for, some MBP users say their laptop gets hot and others say it stays ice cold. When a laptop is fast charging, the battery can get hot and cause the fan to come on. No battery in the Studio model but there's been cases of displays and peripherals heating up computers too.
Thanks, hmm, so that mirrors the Max Tech results. Yes, I get the ambient temperature thing, but I wouldn't think people's environments vary that widely in general. I've read reports of the fans ramping up and actually getting noisy. If true, maybe those are the unusual reports?
Just as an aside, I can't wait to actually hear a Studio fan noise. I'm guessing it is probably somewhere between my Blackmagic eGPU and mini/MBP in tone. And, it is obviously louder than I had first thought, but I'm hoping it won't be annoying. I can hear (briefly) my Blackmagic eGPU when I start something intensive on it, as the fans spin up to ~800 RPMs or so until it settles in (ex: when ETH mining, it settles back down to ~500-600 RPM, and I can no longer hear it).
I'd figure 1300 RPM plus is going to make some noise, just a matter of how much. I've got some lower-speed magnetic-bearing fans (120mm I think) I've used for various purposes over the years, and they are pretty silent as well, but spin at lower RPM.
Anyway, looks like the Studio won't have any issues cooling itself, it is just a matter of how much noise there is and the tonal quality of it. It sounds like it isn't that much unless you're in a really quiet place.
It's closer to the Mac Pro at low speed than it is the Blackmagic or mini. Hard to describe.
One of the mysteries to be solved is that basically every one of Mac Pro reviewers has a noise meter in their Apple Watch and they can download a noise meter on their phone, and can download an air pressure meter on their phone too. There isn't any meaningful information being communicated when someone says this or that machine has a little noise between this other machine inside this room, never mind the 20 years of going to rock concerts they have been to. So, why aren't reviewers using the tools that are literally on their wrists and pockets!?
All you need to do is measure with the machine off for the ambient noise level in the room, and then with the machine on, from typical sitting position. If the Watch can't tell the difference, move to quieter room or turn off the air conditioning and other noise making stuff, and do it again. And if the Watch still can't tell the difference, the vast majority of people aren't going to be able tell the difference, and the reviewer can say the vast majority of people won't be able to hear it.
I really don't know why they don't.
I use an actual calibrated noise-meter in my reviews. Tbh, I hadn't ever thought about using the iPhone or Apple Watch microphones.
Comments
Yeah, the lack of raytracing hardware is going to be an issue for some apps/situations and gaming (even if the games get optimized). That said, some of the game tests I've seen look like maybe once things get better optimized, some of the gaming might be playable. That would be nice for we Mac (casual) gamers if we're going to be getting one anyway (vs having to add a gaming PC). But, it clearly isn't a 3090 killer, or even a 3080 killer, or ... Seems more comparable to a mid-range PC GPU, except under certain circumstances (where it will shine).
Heh, yeah, AND using the software reported power consumption on the PC.
I was 'screaming' the same thing as I watched... the whole rest of the system power uses isn't going just just be a few watts.
Still, interesting videos.
Some temperature and fan noise results will depend on ambient temperature. Someone in Canada would get a different experience from someone in Mexico as it's harder for the computer to get the heat out in a warm environment.
There are a lot of variables to account for, some MBP users say their laptop gets hot and others say it stays ice cold. When a laptop is fast charging, the battery can get hot and cause the fan to come on. No battery in the Studio model but there's been cases of displays and peripherals heating up computers too.
Just as an aside, I can't wait to actually hear a Studio fan noise. I'm guessing it is probably somewhere between my Blackmagic eGPU and mini/MBP in tone. And, it is obviously louder than I had first thought, but I'm hoping it won't be annoying. I can hear (briefly) my Blackmagic eGPU when I start something intensive on it, as the fans spin up to ~800 RPMs or so until it settles in (ex: when ETH mining, it settles back down to ~500-600 RPM, and I can no longer hear it).
I'd figure 1300 RPM plus is going to make some noise, just a matter of how much. I've got some lower-speed magnetic-bearing fans (120mm I think) I've used for various purposes over the years, and they are pretty silent as well, but spin at lower RPM.
Anyway, looks like the Studio won't have any issues cooling itself, it is just a matter of how much noise there is and the tonal quality of it. It sounds like it isn't that much unless you're in a really quiet place.
All you need to do is measure with the machine off for the ambient noise level in the room, and then with the machine on, from typical sitting position. If the Watch can't tell the difference, move to quieter room or turn off the air conditioning and other noise making stuff, and do it again. And if the Watch still can't tell the difference, the vast majority of people aren't going to be able tell the difference, and the reviewer can say the vast majority of people won't be able to hear it.
I use an actual calibrated noise-meter in my reviews. Tbh, I hadn't ever thought about using the iPhone or Apple Watch microphones.