Apple offers several power modes on Mac computers to help you better balance your computing needs with the load placed on the computer. One of those modes, available only on the MacBook Pro with the M1 Max chip, is High Power Mode.

High Power Mode maximizes the performance of the MacBook Pro by allowing the fans to run at higher speeds. It keeps the system cooler, allowing it to deliver higher performance when performing resource-intense processing, such as video processing.

High Power Mode is only available on the 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M1 Max processor.

What Is High Power Mode on 16-Inch MacBook Pro With M1 Max?

High Power Mode on the 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M1 Max process is a mode that allows the fans to spin faster to cool the processor during intense graphic work. Apple specifically sites “workflows such as color grading 8K ProRes 4444 and 8K DNxHR video,” and other video editing or 3D graphics applications which need a lot of graphics power, which can cause processors to heat up and degrade performance.

Overall, it’s unlikely most people will need this feature unless they work in industries that conduct very graphic-intense work.

How Does High Power Mode Work?

If you’ve ever had a computer fan fail, you know it doesn’t take long for the computer to shut down, and it won’t come back on until the machine cools off. It happens because heat can damage the internal components of the computer. Shutting down when the temperature reaches a certain threshold is a way to keep from permanently damaging your computer.

With most computers, the fans automatically begin to spin when the computer reaches a specific temperature, and they stop when the system cools down. High Power Mode on the 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M1 Max chip has the fans spin faster during intense computing sessions, which keeps the machine cool.

High Power Mode results in a smoother computing experience when performing functions like processing video, image editing, or other work that requires graphic intense computer resources. However, the trade-off is while you can use the High Power Mode while the laptop is running on battery power, it will drain your battery. It also means louder fan noises.

Additionally, High Power Mode is only available on the 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M1 Max chip. But it can be turned on or off in the Battery management pane in System Preferences, so you can switch between using the High-Power Mode for better processing and not using it for better battery life.

  • How do I fix a MacBook Pro that won’t turn on?
  • If your MacBook Pro won’t turn on, check the battery and the power connections, then reset the System Management Controller (SMC). If your Mac overheats, let your laptop cool down before starting it up again.
  • How do I check the temperature on my MacBook?
  • Use the Terminal command sudo powermetrics –samplers smc |grep -i “CPU die temperature” to check your MacBook’s temperature. Use the Fan Control utility to control your Mac’s fan.
  • I do I charge my MacBook Pro correctly?
  • On newer devices, you can charge your MacBook on either side, but it’s recommended only to use the right-hand side. You can use a phone charger to recharge newer MacBook Pros, but it will take a while.

If your MacBook Pro won’t turn on, check the battery and the power connections, then reset the System Management Controller (SMC). If your Mac overheats, let your laptop cool down before starting it up again.

Use the Terminal command sudo powermetrics –samplers smc |grep -i “CPU die temperature” to check your MacBook’s temperature. Use the Fan Control utility to control your Mac’s fan.

On newer devices, you can charge your MacBook on either side, but it’s recommended only to use the right-hand side. You can use a phone charger to recharge newer MacBook Pros, but it will take a while.

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