This experiment shows just how much untapped performance the MacBook Neo is leaving on the table. Apple's decision to rely on passive cooling does help in keeping costs and noise down (and may increase battery life), but even a slightly more robust heatsink could have delivered noticeably better results and sustained performance without dramatically increasing the price.
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Kunal Khullar is a contributing writer at Tom\u2019s Hardware.\u00a0 He is a long time technology journalist and reviewer specializing in PC components and peripherals, and welcomes any and every question around building a PC. ","collapsible":{"enabled":true,"maxHeight":250,"readMoreText":"Read more","readLessText":"Read less"}}), "https://slice.vanilla.futurecdn.net/13-4-19/js/authorBio.js"); } else { console.error('%c FTE ','background: #9306F9; color: #ffffff','no lazy slice hydration function available'); } Kunal Khullar Social Links Navigation News Contributor Kunal Khullar is a contributing writer at Tom’s Hardware. He is a long time technology journalist and reviewer specializing in PC components and peripherals, and welcomes any and every question around building a PC.
usertests I watched this ETA Prime video earlier and enjoyed it. Very "cool" compared to reviewing a random Ryzen 7430U mini PC the other day and mistaking Vega 7 graphics for RDNA2…… AGAIN. He doesn't stop at 58-60 FPS in No Man's Sky. He's eventually around 80 FPS (seen in thumbnail) and it wasn't clear to me how. Maybe I'll rewatch that part. I guess the laptop is lifted off the desk by the Peltier cooler. A cheap laptop stand not blocking the cooler would make the setup even better. This mod doesn't look particularly expensive or complicated. It's also clear that the Neo is handling 8 GB of RAM well, playing Cyberpunk and other AAA games, albeit with heavy upscaling. There's already rumors about the 2nd generation Neo using the A19 Pro with 12 GB, which will alleviate memory constraints. However, a similar mod could also be done with more capable used/sale MacBook Airs with 16 GB RAM. From what I heard, people are already doing that, so ETA Prime's cooling mod idea isn't original at all. But one of the novelties of the MacBook Neo is the ease with which it can be disassembled, making this particularly easy and maybe a good idea for some casual Neo-owning college students. Ifixit says MacBook Neo Is the Most Repairable MacBook in 14 Years. Reply
Gururu Doubt this will reach the primary demographic of 19 yr old sorority girls. Reply
usertests Gururu said: Doubt this will reach the primary demographic of 19 yr old sorority girls. Maybe the best way to go about it is to pick the thing up for $200 on Facebook in a couple years, then mod it. Reply
thestryker With how consistent apple has been at not adequately cooling their devices I believe this is part of their segmentation strategy. It does make me wonder why they don't just restrict the clocks instead though. Of course at the same time this is better for anyone who is willing to toss their warranty. Reply
Key considerations
- Investor positioning can change fast
- Volatility remains possible near catalysts
- Macro rates and liquidity can dominate flows
Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/laptops/macbooks/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/laptops/macbooks/macbook-neo-mods-include-copper-and-liquid-cooling-temps-drop-and-boost-performance-by-up-to-18-percent#main
- https://www.tomshardware.com
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Informational only. No financial advice. Do your own research.