A Few Things I Noticed After Switching to Mac Mini M4 Pro

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A Few Things I Noticed After Switching to Mac Mini M4 Pro

I’d like to share a few things I’ve noticed after moving to the Mac Mini M4 Pro.

First, there's noticeable heat when using the Thunderbolt ports on the back. Since the device doesn’t have any standard USB-A ports, I have multiple USB-C devices connected:

Main monitor: DP to USB-C
Secondary monitor: HDMI
External storage: USB-C
USB 3.0 hub: USB-C

1. Flickering issue in sleep mode (Main Monitor)

I've already contacted a technician in Korea about this issue, but I haven’t found a solution yet. The built-in HDMI port works fine—when the Mac goes to sleep, the screen stays off as expected. However, my main monitor (connected via USB-C) continuously flickers on and off while in sleep mode. This is quite distracting, to the point where I have to turn off the monitor manually.

2. Noticeable heat generation

While it’s not too hot to touch, I can definitely feel some heat. If this continues over time, I wouldn’t be surprised if the hardware starts failing within 2–3 years. Of course, Apple must have tested and designed it with durability in mind, but I can’t help but be concerned. I'm considering increasing the fan speed slightly to keep the temperature down while keeping noise levels tolerable.

What are your thoughts? Has anyone else experienced similar issues?

iPad mini 6

Posted on Mar 7, 2025 04:15 PM

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Answer 1

tbirdvet

Level 6

16,721 points

Mar 7, 2025 05:06 PM in response to 명현

Most now suggest do not use sleep function. Only causes various issues. Just have display turn off after a set time.

My Mac Mini M4 pro runs cool unless under heavy load then the fan kicks up to >2500 RPM. I have a display, one TB drive and one hub connected to the rear TB ports and all work fine. I see no temp. issues.

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Answer 2

명현 Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 7, 2025 05:22 PM in response to tbirdvet

I tried using a fan controller, and I found that the temperature was generally above 60°C. So, I adjusted the fan speed to keep it around 50°C. With the fan running, the temperature has definitely improved, but it’s now clear that this machine is quite power-hungry overall.

I can’t give up on the Mac because of how convenient it is to use, but I now have to constantly maintain a fan speed that keeps the noise level tolerable. I’m not sure if this is an ideal solution.

Sleep mode is such a useful feature, but I didn’t expect to run into these issues.

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Answer 3

명현 Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 7, 2025 11:29 PM in response to tbirdvet

The fan noise is actually very well controlled. As the speed approaches 1000 RPM, the system cools down significantly. For now, I’ve set the fan to a fixed 1600 RPM, which has brought the temperature down to around 40°C. When I touch the device, it feels just slightly warm—almost cool. I’ve now set it to adjust automatically and am monitoring the results. Currently, at 42°C, the fan runs at around 1300 RPM.

To be honest, I feel like this might be the optimal setting. Excessive heat will inevitably affect the hardware, so keeping the temperature in check seems like the right approach. Looks like I’ve found a solution.

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Answer 4

tbirdvet

Level 6

16,721 points

Mar 7, 2025 05:48 PM in response to 명현

I only hear the fan slightly when it gets to ~2500 rpm.

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A Few Things I Noticed After Switching to Mac Mini M4 Pro

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