Hot SSD on New Macbook Pro
Last month, in our article discussing M5 performance, we said: "M5 is smoking, but we expect it won't get too hot." But what about now? We were partly wrong.
The chip is still good. But we overlooked one point: that incredible SSD speed comes at a price.
What are we talking about?
With the M5 Pro and M5 Max models, Apple switched to PCIe Gen 5 NVMe SSD technology. As shown in the table in our previous article, this switch caused SSD speeds to jump from 2.8 GB/s to 6.7 GB/s, almost a 2.4x increase. Impressive on paper.
However, user reports and independent tests in recent weeks have revealed a different picture. Especially under AI workloads, the SSD controller exceeds 100 degrees, even reaching 106 degrees. At this point, the system reduces the speed to protect itself, meaning that the 6.7 GB/s claim isn't maintained under heavy workloads.
What's even more interesting is this: in our previous article, we recommended the M5 specifically for users running local LLM and dealing with large data files. But these are precisely the workloads that cause the SSD to heat up the most.
Fast and Furious and the Heat
Those who have seen the movie know: speed is paramount, but it comes at a price. The M5's SSD is exactly like that. It breaks speed records, but it can't maintain that pace for long. Temperatures rise, and the system slows down.
A user who buys it without knowing this, especially if running local AI models, may not understand why performance drops after the first week.
| Thermal Metric |
M4 Series |
M5 Series |
Technical Source |
| CPU/GPU Peak Temp |
108°C - 109°C |
< 100°C (Improved) |
Max Tech Analysis → |
| SSD Controller Temp |
~45°C |
106°C (Critical) |
NotebookCheck Review → |
| Primary Throttling Cause |
Core Temperature |
SSD Thermal Limit |
M5 efficiency keeps cores cool, but high-speed storage triggers limits.
|
So What to Do?
If you're considering the M5 Pro or M5 Max, think twice about the 14-inch model. The smaller body severely restricts cooling. In tests, the 16-inch model, with only 3 extra cores, performs up to 30% better. The difference isn't due to the number of cores, but largely to cooling capacity.
If you're doing intensive work in a desktop or enclosed environment, the 16-inch offers a much more consistent experience.
Conclusion
The M5 is still a powerful machine. But the "cool and efficient" part needs some revision: the chip stays cool, but the SSD might burn your hand under heavy workloads. Knowing this is critical to choosing the right model.
In our previous article, we praised the M5, and much of that praise still holds true. But to see the full picture, we needed to add this information to the table.