Keep it cool, keep it quiet
THE FACT THAT some desktop Apple silicon Macs support Low Power mode might seem odd. It’s a feature you’d think is intended to extend notebook endurance when running on battery. But it’s also an effective way to kill fan noise and reduce power use when it’s not needed; attractive for Macs used in sound studios or concerts, or left running overnight.
It works by running processor cores and, in some models at least, GPUs at lower frequencies, in turn reducing their power use and heat output. The effect on performance is surprisingly small for such large savings in power and energy. Accepting as little as 10-20% slower speeds can save your Mac half the power and use up a staggering 40% less energy.
For notebooks that support it, and for many desktop Macs, the Low Power mode should be a more popular choice.