My 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro has an Intel i7, a T2 chip, and AMD Radeon Pro 5300M and Intel UHD 630 graphics. It has been hot and laggy since a macOS update.
I tried T2-compatible versions of Mint and Arch, but had graphics and other compatibility issues. Is there an easy-to-install Linux option that handles this hardware well and runs cooler?
I wouldn't count on a lightweight distro alone fixing this. A lighter desktop may use fewer resources, but graphics support and power management matter a lot for heat on this machine.
Before picking another distro, check its current T2 installation guidance against the exact MacBookPro16,1 model, especially graphics and power management. There may not be an option that is both effortless to install and guarantees everything works perfectly.
If the main goal is a cooler, usable laptop rather than Linux specifically, consider returning to an earlier macOS release. Sequoia was suggested as an alternative to the newer update, though that doesn't guarantee it will solve the heat on every machine.
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q.806!tackwinder:
And the graphics trouble isn't necessarily caused by the T2 chip itself. The Intel and AMD graphics setup is worth checking separately.