[TheOperator]

I was looking for a laptop capable of running 3x4k displays and there is currently a 186 page thread on macrumours about the 16" being too hot with external displays.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/16-is-hot-noisy-with-an...

I can't remember where I saw the benchmarks but I saw a HUGE difference in performance for the CPU depending on if you were running an eGPU or not simply because you're not stressing the internal GPU. Closing the lid reportedly also makes a huge difference. We may be using different definitions of "overheating" but generally what I saw was a laptop which advertised it could handle FOUR 4k displays but it could only do that while being loud and slow. Looking at updated reviews it seems like it's only certain configurations that lead to this problem. Nevertheless I saw reviews, they looked bad, and I held onto my money, and bought a solution with better cooling.

I have strong hopes the m1x will just support a ton of displays out of the box and just work in a compact package. If they released a 14" that could support more than 2 displays I'd freaking faint and wake up weeping with joy that my dream computer had arrived.

[jsjohnst]

I’ve seen the same thread (and commented in it). I stand behind the statement I made there (and here in the past), it’s very likely one of two issues

1) specific monitor and connection method combinations have issues

2) manufacturing defect on some laptops that Apple is refusing to acknowledge