The initial iterations of Apple Silicon Macs, equipped with just 8GB of unified memory, catered well to basic tasks. However, when users opened multiple applications or engaged in more demanding processes, they soon encountered performance issues, notably due to RAM swapping that leveraged the machine’s SSD. This reliance led to a noticeable drop in fluidity and overall performance.
In response to these challenges, Apple has since equipped all its current-generation Silicon Macs with 16GB of unified memory. Yet, a new concern has emerged—gaming performance. A recent video showcasing gameplay from Cronos: The New Dawn across various Macs highlights significant limitations: the framebuffer quickly becomes saturated, necessitating assistance from the SSD and resulting in performance lag.
The Limitations of Unified Memory Configurations in Apple Silicon Macs
In a video by MrMacRight, the Unreal Engine 5 game, which is compatible with Apple’s MetalFX upscaling technology, is tested, indicating its official port to macOS. Unfortunately, even with graphics settings on low and MetalFX enabled, the M4 processor struggles to deliver a satisfying gaming experience.
While Cronos: The New Dawn indeed places heavy demands on the system, leading to ongoing shader compilation tasks, the fundamental challenge remains the insufficient memory allocation. The need for temporary data storage on the SSD exacerbates performance issues even further. Restarting the game may provide a temporary reprieve, but this is not a viable long-term solution.
During gameplay, the overlay indicates an average of 15 FPS, with some moments dipping below 7 FPS—a clear indication of the strain on the system. The M4 Pro variant, with 24GB of unified memory, manages the intensive tasks more effectively, but even it requires playing with lower graphics settings and upscaling just to achieve decent performance levels.
It’s worth noting that Unreal Engine 5 experiences performance challenges across various platforms. As discussed in our review, even PCs encounter stuttering issues. Therefore, purchasing Windows hardware exclusively for gaming could be a more reliable choice, as such systems tend to provide higher FPS through superior components.
To attract a gaming audience, Apple must reconsider the memory allocations in its Silicon Macs. Historically, this change could replicate past successes, but it’s crucial to recognize that gaming is not Apple’s primary focus, making substantial upgrades to memory allocations unlikely.
For instance, the upcoming budget MacBook is expected to contain a meager 8GB of memory, yet is projected to account for 25% of Apple’s portable computing revenue in 2025. For a more detailed understanding of these gaming performance issues, you might want to watch MrMacRight’s video linked above, with a caveat regarding the subpar experience it portrays.
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