MacBooks are not known for their gaming abilities, and till today, Windows holds the undisputed crown of being a gamer’s first choice. Modern, high-end AAA titles are almost exclusively designed for powerful Windows gaming PCs.
However, things are changing. Apple is adjusting the specifications to accommodate a higher quality game performance for its users with the release of M1 chip processors. By taking practical optimization tips, you can enhance your Mac gaming experience. Let’s go.
Upgrade the RAM
RAM plays a crucial role when it comes to experience the best gaming experience. Using a 13-inch MacBook Pro with 8GB of RAM is enough to play online and other casual games.
However, if you are using a Mac model with lesser RAM, you must upgrade your RAM. Typically, 8GB to 16GB of RAM is sufficient for playing most games, including AAA titles and action-packed games.
To fully enjoy resource-intensive games, you must quit the heavy applications and programs running in the background. Quitting heavy programs will save memory and leave more resources for your games.
Run Virtual Machine on Mac
A surefire way to play Windows-based games on your Mac is by running virtual machine on Mac.
Virtual machines mean the computer is not really there. Therefore, you will virtually get another computer for your Mac but without hardware. Virtual machines let users boot into completely different desktops from their MacBooks. This is an excellent choice for using Windows part-time to play your favorite games.
There are several virtual machine software for Mac, and one of the most popular ones is Parallels. Installing the Parallels software makes it easy and simple for Mac users to run Windows apps side-by-side with macOS programs. Whether you are running games from individual game clients, Steam, or another game library, you can enjoy the extensive collection of games on your Mac with Parallel.
Thanks to this, you don’t have to wait for the games to be released for Mac.
Upgrade to SSD
If you are still using a Mac with an HDD, it is time to upgrade your hard drive to SSD. SSDs are faster and capable of handling heavy games. In addition, since these drives have enhanced capacity, the booting time is improved.
Since the new Mac models are packed with an SSD, they are already ready to take your gaming experience to the next level. First, however, you must buy an SSD if you are running an older Mac version.
Make Sure There’s Cooling for Your Mac
Graphics-intensive games consume a lot of system resources, and they can make your computer heat up. However, overheating is not a good sign for your computer as it interferes with performance. This is why you must ensure sufficient cooling for your Mac.
Remember to examine the fan regularly, clear the vents, and continually quit heavy apps running in the background. You can also get an external cooling pad to play games for several hours.
Get gfxCardStatus
If you have a discrete GPU, this tip is essential. But if you don’t have this, you can skip it.
You can download and install gfxCardStatus for free on your computer, and this will help with basic GPU monitoring with discrete and separate graphic cards.
Once you open the app, it will notify you about apps, GPU, and other things. You can change the mode to Discrete Only.
Configure the in-built Game Settings
To optimize your Mac gaming experience, you can configure the in-built game settings. These settings will vary according to the game type.
You can access the Graphics Settings to configure some of the game options. For example, you can choose between High, Medium, and Low to ensure better compatibility with the graphics card.
You can also head to the Game Settings to adjust the screen resolution according to the game.
Use VPN
VPNs for gaming ensure a secure gaming experience, especially if you are engaged in multiplayer online battles. VPNs allow you to play games online to prevent DDoS attacks and other hacking attempts anonymously. Furthermore, VPN hides your online activities and prevents your ISP from throttling your bandwidth.
What’s more, you ask? You can get around geo-restrictions and access games unavailable in your country using a premium VPN service.
Invest in a Gaming Keyboard
If you are a serious gamer, you can invest in a gaming keyboard to make navigating and controlling your game characters easier. You can even invest in a mouse. This will help you to focus on the game and not fall behind your opponent.
The Bottom Line
Online gaming is an exponentially growing market worth billions of dollars. You can play games for entertainment, to enhance your skills, and earn money.
Regardless of why you play games, the first step is to optimize your Mac to run and load the games you choose. Then, refer to this guide to have an excellent Mac gaming experience.
