Optimizing Mac OS For Gaming – The Ultimate Guide
Gaming on Mac OS is becoming more and more popular as the years go by. When it comes to gaming, macOS has plenty of room for improvement. Here are some tips that will help you optimize your Mac OS for gaming.
Optimizing Mac OS for Gaming
Mac OS is a very versatile operating system that can be used for a lot of different purposes. However, one thing that is not so good about using macOS for gaming is the lack of native support for games. On top of that, macOS does not have any dedicated graphics cards (GPU) or dedicated video card (GPU). This means that you cannot play many games on your Mac without some third-party software to get around these issues.
#1 Get a Dedicated GPU from AMD or Nvidia
If you are looking to improve your gaming experience on macOS, you should invest in a dedicated GPU. These GPUs are built specifically for gaming and will enable you to play many more games than if you had no GPU at all. If you decide to go with an AMD GPU, I recommend the RX 570. The RX 570 has great compatibility with current games as well as being able to handle the latest graphics settings in those games.
#2 Install Wine To Play Windows Games
One way to play Windows games on macOS is by installing Wine and running them through it. For most people, this will be sufficient enough but certain titles may run into issues due to bugs in Wine. Other times, newer versions of Wine may render older ones unusable by developers and users alike. To avoid these problems, I recommend using Wineskin Winery which allows you to create an app wrapper around Wine on your Mac so it behaves like an application rather than acting as a virtual drive that enables applications and programs
What hardware do you need?
The hardware needed for gaming is different for everyone. Some people find that their systems are powerful enough to handle all of the newest games on low settings, while others may have to upgrade in order to play modern games.
Here’s a short list of the hardware needed for the best performance:
– A fast CPU (Processor) with at least 4 cores
– At least 8 GB RAM
– A discrete graphics card with at least 2 GB of VRAM
– An SSD drive if you want to speed up your game load times in addition to other benefits
– USB ports for controllers and headsets
What settings should you change?
The settings you should change are, for the most part, your graphics card and monitor settings. These settings determine how well your game will look and run on your computer. Here are some recommendations:
– Adjust the screen resolution to be at least 1366×768
– Adjust the refresh rate of your graphics card to at least 60 Hz
– Increase the memory allocation to at least 512MB
– Increase the texture cache size to at best 2GB
– Lower the shadow quality setting to 0 or 1
– Lower textures detail level to low or medium
– Also, turn down ambient occlusion and bloom parameters in your shader view settings
Changing your gamepad options in macOS
One thing you can do to optimize your Mac OS for gaming is to adjust the gamepad options in your System Preferences.
In the GameController pane, you can adjust the gamepad options there. For example, if you’re using an Xbox controller, you can change the button mapping and configure it differently from a standard keyboard-and that way select specific functions with ease. You can also configure different input devices as well, so that you’re comfortable playing games with your mouse or Apple Pencil.
Tweaks that make your gaming experience better
– When using your Mac for gaming, you should use a gaming monitor in order to get the most out of your experience.
– You should also ensure that your graphics card is up to date by downloading the latest macOS drivers and ensuring that your system is running the latest version of macOS.
– The best way to optimize your Mac OS for gaming is by purchasing a decent graphics card. You can find affordable cards that are compatible with Mac OS at places like Best Buy or Amazon.
You can find a list of more tips at https://www.howtogeek.com/290330/9-tweaks-that-will-improve-your-macos-gaming-experience/.
FAQs
What are some of the best games for Mac OS?
Many of the best games for macOS are available on Steam. Some popular titles include Portal, Civilization V, and Minecraft.
Is it possible to run Windows games on macOS?
It is not possible to run Windows games on macOS. If you’re looking for that option, you should consider using Bootcamp as an alternative.
Can I still play PC games if I have a MacBook Pro or iMac?
No, unfortunately you cannot play PC games with a MacBook Pro or iMac because there are no ports for this type of device.
Conclusion
Do you have a MacBook or MacBook Pro?
Do you own a gamepad?
If you answered yes to either of these questions, there’s a good chance you’re wondering how to optimize your MacBook for gaming.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything from the basics of how to optimize your Mac OS for gaming, to how to configure your gamepad and improve your experience.
