Apple’s recent foray into the gaming world, though tardy, is marked by the impressive capabilities of its M4 chip. This little powerhouse is proving itself by running older AAA games, like Death Stranding, quite competently. Packaged inside the sleek Mac mini, the hardware delivers a smooth gaming experience at ‘Very High’ settings without breaking a sweat. While the true test lies in playing more modern games, let’s delve into what makes the Mac mini tick with Death Stranding.
When put to the test, the Mac mini’s M4 chip showcases its prowess at a 1080p resolution. The 10-core CPU and GPU, complemented by Apple’s MetalFX upscaling set to ‘Quality’, allow this device to handle frames exceptionally well. During testing, the outer surface temperature remained a cool 38.1 degrees Celsius, suggesting an efficient cooling system that keeps the hardware’s thermal performance in check.
In terms of framerate, the performance starts with an impressive 90FPS, eventually settling between a still commendable 60FPS to 75FPS. While exploring more graphically intensive areas, such as those with lush foliage, the framerate occasionally dips slightly below 60FPS, but never to a level that disrupts the gaming experience. With 16GB of unified RAM available, Death Stranding only utilizes about 8GB, indicating efficient memory usage by developers.
Looking ahead, the anticipation builds for next year’s release of Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition for macOS. This eagerly awaited title will include advanced features like ray tracing and Frame Generation support. It’s intriguing to speculate on the VRAM demands this will place on the Mac mini, especially since such features are typically quite resource-intensive.
In all, the M4 chip—originally destined for Apple’s 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro models—is a testament to the potential of gaming on a Mac. Even though these games might be a few years old, they still pack a punch in terms of visual appeal. The efficient thermal management of the Mac mini likely plays a role in preventing any throttling, ensuring the smooth performance persists. For those interested in both professional tasks and some leisurely gaming, the base model Mac mini, equipped with 16GB RAM and 256GB storage, is competitively priced at $579 after a small discount. The 512GB variant also sees a price reduction, available for $749—both perfect options for tech enthusiasts looking for a versatile machine.
