Gaming on 16 inch MacBook pro

[l0stl0rd]

I will add some numbers if anybody is curious.

Setup MacBook Pro 16inch 5500 8GB and some eGPU tests.

3dmark Fire strike Extreme:

Parallels 15 with 5500 = 2652 (graphical bugs)
Parallels 15 with 5700 xt eGPU = 4277 (graphical bugs)
Bootcamp with 5500 and latest unofficial bootcamp drivers = 4794
Bootcamp with GTX 1080 eGPU = 8845
Bootcamp with 5700 xt eGPU = fail (apparently windows build issue as I used 1909)


3dmark Firestrike:

Parallells 15 with 5700 xt = 5832 (and no graphical bugs)

Just to compare my old i7 6700k desktop windows machine does 18241 with the 5700xt.

Overall fairly low and bootcamp seems fairly dodgy at the moment and get a lot hotter than OSX.

Slow wifi can't roll back or find other drivers only get a very unstable 5-20 Mbit but under OS X it seems fine.

Hope this helps someone with his buying decisions

 

[Calleknug]

I’ve been playing league of legends every day for over 3 weeks on this machine. Max settings 100-150fps on an LG 4K monitor. Amazing machine, and the best part?
Base config not a single upgrade.
I wouldn’t pay $1 more for anything into the stock 16. GPU upgrade is a waste won’t do a thing for gaming.

Is this the case even when limiting the cpu to not throttle the 5500M and with real drivers from bootcampdrivers.com? Haven't seen any more in depth reviews of this than "ooh the 5500 performs better then throttles causing fps drops and therefore being more unstable so the 5300M is better"

 

[venom600]

I wouldn’t pay $1 more for anything into the stock 16. GPU upgrade is a waste won’t do a thing for gaming.

eSports titles like LoL or Rocket League or WoW don't tax a modern system hardly at all. You can comfortably run them using Intel integrated graphics. Go get a game that actually pushes the system and you'll see the difference. Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Far Cry 5, The Witcher 3 all push the system to the limits.

 

[shardey]

I’ve been playing league of legends every day for over 3 weeks on this machine. Max settings 100-150fps on an LG 4K monitor. Amazing machine, and the best part?
Base config not a single upgrade.
I wouldn’t pay $1 more for anything into the stock 16. GPU upgrade is a waste won’t do a thing for gaming.

Any reason you don't use V-sync? It would reduce the heat if you're only using a 60hz monitor.

 

[l0stl0rd]

I thought you guys might find this interesting.

left is my old windows machine with the 1080, left with the MacBook 16 with bootcamp and the 1080 as eGPU.
I blame about 10% loss on the USB-C connection, not sure if I am correct about that or perhaps general bad bootcamp divers for the MacBook ?

My contusion is yes the base model would do fine especially if you use and eGPU

Now if they just can fix the bootcamp wifi and heat management I would perhaps use it.

 

[loui100]

I thought you guys might find this interesting.

left is my old windows machine with the 1080, left with the MacBook 16 with bootcamp and the 1080 as eGPU.
I blame about 10% loss on the USB-C connection, not sure if I am correct about that or perhaps general bad bootcamp divers for the MacBook ?

My contusion is yes the base model would do fine especially if you use and eGPU

Now if they just can fix the bootcamp wifi and heat management I would perhaps use it.
View attachment 884213

Hey, thanks for the results. What eGPU enclosure are you using? What's wrong with WiFi exactly? Have you tried uninstalling and installing bootcamp drivers? Also are you using the unofficial drivers from bootcampdrivers? I'm thinking of buying an Nvidia card too along with an eGPU enclosure but the wifi worries me :O

 

[AHDuke99]

I have not installed Bootcamp yet on my machine, but it sounds like the 5300m is just as good for gaming as the 5500m. I don't video edit or do intense graphic design, so I am leaning more towards keeping the base model. Despite the 5500m only being a $200 upgrade, it sounds like its not even worse that amount of money for playing games.

 

[l0stl0rd]

Hey, thanks for the results. What eGPU enclosure are you using? What's wrong with WiFi exactly? Have you tried uninstalling and installing bootcamp drivers? Also are you using the unofficial drivers from bootcampdrivers? I'm thinking of buying an Nvidia card too along with an eGPU enclosure but the wifi worries me :O

I am using the Razer Core X.
At the moment Wifi download speed is like 1/10th of what it is in OSX. Yes I did reinstall them multiple times did not help needs an update I think.

Even after another reinstall of windows (and different builds)no change, trying to get the 5700xt to work in windows as it works in OSX too, but not happening it seems stupid error 12.

I guess I will use the gtx 1080 till AMD or Microsoft fix it. Time to try some games tomorrow

 

[_Kiki_]

I am using the Razer Core X.
At the moment Wifi download speed is like 1/10th of what it is in OSX. Yes I did reinstall them multiple times did not help needs an update I think.

Even after another reinstall of windows (and different builds)no change, trying to get the 5700xt to work in windows as it works in OSX too, but not happening it seems stupid error 12.

I guess I will use the gtx 1080 till AMD or Microsoft fix it. Time to try some games tomorrow

maybe this will help you

Razer Blade Stealth + RX 5700 in Razer Core X - error 12

Hello all, I need some help. I have a Razer Blade Stealth 13' with Nvidia MX150 dGPU. After 100's and 100's attempts to run DDU on the drive...

egpu.io

 

[richinaus]

Any reason you don't use V-sync? It would reduce the heat if you're only using a 60hz monitor.

I would have thought disabling the dgpu when using a egpu and an external monitor would help a lot in reducing the heat, as otherwise the dgpu is on all the time.

 

[l0stl0rd]

maybe this will help you

Razer Blade Stealth + RX 5700 in Razer Core X - error 12

Hello all, I need some help. I have a Razer Blade Stealth 13' with Nvidia MX150 dGPU. After 100's and 100's attempts to run DDU on the drive...

egpu.io

I did try loads of winfows builds some 1809 and 1909 and different drivers but no luck with the 5700xt.

I am on a Windows insider build now and the 5700xt is still not working but wifi seems better, about nearly normal speeds now at leas on 2.4ghz.

 

[drownedyasas]

Hi, this is my first time owning an apple computer and I just saw that on the bootcampdrivers website it says that it may void warranty if I use those drivers, does it actually do that? I have the normal apple warranty right now and I am planning on buying apple care next month. Thanks!

 

[mkelly]

Hard to mention gaming and Macs without the obligatory "PCs are better at gaming" post.

Pffffft. Amiga or bust 😉

 

[MacBookGamer]

Hi, this is my first time owning an apple computer and I just saw that on the bootcampdrivers website it says that it may void warranty if I use those drivers, does it actually do that? I have the normal apple warranty right now and I am planning on buying apple care next month. Thanks!

It won't.

 

[UBS28]

Let me say... playing a first person shooter with a controller just is terrible.... so consoles to me... are not good anymore. ive had em all basically since the original nintendo. Build a PC to play games. Games go on sale more on PC, they are cheaper. In the long run you will save money if not by just the overall use of the computer. i feel gaming is not for laptops. There like time bombs....

If ya know how to build a PC proper you can make a cheap one running on less Watts than the PS4 Pro, and do way more for barely any extra cost. Hell... you could buy cheap... PS4 does not have that great of hardware.... Especially since consoles these days have Latency thats really annoying....

I used to love consoles... but no more.... Im not paying 80$ a game.... rediculous.... especially coming with half ass controls...

Games like Fortnight and Call of duty Modern Warfare (2019) has mouse and keyboard support on the Xbox One X.

And games goes regulary on discount. Even the latest AAA titles you can buy for under $60.

Considering how the Xbox One X runs AAA title at native 4K resolution no problem (call of duty modern warfare 2019 runs at 4K@60fps for example), I don‘t see why anyone would spend over $3000+ on a laptop for gaming.

 

[mikethebigo]

Games like Fortnight and Call of duty Modern Warfare (2019) has mouse and keyboard support on the Xbox One X.

And games goes regulary on discount. Even the latest AAA titles you can buy for under $60.

Considering how the Xbox One X runs AAA title at native 4K resolution no problem (call of duty modern warfare 2019 runs at 4K@60fps for example), I don‘t see why anyone would spend over $3000+ on a laptop for gaming.

One X still runs Destiny at 30 fps, and even then it still gets lots of frame drops

 

[UBS28]

One X still runs Destiny at 30 fps, and even then it still gets lots of frame drops

That is a fair point. Seems Destiny 2 requires alot of CPU power rather than GPU to hit those 60 fps frame rates. And consoles like the Xbox One X focus more on GPU power rather than CPU.

Not sure how this game would run on a Macbook Pro though, but I doubt it will hit 4k@60fps.

 

[aeronatis]

I tested a few games I have on my Steam library (i9-9880H, 32 GB RAM, Radeon Pro 5500M 8 GB) on both MacOS (1120p) and Windows 10 (1080p):

Company of Heroes II (max settings): 40+ fps on both MacOS and BootCamp
Shadow of Mordor (ultra settings): 45 fps on MacOS, 80 fps on BootCamp
Rise of the Tomb Raider (very high settings): 52 fps on MacOS, 61 fps on BootCamp
Total War: Warhammer II (high settings): 45 fps on MacOS, 48 fps on BootCamp

BootCamp Only:
Witcher 2: 40 fps at ultra settings, 60 fps at high settings
Witcher 3: 50 fps at ultra settings, 65 fps at high settings

Gaming performans is between GTX1060 Max-Q and GTX1060 which is very impressive I would say. I upgraded from Radeon Pro 560X, so the performance jump is quite noticeable for me. I will also test Batman Arkham Knight when I can install it.

I do have scaling issues when I play the games on Bootcamp though (I am using default drivers). When I connect to a 1080p TV, it is perfectly fine.

 

[badsimian]

Mmm, wondering if I should switch from my 2.4/5300M to a 2.3/5500/8GB as they come out at the same price. Although I don't play games that much and don't do video editing...got 3 days left in return window.

 

[aeronatis]

Mmm, wondering if I should switch from my 2.4/5300M to a 2.3/5500/8GB as they come out at the same price. Although I don't play games that much and don't do video editing...got 3 days left in return window.

I would say, regardless of your use case, choosing "2.3 GHz i9 & 5500M 8GB" over "2.4 GHz i9& 5300M" for the same price is a no brainer.

 

[_Kiki_]

Games like Fortnight and Call of duty Modern Warfare (2019) has mouse and keyboard support on the Xbox One X.

And games goes regulary on discount. Even the latest AAA titles you can buy for under $60.

Considering how the Xbox One X runs AAA title at native 4K resolution no problem (call of duty modern warfare 2019 runs at 4K@60fps for example), I don‘t see why anyone would spend over $3000+ on a laptop for gaming.

4k 60 fps but in low graphics settings, pc gamers will be disappointed

That is a fair point. Seems Destiny 2 requires alot of CPU power rather than GPU to hit those 60 fps frame rates. And consoles like the Xbox One X focus more on GPU power rather than CPU.

Not sure how this game would run on a Macbook Pro though, but I doubt it will hit 4k@60fps.

current gen consoles are weak, xbox x can't run Forza Horizon 4 in 4k with 60 fps but only 30 fps with about medium graphics settings comparing to PC, metro exodus 4k and 30fps is total meh, so nothing to excite about

 

[MrGunnyPT]

New drivers released on bootcampdrivers.net for the 2020 AMD driver.

After some gaming and benchmarks, this card is basically the equivalent of a mobile 1060 or an AMD RX 480. Pretty impressive and should handle most games max settings with at least 30 FPS.

What’s even more impressive is that AMD has brought anti-lag and GSYNC-like tearing reduction that works on Mac displays.

Not only that, you can even reduce your desolation and tick on AMD Image Sharpening to make your graphics comparable to native resolution. This allows you to reach 60 FPS without games looking blurry.

Probably the best MacBook for gaming ever released.

Yeah sounds pretty good, gonna have to try it with BFV

 

[cap7ainclu7ch]

I just enabled all those settings with the new drivers and it’s awesome! I’m used to 165hz with gsync so the tearing was driving me crazy. Feels much better now. Props to AMD and Apple for making this great machine.

 

[applesed]

Just want to know if it is normal for the i9 2.4 with 550 w/ 8gb to have the fan blazing and pretty hot, during League of Legends, independent of the throttling that some have picked up on.

 

[ThePeD]

Just want to know if it is normal for the i9 2.4 with 550 w/ 8gb to have the fan blazing and pretty hot, during League of Legends, independent of the throttling that some have picked up on.

Bootcamp drivers aren't great right now, so it will blow at full speed. LTT adresses it in his review.