Where is the new Chess.app?

[StellarVixen]

Updated to Sequoia today, apparently Sequoia should come with updated Chess app with updated graphics.

However, when I opened it, I found the Chess app as it was in Sonoma and before. Nothing changed.

I’ll note that I have Intel Mac with AMD graphics. Is the graphics backend maybe relying on ASi exclusive stuff?

 

[galad]

The new graphics are available only on Apple Silicon.

 

[StellarVixen]

The new graphics are available only on Apple Silicon.

I suspected as much, but wasn’t sure. I’m wondering what exactly it requires that only ASi GPU can provide. My GPU is Metal 3 capable, what else is necessary?

 

[galad]

Probably they just tested it on Apple Silicon, there is no technical limitation.

 

[StellarVixen]

Thanks.

I wish it was the Calculator instead of Chess that required ASi. 😒

 

[Luis Ortega]

I suspected as much, but wasn’t sure. I’m wondering what exactly it requires that only ASi GPU can provide. My GPU is Metal 3 capable, what else is necessary?

Your money for an upgrade to your old intel computer, of course.

 

[StellarVixen]

Your money for an upgrade to your old intel computer, of course.

You are cynical, but right.

 

[dmccloud]

I suspected as much, but wasn’t sure. I’m wondering what exactly it requires that only ASi GPU can provide. My GPU is Metal 3 capable, what else is necessary?

Given the age of the graphics options in Intel-based Macs, the highest end dGPUs in those machines would be miles behind even the most basic modern GPUs in terms of processing power, feature support, etc. Likewise, driver support for those GPUs would be limited at best, most likely at least a couple of years since they were last updated.

Looking at one of the Mac databases, the last Intel Macs with dedicated graphics used either a Radeon Pro 560X or Radeon Pro Vega series iGPU. Comparing the 560x to a previous (to current) generation Radeon RX 6600M, the latter is over 240% faster in aggregate benchmarks. Here is a comparison of those two dGPUs base specs:




Even the base M1 iGPU outperforms the 560x by around 50%, which means the first Apple Silicon Macs had integrated graphics that beat the dedicated GPUs of the last Intel models. Features such as Ray Tracing, DLSS and FSR were not even available when the 560x was released, and now you are seeing some of those features making their way into the dedicated graphics on Apple Silicon, which just furthers the gap between your Intel-based Mac and current generation machines.

 

[StellarVixen]

Given the age of the graphics options in Intel-based Macs, the highest end dGPUs in those machines would be miles behind even the most basic modern GPUs in terms of processing power, feature support, etc. Likewise, driver support for those GPUs would be limited at best, most likely at least a couple of years since they were last updated.

Looking at one of the Mac databases, the last Intel Macs with dedicated graphics used either a Radeon Pro 560X or Radeon Pro Vega series iGPU. Comparing the 560x to a previous (to current) generation Radeon RX 6600M, the latter is over 240% faster in aggregate benchmarks. Here is a comparison of those two dGPUs base specs:


View attachment 2437799

Even the base M1 iGPU outperforms the 560x by around 50%, which means the first Apple Silicon Macs had integrated graphics that beat the dedicated GPUs of the last Intel models. Features such as Ray Tracing, DLSS and FSR were not even available when the 560x was released, and now you are seeing some of those features making their way into the dedicated graphics on Apple Silicon, which just furthers the gap between your Intel-based Mac and current generation machines.

You are right, however, I am not really playing some AAA game with everything set to max, with ton of real time effects and real time ray tracing.

 

[dmccloud]

You are right, however, I am not really playing some AAA game with everything set to max, with ton of real time effects and real time ray tracing.

And an older GPU such as the one your Mac has lacks a lot of the capabilities present in modern GPUs, both integrated and dedicated, not to mention both the slower graphics processor and GDDR RAM. Whether you're playing titles set to Max with RT enabled is irrelevant to the question of why your GPU is not supported in updated apps, and doubly irrelevant with respect to the Chess app itself.

 

[StellarVixen]

And an older GPU such as the one your Mac has lacks a lot of the capabilities present in modern GPUs, both integrated and dedicated, not to mention both the slower graphics processor and GDDR RAM. Whether you're playing titles set to Max with RT enabled is irrelevant to the question of why your GPU is not supported in updated apps, and doubly irrelevant with respect to the Chess app itself.

I am very well aware of the capabilities of my GPU and I think it should eat something this game for breakfast.

What is likely is that Apple just didn't bother because Intel Macs are numbering their last days anyway.

In any case, thank you for your feedback.