MacBook Pro Configurations for Gaming

[Norre8]

Looking for recommendations on configurations of M3 MacBook Pro if I want to game on it?

 

[Burnincoco]

M3 Max 16cpu 40gpu

 

[kappisto]

Which games? In the abstract, the Max configs will give you the most GPU cores and the largest shared memory pool … but there's not exactly a boatload of high end games available to take advantage of it. Big name titles like Baldur's Gate 3 reportedly perform well on mid-spec M1 max's, and given even that the M3 series GPU cores are quite a bit more performant, chances are the whole lineup will run a game like that fine - the M3 max would probably be overkill.

So it's hard to answer without knowing more about what you intend to play.

 

[Norre8]

Which games? In the abstract, the Max configs will give you the most GPU cores and the largest shared memory pool … but there's not exactly a boatload of high end games available to take advantage of it. Big name titles like Baldur's Gate 3 reportedly perform well on mid-spec M1 max's, and given even that the M3 series GPU cores are quite a bit more performant, chances are the whole lineup will run a game like that fine - the M3 max would probably be overkill.

So it's hard to answer without knowing more about what you intend to play.

Right now i plan on playing Resident Evil 4. I’m not familiar with a much of computer games; I’m more a console player, but when I travel and can’t take my PS5, the MacBook would serve as entertainment

 

[Burnincoco]

Resident evil village runs flawless on my M2Max 12cpu 30gpu 32rams. Baldur’s gate 3 stutters sometimes at 2k 60fps ultra settings.
I want to get the max 16cpu 40gpu just to run Baldur’s gate smoother at this settings lol, though I won’t upgrade until M6 because for everything else it is faster than anything I’ll need until then

 

[Norre8]

So, this configuration should be good -

• Apple M3 Max chip with 14‑core CPU, 30‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine
• 36GB unified memory
• 1TB SSD storage

or should I go 2TB

 

[Norre8]

or should I go:

• Apple M3 Max chip with 16‑core CPU, 40‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine
• 48GB unified memory
• 1TB SSD storage OR 2TB SSD storage

 

[OrenLindsey]

I think either of the options you posted are good. But prioritize getting more RAM over more SSD, since you can add external SSDs later. So I personally would get the 2nd option.

 

[Norre8]

Thank you for the help

 

[chongsen]

or should I go:

• Apple M3 Max chip with 16‑core CPU, 40‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine
• 48GB unified memory
• 1TB SSD storage OR 2TB SSD storage

I think you d better go 48GB. I project Max will perform similar to 4070 on gaming. It is very common to play modern AAA title on 1440p high setting on 4070 for 44GB ram (32GB system ram +12gb 4070 ram)

 

[3Rock]

or should I go:

• Apple M3 Max chip with 16‑core CPU, 40‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine
• 48GB unified memory
• 1TB SSD storage OR 2TB SSD storage

I think you d better go 48GB. I project Max will perform similar to 4070 on gaming. It is very common to play modern AAA title on 1440p high setting on 4070 for 44GB ram (32GB system ram +12gb 4070 ram)

That’s what I’m planning on getting and having veterans discount takes off $395 that’s more tolerable 🤪
waiting for the reviews first though.

 

[JaraCz]

You can play Resident Evil Village and later 7 on iPhone 15 Pro.

 

[Norre8]

You can play Resident Evil Village and later 7 on iPhone 15 Pro.

Not Village, 4.

 

[chongsen]

You can play Resident Evil Village and later 7 on iPhone 15 Pro.

It plays very poorly on iPhone 15 pro though, much worse than PS4.

 

[JaraCz]

It was joke.

 

[Onimusha370]

I’m also hoping to play RE4 when it’s out (hopefully we get VR through vision pro one day as well!)

Went with the 40 core M3 Max, I have high hopes that it’ll be able to run RE8 and RE4 on max settings/60fps/decent resolution. After all the GPU has more grunt than the PS5 which plays it very well at 1800p

 

[Norre8]

I’m also hoping to play RE4 when it’s out (hopefully we get VR through vision pro one day as well!)

Went with the 40 core M3 Max, I have high hopes that it’ll be able to run RE8 and RE4 on max settings/60fps/decent resolution. After all the GPU has more grunt than the PS5 which plays it very well at 1800p

I think that’s the configuration I’m going to go with as well.