M4 Mac mini 16GB is AMAZING! 8 games tested

Summary

In this video, the host tests the gaming performance of the new M4 Mac Mini, showcasing how its base model with 16GB of RAM and 10 GPU cores handles a variety of games. The video highlights the impressive performance in both native macOS titles like Death Stranding and Resident Evil 7, as well as Windows games through translation layers like Crossover and Game Porting Toolkits. The host emphasizes the M4 Mac Mini’s affordability and improved performance, making it a solid choice for gaming, particularly at its price point. The review also covers emulation, showcasing games like Prince of Persia via Ryujinx and Cyberpunk 2077 using crossover tools.

Takeaways

• 😀 The M4 Mac Mini base model is equipped with 16GB of RAM and 10 GPU cores, offering improved gaming performance compared to previous base models.
• 😀 The new M4 Mac Mini is priced competitively at £599, making it an affordable option for entering the Apple ecosystem, especially with discounts available.
• 😀 16GB of RAM in the base model allows for smoother gaming experiences, particularly with more demanding games that were previously limited by only 8GB of RAM.
• 😀 Games like *Death Stranding* and *Resident Evil 7* run impressively well on the M4 Mac Mini, with decent frame rates at 4K and 1080p settings.
• 😀 The M4 Mac Mini excels in running native Mac ports, such as *The Cat Puzzle Game (Trays)*, at high settings with stable FPS.
• 😀 Nintendo Switch emulation using Ryujinx runs smoothly on the M4 Mac Mini, even for games like *Prince of Persia: Lost Crown*, demonstrating strong emulation performance.
• 😀 *Cyberpunk 2077* runs surprisingly well on the M4 Mac Mini via the Crossover translation layer, with stable performance at 1080p medium settings.
• 😀 The M4 Mac Mini’s ability to handle Windows games like *Final Fantasy 7 Remake* and *Street Fighter 6* via translation layers shows its versatility in cross-platform gaming.
• 😀 Despite being a base model, the M4 Mac Mini handles demanding games like *Ghost of Tsushima* with decent performance, thanks to upscaling and translation layers.
• 😀 The M4 Mac Mini offers a solid gaming experience for those seeking a compact, affordable Apple device with good performance for both native and emulated games.

Q & A

What is the base model configuration of the M4 Mac Mini discussed in the video?

The base model of the M4 Mac Mini features 16 GB of RAM and 10 GPU cores. This configuration is highlighted as the starting point for gaming performance in the video.

How does the 16 GB of RAM in the M4 Mac Mini impact its gaming performance?

The 16 GB of RAM significantly improves gaming performance by providing more memory for demanding games and allowing for smoother gameplay, especially for resource-heavy titles and emulation.

How does the M4 Mac Mini compare to older models in terms of gaming?

Compared to older base model Macs, the M4 Mac Mini’s 16 GB of RAM and improved GPU performance allow it to run demanding games much more efficiently. Previous models with only 8 GB of RAM struggled with high-performance games like *Cyberpunk 2077*, which is much more playable on the M4 version.

Which games were tested in the video on the M4 Mac Mini?

The video tested several games, including *Death Stranding*, *Resident Evil 7*, *Cyberpunk 2077*, *Final Fantasy 7 Remake*, *Street Fighter 6*, *Ghost of Tsushima*, and *Prince of Persia: Lost Crown* (emulated).

What frame rate and resolution was *Death Stranding* tested at on the M4 Mac Mini?

*Death Stranding* was tested at 4K resolution with MetalFX set to Quality mode, achieving around 35 FPS. For a more playable frame rate, the video recommends running it at 1080p, where it hits 80 to 90 FPS.

What are the benefits of using MetalFX upscaling in games on the M4 Mac Mini?

MetalFX upscaling helps improve game performance by reducing the graphical load while maintaining visual quality. This is especially helpful for running games at high resolutions like 4K, where the system may otherwise struggle to maintain smooth frame rates.

How does *Cyberpunk 2077* perform on the M4 Mac Mini, and what technology is used to run it?

*Cyberpunk 2077* runs on the M4 Mac Mini through the Crossover translation layer, which uses Game Porting Toolkit and D2D Metal to translate DirectX 12 into Metal graphics. Despite being demanding, the game is playable at 1080p with medium settings, using around 8.3 GB of system memory.

What is the significance of the M4 Mac Mini’s ability to emulate Nintendo Switch games?

The M4 Mac Mini’s ability to emulate Nintendo Switch games, such as *Prince of Persia: Lost Crown* using Ryujinx, is noteworthy because it demonstrates the system's versatility. It can run console emulation smoothly, which was previously more challenging on Macs.

How does the M4 Mac Mini perform with Windows games using translation layers?

Windows games, like *Street Fighter 6* and *Final Fantasy 7 Remake*, perform well on the M4 Mac Mini when run through translation layers like Crossover and Rosetta 2. These games are playable at around 60 FPS at 1080p, with smooth frame timing and without pre-shader compilation.

What future updates for Mac gaming are mentioned in the video?

The video mentions that several games, including *Cyberpunk 2077* and *Final Fantasy 7 Remake*, will soon receive native Mac ports optimized for Apple Silicon, which should further improve performance. Additionally, the video hints at an upcoming Mac port for *Ghost of Tsushima*.