Improving Video Game Experience on a Mac: 5 Tips

Despite the fact that most video game enthusiasts prefer custom-built PCs or consoles, there is still a small percentage of those who use laptops to enjoy gaming.

Having said that, there are different models of laptops, and some of them might feel a bit lackluster in terms of performance.

MacBooks are a good example. Apple computers are not really associated with gaming. If anything, you often see them as a recommendation for various professionals, such as graphic designers or video editors.

However, it does not mean that one should discard the idea of playing video games on a Mac. Even older models have decent hardware, and you can make some adjustments to improve the experience.

The purpose of this article is to share ideas that make video games on a MacBook more enjoyable, particularly for those who do not have a brand-new Mac available.

 

Get Rid of Resource Hogs

Let’s start with resource hogs. If you have an old MacBook, the odds are that its drive is cluttered with unnecessary junk, such as duplicates, old media, localization files, and temporary system storage.

Getting a cleanup utility tool is a good investment because it will free up the space on the drive, which leads to less clutter and better computer resource management.

Startup items are another potential hog. If you want to reduce the number of mac startup apps, disable them in the System Settings. Otherwise, you will be stuck with these apps and need to quit them manually after booting the computer.

Too much desktop clutter is another example of a resource hog. If you like to keep various files on the desktop for accessibility, stop that.

Finally, keep an eye on background processes via Activity Monitor. If you notice an app running in the background even though it should not be there, quit it so that the system can dedicate its resources to a video game you are playing.

 

Invest in Gaming Accessories

Gaming accessories might not seem like something that goes with MacBooks or laptops in general. However, you should still check the available options and consider them if you want to have a better time gaming.

One of the first things that come to mind is a gaming mouse. Macs have a trackpad as an alternative to a computer mouse, and you cannot really play video games using a trackpad unless they were developed specifically for it.

Keyboards are another example. You can even get a wireless keyboard and connect it to the MacBook, though be sure to check for compatibility beforehand.

If a video game is driven by its audio and you want an immersive experience, then a pair of headphones is also necessary as you might find the sound coming from built-in speakers to be scuffed.

 

Consider Cybersecurity Threats

Checking for malware and other cybersecurity threats on your computer regularly is one of those things that you have to do even if you do not want to optimize the device for gaming.

Having a better overall performance on a Mac feels nice, and it is hard to imagine that if the laptop is infected with malware.

Running reliable antivirus software that scans, detects, and eliminates corrupted data is arguably the most efficient way to deal with the issue.

It might take a while to scan all the files on your Mac, but you need to be patient and wait so that you can be certain that the system is malware-free. And if a threat gets detected, you can use antivirus to remove it.

 

Clean Dust Inside

Video games require a lot of resources. Since gaming puts a toll on the internal hardware, the fans have to work extra hard to keep the computer cool.

If there is too much dust inside, the dust gets in the way and prevents the internal fans from operating optimally.

The tricky part about the dust inside a MacBook (or other laptops, for that matter) is that most owners are likely to be reluctant to clean the dust themselves. They do not want to risk damaging the device because it is intricate to take it apart and put things back together.

Paying someone with experience sounds like a go-to option in such a case. You will spend money, but the investment is worth it, considering that you need the dust cleaned.

 

Check for Hardware Improvements

One of the biggest drawbacks of MacBooks is the fact that most models are not compatible with hardware changes.

There are some exceptions, however, so be sure to check out if your current Mac model has room for extra RAM or is compatible with an external graphics processing unit.

Hardware upgrades are arguably the most effective way to improve the overall device performance, including the video game experience, even if it means investing a lot of money.