The iMac display makes it ideal for diverse tasks. Its display and detail makes it a wise choice to stream movies, YouTube videos, type, surf the web and perform other tasks.
Marketed as an easy getaway to the internet, the iMac is portable and lightweight. Apple designed it to give users seeking something different from the traditional PC.
However, several misconceptions have popped about with regards to the iMac. Most people are confused about whether the iMac is suitable for gaming. So, we drafted this post to put any confusion about using iMac for gaming to rest.
Let’s dive into the question quickly.
Is iMac Good For Gaming?
From a professional standpoint, iMacs are awesome computers. The iMac is undoubtedly exceptional for productivity but isn’t built for gaming.
So, the answer is no; the iMac isn’t great for gaming. But that doesn’t mean it cannot run some games. The only thing is it can’t run high-end games.
Why Are iMac Computers Not Good For Gaming?
It is no longer news that Apple didn’t design the iMacs with gaming in mind. There are several other reasons iMacs aren’t the best choice for gaming.
Here are the reasons below.
1: Apple concentrated on a different segment of the PC market:
Honestly, it won’t cost Apple an arm or a leg to create iMacs powerful enough to run even the most CPU and graphic-intensive games. The company has all the technology and awareness to make it happen.
In fact, in the 80s, iMacs were loaded with myriads of exciting games. But unfortunately, Apple had a change of heart.
Apple had to rebrand the iMac; this time, the focus was on a select market. Apple wanted to appear as a serious brand, not one known for making gaming computers.
Apple wanted to make computers that would meet the needs of businesses. It was also apparent that workspaces don’t need gaming computers, as it would only give workers room to be less productive.
In plain terms, Apple didn’t want to create computers that focused more rendering fun. Instead, they placed priority on functionality and productivity.
Back then, it was obvious that the market was moving towards gaming PCs, but Apple wasn’t interested. Instead, the tech giant wanted to carve out a niche for itself. And that prompted it to consider chasing a different audience, which doesn’t include serious gamers.
2: Macs are more expensive:
The iMac is expensive. There’s no doubt about that. But being expensive doesn’t mean a computer cannot run games. A costly computer like an iMac is supposed to chew through any game thrown at it.
Here’s where the iMac’s price point does it a considerable disservice.
PCs are cheaper and can run several high-end games (though, your storage memory, CPU, and GPU plays a crucial role). While over 20,000 games are available for Windows, Mac computers only have around 7,000.
So, you can see the massive difference between the number of games Macs and PCs can run seamlessly. Obviously, anyone who wants a gaming computer would choose a PC over an iMac.
3: Mac hardware is less powerful for games:
Apple isn’t just the world’s largest company, but they have built a solid reputation in the tech industry over the years.
Apple products are not only durable but unique. And as mentioned earlier, they’re among the best in their categories, though are expensive.
Now, here’s the thing. Hardware is king when it comes to gaming. And the reason the iMac isn’t a wise choice for gaming, despite its high price point, is its hardware.
Don’t get me wrong. The Mac boasts great displays, RAMs, storage, and processors. Unfortunately, these aren’t the only necessary hardware in a potential gaming computer.
So what hardware makes the Mac less powerful and unattractive for gaming? Well, the graphics card is the culprit.
Because the Mac is so thin, Apple cannot fit a big and powerful graphics card into it. Instead, the integrated Intel graphics card is what most Macs have.
The integrated Intel graphics card isn’t designed to run powerful games, making the iMac less game-friendly. And even with the best APUs, the integrated graphics card still can’t run 3D games smoothly.
A Handy Tip: The graphics card in the Mac computer is an integrated one. You need a dedicated one to run high-end games, as the integrated graphics card can only run low-end games.
Most Mac computers also boast low-end mobile AMD or Nvidia GPU, which are only marginally better than the integrated Intel graphics card.
4: Upgrading Isn’t Budget-friendly:
Besides price and suitability for high-end games, upgradability is another factor gamers consider when buying a gaming computer. Unfortunately, the Mac is not a device you can upgrade with ease. You will spend a lot of money to get it done.
Why do gamers prefer splashing the cash on computers that they can easily upgrade? The reason is simple. Video games are evolving now and then. So there’s a possibility that the latest games may require a specific hardware upgrade to run smoothly.
Upgrading a Mac computer can be expensive. And given how often gamers upgrade their computers; spending huge money to upgrade a Mac wouldn’t make any economic sense.
So, if you’re wondering why gamers don’t regard iMac as a gaming machine or why iMacs aren’t good for gaming, upgradability is a factor.
5: Most games are not Mac-compatible:
We have been focusing on Mac computers, and offer reasons why they are unsuitable for games. But the thing is, not everything is Mac’s fault.
Many of the games available or released are not Mac-compatible. Or, you can say the ones that can run on macOS are released later than the Windows version.
So, you can see why Mac’s game library is sometimes empty or has fewer options. Mac users have had to wait most of the time while their Windows computer counterparts enjoy the latest games.
Is The Future Bright For The iMac?
Change is constant. And as things stand, the future looks bright for the iMacs. Apple computers haven’t been the go-to computers for gamers, but that may change in the future.
What’s happening currently? NVIDIA, a famous gaming company, is shifting its attention to the cloud, where the iMac doesn’t have many limitations.
NVIDIA’s gaming platform, GeForce Now, offers Mac computer compatibility. And the exciting part is you don’t have to upgrade your Mac computer to access these games.
All you need to do is ensure you have a strong internet connection to run the games. Additionally, you have to pay a token as a subscription fee. Then download an app, and launch it to run the game.
Cloud gaming is the future of gaming. And when that future finally happens, the Apple Mac computers won’t be left behind.
Apple has also made it possible for Mac users to get external GPUs. The software allows users to purchase external enclosures, obtain a game’s graphics card, and even play first-run games.
However, the only challenge with this development is the price. It is a welcome development, but it’s an expensive option many gamers may not fancy.
The Windows PC will always remain the Mac’s most significant challenge when it comes to gaming. Windows PCs are cheaper and can run tons of games. And this alone makes them appealing to users.
Is Getting An iMac For Gaming A Good Decision?
While the future of gaming with Apple’s Mac computers looks less grim, investing in a Mac computer for gaming isn’t the best decision.
Apple needs to address the numerous challenges that make the Mac computers unsuitable for playing high-end games. They need to start using powerful graphics cards in their Mac computers, though that would mean sacrificing size.
Another reason investing in the Mac computer for gaming isn’t a wise choice is their price points. Mac computers are expensive compared to Windows PCs. So they’re less appealing to gamers.
Furthermore, only a few of the games released can run on Mac computers. A large number of them are for Windows PCs.
So, you’ll be wasting your resources buying a Mac computer for gaming. The iMac is designed to boost productivity at the workplace, not entertain users. But then, things may change in the future.
Given the amount of money that flows to the gaming industry, Apple may try to make their Mac computers as game-compatible as Windows PCs.
Conclusion
Is iMac good for gaming? The answer is no! Avid gamers won’t look toward Mac computers when seeking a gaming PC.
Tons of factors make Mac computers a terrible choice for gaming. But the future is looking promising for Mac computers.
In fact, with the money gamers spend on games every year, Apple may only sit on the fence for a short time.