The Apple M1 chip with its integrated GPU has garnered significant attention for its performance. But how does it stack up against dedicated graphics cards found in gaming PCs? This article benchmarks the M1 against an Nvidia GeForce 1050 Ti and an AMD Radeon 5300M to answer the question: What Is The M1 Gpu Comparable To?
The Contenders: M1 vs. Nvidia 1050 Ti vs. AMD Radeon 5300M
To determine the M1’s gaming capabilities, we compared a base model MacBook Air (8 CPU cores, 7 GPU cores, 8GB RAM) against two other systems:
- Windows 10 Gaming PC: Intel Core i5 7400 (4 cores/4 threads), Nvidia GeForce 1050 Ti (4GB VRAM), 8GB RAM. This system provides a solid 1080p gaming experience.
- MacBook Pro 16″ (2020): Intel Core i7-9750H (6 cores/12 threads), AMD Radeon 5300M (4GB VRAM), 16GB RAM. Included as a reference point for a higher-end laptop GPU.
Benchmarking Methodology: Ensuring Accurate Comparisons
Benchmarking across macOS and Windows presented challenges due to limited cross-platform compatibility. We focused on tests that ran on both operating systems, primarily using Rosetta 2 emulation on the M1 Mac.
Crucially, all tests were conducted at 1920×1080 resolution on an external monitor to ensure accurate results, especially for the MacBooks. Using the internal display can lead to misleading results due to scaling limitations.
Benchmark Results: CPU and GPU Performance Compared
The benchmarks included Geekbench 5 (CPU and OpenCL), Unigine Heaven and Valley, Tomb Raider, Cinebench R23, and Civilization VI.
- CPU Performance: The M1 significantly outperformed both Intel CPUs in single-core tests. In multi-core performance, it surpassed the i5 and even outperformed the i7.
- GPU Performance: In graphically demanding benchmarks, the M1 GPU performed admirably but was generally 30-50% slower than the Nvidia 1050 Ti and the AMD Radeon 5300M. These tests ran under Rosetta 2, impacting performance.
The Verdict: M1 GPU Performance in Perspective
The M1’s GPU performance is impressive considering its low power consumption (around 30W) and passive cooling. It cannot outperform a dedicated gaming GPU like the 1050 Ti, but the performance gap is smaller than expected.
Future of Gaming on Apple Silicon
The M1’s performance hints at the potential of future Apple Silicon chips with more CPU and GPU cores. As games are optimized for the M1 architecture and Metal API, performance is expected to improve significantly. The transition to Apple Silicon could revitalize gaming on the Mac platform.
Conclusion: M1 GPU – A Powerful Integrated Solution
The M1 GPU’s performance is comparable to a lower-end dedicated graphics card like the Nvidia GeForce 1050 Ti, albeit with a performance gap when running under Rosetta 2 emulation. While not a replacement for a dedicated gaming PC, it showcases Apple’s commitment to performance and efficiency. The future of gaming on Apple Silicon looks promising.
