M4 vs M3 for Gaming Performance

Overview: M4 vs M3 Gaming

The M4 chip brings meaningful improvements for gaming, but is it worth upgrading? Let's dive into the benchmarks.

GPU Architecture Differences

Real-World Benchmarks

Native Games

Baldur's Gate 3 (1440p High)

• M3: 45-55 FPS
• M4: 55-65 FPS
• Improvement: ~20%

Resident Evil Village (1080p High)

• M3: 70-80 FPS
• M4: 85-95 FPS
• Improvement: ~18%

No Man's Sky (1440p Medium)

• M3: 40-50 FPS
• M4: 50-60 FPS
• Improvement: ~20%

CrossOver/Rosetta Games

Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p Medium)

• M3: 30-40 FPS
• M4: 40-50 FPS
• Improvement: ~25%

Elden Ring (1080p High)

• M3: 45-55 FPS
• M4: 55-65 FPS
• Improvement: ~18%

When to Choose M4

Upgrade to M4 if:

• You play demanding AAA games
• You want 60+ FPS at 1440p
• You use CrossOver heavily (benefits from faster CPU)
• You also do video editing/3D work

Stick with M3 if:

• You play mostly native games
• 1080p gaming is acceptable
• Budget is a concern
• Your current M3 setup works well

Pro/Max Variants

For serious gaming, consider:

• M3 Pro: 14-18 GPU cores, much better than base
• M4 Pro: 16-20 GPU cores, excellent performance
• M3/M4 Max: Overkill for most games, but future-proof

Memory Recommendations

• 16GB: Minimum for modern games
• 24GB: Comfortable for most scenarios
• 32GB+: Heavy multitasking + gaming

Thermal Performance

M4 runs cooler than M3, meaning:

• More consistent FPS in long sessions
• Quieter fan operation
• Better for MacBook gaming