Mac mini with M5 Pro chip tested in 13 AAA games

The new compact Mac mini PC powered by the M5 Pro processor has been tested in modern resource-intensive games.

YouTube creator Andrew Tsai explored the capabilities of the base Apple computer configuration with a 15-core CPU, 16-core GPU, and 24 GB of unified memory. As part of the experiment, 13 demanding AAA games were run on the device at QHD (1440p) resolution. Since most of them lack native macOS versions, the games were run via the CrossOver compatibility layer.

Testing showed that the M5 Pro’s graphics component provides an acceptable frame rate in modern games, though in the most demanding titles, MetalFX or FSR image upscaling must be used for stable performance. The tested games can be roughly divided into several groups based on performance levels.

The first group includes titles with frame rates from 55 to 85 fps. Minecraft Dungeons 2 ran at 75-85 fps, while Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 with MetalFX in balanced mode ran at 60-70 fps. Tekken 8 and Street Fighter 6 delivered about 60 fps, and GTA 5 Enhanced at very high settings hit 55-70 fps.

The Mac mini delivered about 50-60 fps in Elden Ring at maximum settings, Far Cry 6 at high settings, and The Witcher 3 Remastered with a high preset and FSR Performance. The Last of Us Part 2 ran at 55-60 fps on medium settings with MetalFX in balanced mode.

In the most demanding games, performance was in the 40-55 fps range. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 at high settings with MetalFX Quality showed 40-50 fps, and Control Resonant hit 45-55 fps. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced ran at 40-55 fps using MetalFX.

The results show that the Mac mini with M5 Pro can be used not only for work tasks but also for modern games. However, many projects require CrossOver and image upscaling for acceptable performance, so it is still difficult to call this scenario a full-fledged replacement for a gaming console or PC.