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aevdxlyte's avatar
aevdxlyte
5 years ago
Solved

Mac mini M1 low FPS on fullscreen mode

Hi Guys, Im having an issue with my new MAC mini with SIMS 4, Im having very low FPS while playing on fullscreen mode (30-35 fps) even the graphic settings was set to the lowest, compare to my old windows PC having 100+ FPS. Ive tried playing with it at windows mode and and game play was smooth but FPS was just around 50-60fps. 

Game play options sets to lowest and FPS stayed the same. Frame Rate option was only at  default compare to my PC that has 60hz in it.

System specs:

  • Apple M1 chip with 8‑core CPU, 8‑core GPU and 16‑core Neural Engine
  • 16 GB unified memory
  • 1000GB SSD storage
  • Gigabit Ethernet
  •  

Monitor: 

Samsung 28" 4K UHD 60Hz 1ms GTG TN LED FreeSync Gaming Monitor (U28E590D) - Black/Titanium Silver

Freshly installed Origin and SIMS 4   

mac
  • Bluebellflora's avatar
    Bluebellflora
    5 years ago
    @aevdxlyte

    Thanks for the link 🙂 I paused it at the graphics options and noticed she has Edge Smoothing off which helps with fps. I also noticed stuttering in certain parts of the gameplay. It's difficult to tell what fps she is getting but I would guess it's dropping significantly in some parts. I wouldn't say the video is a good example of how the game performs as no testing across different settings has been done, it's just a video of someone playing on a 13" MacBook Pro with M1 chip.

    Is the fan ramping up when your fps drops?

    TBH I'm amazed that the M1 is capable of 50-60fps. We're talking about low spec mobile parts, even in the Mac mini. Normally that fps would be found on the higher spec 15"/16" MacBook Pros with dedicated GPUs and 27" iMacs. The M1 chip really is amazing for the power it is capable of producing, and seems much more integrated than Intel equipped Macs, but still has a long way to go in terms of being classed as high spec.

    I think the only way to properly test for you would be to try out different monitors, especially a non-4k one. If you do please post your results, would be really great for others with the same machine.

7 Replies

  • Bluebellflora's avatar
    Bluebellflora
    Hero+
    5 years ago

    @aevdxlyte 

    50-60fps is about normal on any Mac, what are you expecting? You can't compare Macs and Windows PC, they are completely different and the game is certainly not fully optimised for macOS, let alone the M1 chips as the game is running through Rosetta.

    I consistently get 50-60fps on my entry level M1 MBA in windowed mode but with all settings on high. Same M1 chip as you but the GPU is 7-core, not 8. What is the resolution in fullscreen when you play?

    On Apple's site is says the Mac mini supports one screen up to 4k with 60Hz

  • aevdxlyte's avatar
    aevdxlyte
    5 years ago

    thanks for the reply, I'm not expecting frame rate to go as high as high end PC, I'm just trying to achieve a smoother gameplay even at 50or 60 FPS, I've seen some review on youtube playing SIMS 4 without any issue on Mac OS.

    I even achieve FPS more than 100+ when I mirror my Mac mini display into my iPad Pro playing SIMS 4, so I'm sure it's not about the game being played with MacOS. 

    "What is the resolution in fullscreen when you play?" - I ran it at from resolutions 1920 x 1080 going down to 1280x 720, with the same result. I even put all graphic settings to low and still the same FPS I got.

    I think it is the monitor that limiting it to achieve higher resolution, but not that sure though. I am  a new MacOS user so I'm still figuring out a lot of things.

  • Bluebellflora's avatar
    Bluebellflora
    Hero+
    5 years ago
    @aevdxlyte

    Do you have a link to the YouTube video? Do they provide full specs and OS of the machine they are on?

    And the game is not fully optimised for macOS, never has been unfortunately. Google “Rosetta 2” for a better understanding of how the game is even running on the M1 Macs which is a major update from Apple, moving away from the Intel chips they have used for the last 16 years or so.
  • aevdxlyte's avatar
    aevdxlyte
    5 years ago

    that’s the review: https://youtu.be/m7XTXP1BR4Q

    it did not say how much FPS she is  getting but I’m pretty sure her gameplay is much smoother than mine and she is running it at fullscreen. My gameplay at 30-35 FPS is far from being smooth. 

    I’m not into getting a very high FPS but at least getting it smoother than what i have now I will be much happier.  50-60 FPS I think is a decent smooth gameplay that mac m1 is capable of doing. I just don’t know how to achieve that for now.

  • Bluebellflora's avatar
    Bluebellflora
    Hero+
    5 years ago
    @aevdxlyte

    Thanks for the link 🙂 I paused it at the graphics options and noticed she has Edge Smoothing off which helps with fps. I also noticed stuttering in certain parts of the gameplay. It's difficult to tell what fps she is getting but I would guess it's dropping significantly in some parts. I wouldn't say the video is a good example of how the game performs as no testing across different settings has been done, it's just a video of someone playing on a 13" MacBook Pro with M1 chip.

    Is the fan ramping up when your fps drops?

    TBH I'm amazed that the M1 is capable of 50-60fps. We're talking about low spec mobile parts, even in the Mac mini. Normally that fps would be found on the higher spec 15"/16" MacBook Pros with dedicated GPUs and 27" iMacs. The M1 chip really is amazing for the power it is capable of producing, and seems much more integrated than Intel equipped Macs, but still has a long way to go in terms of being classed as high spec.

    I think the only way to properly test for you would be to try out different monitors, especially a non-4k one. If you do please post your results, would be really great for others with the same machine.
  • aevdxlyte's avatar
    aevdxlyte
    5 years ago
     
     
    Thank you so much for your time responding my concern, I really appreciate it, thanks. It is a little bit upsetting on my part to learn that M1's are using Rosetta to emulate Intel-based apps to run on it, which I was not expecting before I bought my Mac Mini, but anyway these computers have their own Pro's and * and one of it is the cost, I could easily buy a descent PC to run SIMS 4 of what I've spent for my Mac. But on the other hand, I'm really excited to explore the things that this M1's can do best. 
     
    As for your Question about the fan ramping up when FPS drops, No, it's not, the Mac Mini is so quiet and I never experience any lag when doing any thing except with the SIMS 4. 
     
    I will let you know the outcome when I try my Mac to a none 4k monitor, which I'm pretty sure it will make a difference. 
     
    For now, I'll just have to play my SIMS at windows mode which is just OK, and try playing on my iPad Pro as an extension Monitor and look if it can handle the game while I am progressing without any lag.
  • Bluebellflora's avatar
    Bluebellflora
    Hero+
    5 years ago
    @aevdxlyte

    The M1 chips are really amazing and these are only the first generation ones, performance is much better than the equivalent older Intel machines. It's up to the developers to make their apps native unfortunately. Some have, like Adobe, but Sims 4 isn't one of them ☹️

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