Mac and gaming are a great match but even the best machines may need some help when it comes to using them for playing resource-intensive games. Fortunately, setting up your Mac for gaming doesn’t require a lot of work. Some hardware and software adjustments would be enough to take its performance to the next level so that it can be in top gaming shape over the long haul. Here are some actionable measures that can help you make your device gaming-ready.
Organize the desktop
A busy desktop isn’t a great thing to have on your device because it can slow down the system. If there are several photos and documents on the desktop, the OS will have to render each of these for quick preview purposes. The first thing to do is to organize the desktop by putting these images and documents in relevant folders rather than leaving them scattered on the desktop. As you organize stuff, take the opportunity to purge everything you do not need so that the system has more resources for your gaming needs.
Give the Hard Drive some room to breathe
A neat and uncluttered Hard Drive is as important as a tidy desktop when it comes to optimizing the system for the best performance. Ideally, you should aim to leave 10% of the max HDD capacity free for ensuring a faster Mac that matches the gaming expectations. Too many files, images, and videos in your hard drive can cause a data overload, which is the last thing a gamer would want to experience. Regularly deleting unused files, games and apps would help. Moving large files you seldom use to external storage is also a great idea.
Don’t burden your RAM
Games require processing power and RAM to run. If you want to play a game on your Mac, it makes sense to close some apps so that you don’t end up burdening the RAM. The Activity Monitor shows the amount of RAM each app is using, so it becomes easy to choose the ones to close. Web browsers are notorious for pressurizing RAM, which means that you should steer clear of the habit of having too many tabs or windows open.
Check your hardware
The gaming performance of your Mac also depends on the hardware. Moreover, some games have specific requirements in terms of hardware. If you are buying a new device, pick one that is specifically meant to fulfill your gaming needs. Alternatively, you can consider a customized upgrade option if you want to continue using the same machine for playing new games.
Run a cleaning app
When it comes to gaming, you need a well-maintained device to keep up with the requirements. Using cleaning apps periodically is a good idea to stay on top of your maintenance schedule with minimal fuss. While they clear the dusty corners of the device, you can rely on these apps for managing extensions, unused apps, startup items, and more. The best part is that you can do it all effortlessly, with a few clicks.
Whether you are new to gaming or have been an enthusiastic gamer for years, you need to make sure that your Mac is always ready to handle your needs. Thankfully, it requires much less work than you think and these tricks will have you covered.
