Apple M2 Pro and M2 Max Graphics, Tested: Does Mac Gaming Get a Big Boost?

pcmag.com:

Since Apple's latest laptops and desktops with the new M2 Pro and M2 Max processors were released, we've been curious about the improved graphics capabilities promised by these beefed-up chips. We've tested and reviewed both the Mac mini and the MacBook Pro equipped with the new chips, but it's time to take a closer look at these new M2 processors' upgraded graphics and gaming capabilities.

In fact, Apple highlighted gaming in its announcement of the newest chips, going so far as to include a Sony PS5 controller with the equipment it loaned us for our latest Mac reviews. Apple's newest M2 Pro and M2 Max processors benefit from enhanced graphics that go above and beyond what the basic M2 can provide, and they make for a powerful upgrade from the first-generation M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, especially for gaming.

With all of this brought to bear, and the Mac mini cheaper than ever (just $100 more than a top-end console from Microsoft or Sony), is it worth upgrading or even switching to Mac for better gaming? And is the Mac finally ready to be taken seriously as an alternative for playing computer or console games? Let's look at the new M2 chips first, run through our initial lab tests, and revisit the big question mark that has traditionally hung above all Macs: game availability.

You can get a sufficient overview of the new M2 Pro and M2 Max chips in our M2 Pro and Max explainer article, but here are the high points. Though built on the same 5-nanometer technology as the original M2 chip, the new M2 Pro and M2 Max processors scale up with more CPU cores, more GPU cores, and higher memory bandwidth. Both new chips benefit from a larger L2 cache, giving them more room to handle data and complex instructions.

All in all, the