Is Macbook Air Good For Sims 4

This 2020 MacBook Air display’s brightness tops off at about 400nits, which is good, but not outstanding by today’s standards. And as you can see in the image above, the screen is very hard to. The 3rd- and 4th-gen MacBook Pro, with 2.4+ GHz Intel Core i5, i7, i9 CPUs. The 2nd-gen MacBook Air, with the 1.4+ GHz Intel Core i5 CPUs. The 4th-generation iMac, with the 2.7+ GHz Intel Core i5 and i7 CPUs. These models aren’t the latest, that’s for sure. Are they good enough to code iOS apps?

Apple is known for its impeccable product quality and experience, with great customer service to boot.The MacBook Air is a top-of-the-line computer in the form of the thinnest (and lightest) laptop available in the market. That being said, is Apple’s MacBook Air any good when it comes to video gaming?

As a whole Apple’s MacBook Air is not a good laptop to use for video games. Although newer models have improved hardware, the lack of internal fans, dedicated GPU, and reduced storage capacity will lead to hardware damage and unsatisfactory gaming experiences under prolonged use.

I own the 2020 M1 Apple MacBook Air and while it’s the best computer I’ve ever had and the best MacBook air gaming laptop ever, capable of playing AAA games on low to medium settings and iPhone and iPad games it’s not a dedicated gaming computer. You can use it for gaming but please read this article to help your purchasing decision.

If you want a laptop better for gaming, your far better off buying a dedicated gaming Windows laptop, take a look at some of the best options for your budget on Amazon here.

Why The Apple MacBook Air Is Not Good For Gaming

To put the MacBook Air’s current (2021) specs into perspective, here are some breakdowns for you to consider in terms of gaming:

**Graphical Processing Unit (GPU)**

A laptop’s built-in Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) should be capable of handling immense 3D application loads which video games usually exert (ensure smooth framerates/ gameplay performances).

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MacBook Air (2020 versions upwards) utilizes its 7-core/ 8-core Apple M1 CPU processor as its integrated GPU too, which yields comparable results to other low-to-medium tier laptop GPUs but will not be able to manage higher graphical settings in most mainstream games nowadays.

Remember the Air is designed to be a content creation machine, for video and photo editing not for gaming.

CPU memory speeds

A gaming laptop also requires a robust Central Processing Unit (CPU), which acts as the ‘brain’ of your computer. Free android emulator on pc and mac download.

To note, Apple’s M1 processor (installed in MacBook Air, Mac Mini, and MacBook Pro starting from 2020 onwards) is capable of dishing out a maximum CPU performance of 3.2GHz, which is the basic standard for mainstream games since 2018.

Still, most recommended game requirements would suggest CPU clock speeds closer to 4GHz to enjoy the best in-game experiences, nowadays.

So you’re looking at a gaming laptop, but how about building a powerful custom gaming PC? It isn’t that hard to build, see our guide here on how to create a setup yourself.

RAM capacity

MacBook Air’s 8GB RAM is certainly above the minimum requirements for most old video games, like Call of Duty 3 and The Witcher series.

However, in 2021, this is no longer the case for the majority of mainstream video game titles, with 8GB RAM meeting only the basic system requirements of most major franchises (Fallout 4 = 8GB RAM, Horizon Zero Dawn = 8GB RAM).

I can edit 4K videos and have dozens of Chrome tabs open on my Air no problem, but that’s because the M1 Apple Silicon is optimized to work for these programs, it isn’t designed for gaming, so 8GB RAM will hurt you in the short term.

Storage capacity

Nowadays, 1TB of SSD space is the best option for gamers to install up to as many as 20 games at a time (game sizes have increased significantly throughout the years).

MacBook Air is adept in this department, with options ranging from 256GB all the way to 2TB available for upgrade (upgrade only applicable at the time of purchase, not later).

Storage is not a huge issue as you can always buy a super-fast SSD like one from Sandisk on Amazon that I own to play games externally.

Heat circulation

Due to extreme 3D-processing loads on the GPU during gaming (the CPU itself, in MacBook Air’s case), heat accumulation becomes a very real problem that could affect the life cycle of the hardware itself, to see if gaming damages laptops see our guide.

Unfortunately, MacBook Air’s lightweight feature comes at the cost of no internal fans installed, directly limiting the laptop’s ability to cool its CPU under heavy strains which could result in severe repercussions if damaged.

Which is why if you buy a MacBook and you want to game you should purchase the M1 MacBook Pro, it has fans will perform better over prolonged gaming sessions.

Other factors should also be considered when it comes to gaming, such as a computer’s maximum input voltage and its monitor’s aspect resolution and colour settings, but these do not necessarily influence gaming experiences too much (unless you are going for the nitty-gritty).

Here’s another general guide on whether MacBooks are good for gaming or not.

YouTuber, Created Techhad also made a short MacBook Air video on its capabilities of handling video games too, as showcased below:

The biggest thing a MacBook Air lacks compared to a traditional gaming laptop is the GPU (Graphics processing unit)

Are you confused between the differences between an integrated GPU (as with the MacBook Air) and a discrete/ dedicated GPU of a laptop and how the MacBook stands out?

Read on below to understand more.

Integrated vs Discrete GPUs

Integrated graphics cards are built-in GPUs which share the same chip as a computer’s CPU (both are found on the same chip/ processor). Discrete GPUs (also called dedicated GPUs) are separate hardware which allow for graphical processing work to be run independently from the laptop’s CPU/ processor.

When it comes to Apple’s MacBook Air, the company has already opted for integrated GPUs to be manufactured for all of its production lines, meaning its chip will be capable of handling both the CPU and GPU work where needed.

However, you will need to understand the compromises made when an integrated GPU is utilized instead of a discrete GPU in a laptop (especially for gaming).

In order to summarize the general benefits and drawbacks of using an integrated GPU for the MacBook Air, here are some very good points to consider:

By understanding the basic differences between integrated GPUs and discrete GPUs, you will be able to cater your expectations reasonably when deciding to buy a MacBook Air for your daily use.

So does that mean MacBook Air’s integrated GPU is not good for gaming? Read on to find out.

No matter if you build your own Gaming PC, buy a MacBook or a gaming laptop you will need a gaming mouse to perform at the highest level, but are expensive gaming mice worth it? Please see our article to know.

The GPUs in Macs are Not Built for Gaming

The integrated GPU of a Mac is not primarily designed for gaming purposes. Although newer models have adopted improved GPUs to support more games today, it is still much more cost-effective to buy additional dedicated GPUs to install, or even another gaming laptop altogether.

Macs’ integrated GPUs are essentially supplements for you to be able to handle basic graphical processes, although the minimum benchmarks have improved substantially throughout the years (Apple’s latest M1 processors are capable of running most AAA games at low-medium settings smoothly now).

You can also opt to buy Macs which utilize higher-tier GPUs at its core as well, but the cost would undoubtedly be much higher if you are only looking to game daily (gaming laptops can be bought for essentially half the price of some Mac computers, possibly even less than that!).

If you are wondering whether gaming laptops are still relevant in 2021, here are some awesome things to know when it comes to the latest gaming laptops this year.

What if you would like to play iOS games from the Mac App Store instead? Would that be possible?

Let’s find out together down below.

You can play iOS Games from App Store

Open up the Mac App Store (using Apple’s latest Macs with its M1 processors).
Key in the desired iOS games using the ‘Search’ bar.
At the results page, change the filter settings to “iPhone and iPad Apps” (use Command + F to easily find it).
Install your desired games into your Mac computer.

This is just one way of downloading your favourite iOS games into your current Mac setup.

If you are unable to find your desired games via this method, try out this alternative solution instead (need to own/ download the games into your iOS mobile devices first):

On the Mac App Store page, click on your profile name (bottom-left corner of the screen).
All your purchased, downloaded and installed iOS software and apps (across all devices using your Apple ID) will be displayed here.
Choose “iPhone and iPad Apps” similar to the first method earlier (use Command + F to easily find it).
A list of all downloaded apps and games on your Apple mobile devices which are compatible with the M1 processor will now appear here.
Select your desired game, install and play!

With these two solutions in tow, you can now get the best out of iOS gaming by playing with a mouse and keyboard on your present Mac rig (no longer pesky touchpad controls!).

There is also an off-chance that certain games may still be unavailable on the Mac App Store, as respective developers will need to register their games inside the Apple program to allow users to benefit from these features.

If your favorite iOS games can’t be found on the Mac App Store, is there any other way for you to play heavyweights like Call of Duty Mobile (CODM) on your new Mac computer? Scroll down below to find out.

One issue we gamers face is getting back problems playing for hours in chairs with poor ergonomics, but are gaming chairs really worth the purchase? Take a look at the facts in our article.

You can play iPhone & iPad Games

Install QuickTime Player (also known as QuickTime X) into your Mac OS.
Connect your iOS device to your Mac computer (preferably the latest M1 processor) using a Thunderbolt cable.
Launch QuickTime Player.
Under the ‘File’ section, click on ‘New Movie Recording’.
Your iOS mobile device screen will now be displayed on your Mac monitor accordingly.
If your OS mobile screen is not displayed properly, press the drop-down menu on the QuickTime player (besides the ‘Record’ button in the middle) to change the ‘Camera’ and ‘Microphone’ settings to that of your Apple mobile device
You can now play iOS mobile games on your Mac computer (the mobile device being the default ‘controller’) easily!
You can also connect your mobile device to a compatible game controller, which will allow you to play mobile games without the use of touchpad controls.

With plenty of applications being introduced into the Mac App Store on a daily basis, you may also find other viable alternatives besides QuickTime Player to ‘mirror’ your mobile device gaming sessions onto your Mac computer.

Still, the general methods usually stay the same, regardless of which software you use to transfer your handheld gaming experience onto a bigger screen.

YouTube channel, Max Techexemplifies some of the other potential ways for you to explore iOS mobile games on the macOS, although caution needs to be advised in terms of downloading third-party software (void warranty, banned game account, etc.):

While you are now able to play iOS games on the macOS, can the same be said for Windows Games too?

Let’s learn together, down below.

You can use Parallels 16.5 to play any Windows Game

You are able to play Windows games on a Mac by installing a Virtual Machine (VM) software such as Parallels 16.5, which creates a virtual computer running on the Mac itself (utilizing the Mac’s hardware and specs), allowing you to play games on a virtual version of Windows on the Apple computer.

Besides allowing you to play your beloved PC games on a Mac computer, Parallels 16.5 is also able to launch native Windows software such as Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel too!

However, your Mac computer will need to share its overall resources (memory, storage, etc.) between two essentially separate devices (macOS and virtualized Windows), prompting some limitations to computer performance, especially during gaming.

Still, if you are willing to compromise on the slight drawbacks by adjusting your in-game settings accordingly, Parallels 16.5 should definitely be the best way to go.

This video demonstrates how Parallels 16.5 has improved significantly to provide better gameplay performances in-game:

If you are interested in using Parallels 16.5, you will be able to decide between its 14-day free trial to get things started, or purchase its complete packages as detailed below:

Upgrade your Mac gaming experience by checking the offers available on their web store today!

How fast does your MacBook need to be to comfortably code iOS apps with Xcode? Is a MacBook Pro from 2-3 years ago good enough to learn Swift programming? Let’s find out!

Here’s what we’ll get into:

The minimum/recommended system requirements for Xcode 11
Why you need – or don’t need – a fancy $3.000 MacBook Pro
Which second-hand Macs can run Xcode OK, and how you can find out

I’ve answered a lot of “Is my MacBook good enough for iOS development and/or Xcode?”-type questions on Quora. A few of the most popular models include:

The 3rd- and 4th-gen MacBook Pro, with 2.4+ GHz Intel Core i5, i7, i9 CPUs
The 2nd-gen MacBook Air, with the 1.4+ GHz Intel Core i5 CPUs
The 4th-generation iMac, with the 2.7+ GHz Intel Core i5 and i7 CPUs

These models aren’t the latest, that’s for sure. Are they good enough to code iOS apps? And what about learning how to code? We’ll find out in this tutorial.

My Almost-Unbreakable 2013 MacBook Air

Since 2009 I’ve coded more than 50 apps for iOS, Android and the mobile web. Most of those apps, including all apps I’ve created between 2013 and 2018, were built on a 13″ MacBook Air with 8 GB of RAM and a 1.3 GHz Intel i5 CPU.

My first MacBook was the gorgeous, then-new MacBook White unibody (2009), which I traded in for a faster but heavier MacBook Pro (2011), which I traded in for that nimble workhorse, the mighty MacBook Air (2013). In 2018 I upgraded to a tricked out 13″ MacBook Pro, with much better specs.

Frankly, that MacBook Air from 2013 felt more sturdy and capable than my current MacBook Pro. After 5 years of daily intenstive use, the MacBook Air’s battery is only through 50% of its max. cycle count. It’s still going strong after 7 hours on battery power.

In 2014, my trusty MacBook Air broke down on a beach in Thailand, 3 hours before a client deadline, with the next Apple Store 500 kilometer away. It turned out OK, of course. Guess what? My current MacBook Pro from 2018, its keyboard doesn’t even work OK, I’ve had sound recording glitches, and occasionally the T2 causes a kernel panic. Like many of us, I wish we had 2013-2015 MacBook Air’s and Pro’s with today’s specs. Oh, well…

That 100 Mhz i486 PC I Learned to Code With

Is Macbook Air 2020 Good For Sims 4

When I was about 11 years old I taught myself to code in BASIC, on a 100 Mhz i486 PC that was given to me by friends. It had a luxurious 16 MB of RAM, initially only ran MS-DOS, and later ran Windows 3.1 and ’95.

A next upgrade came as a 400 Mhz AMD desktop, given again by friends, on which I ran a local EasyPHP webserver that I used to learn web development with PHP, MySQL and HTML/CSS. I coded a mod for Wolfenstein 3D on that machine, too.

We had no broadband internet at home back then, so I would download and print out coding tutorials at school. At the one library computer that had internet access, and I completed the tutorials at home. The source codes of turn-based web games, JavaScript tidbits and HTML page snippets were carried around on a 3.5″ floppy disk.

Later, when I started coding professionally around age 17, I finally bought my first laptop. My own! I still remember how happy I was. I got my first gig as a freelance coder: creating a PHP script that would aggregate RSS feeds, for which I earned about a hundred bucks. Those were the days!

Xcode, iOS, Swift and The MacBook Pro

The world is different today. Xcode simply doesn’t run on an i486 PC, and you can’t save your app’s source code on a 1.44 MB floppy disk anymore. Your Mac probably doesn’t have a CD drive, and you store your Swift code in a cloud-based Git repository somewhere.

Make no mistake: owning a MacBook is a luxury. Not because learning to code was harder 15 years ago, and not because computers were slower back then. It’s because kids these days learn Python programming on a $25 Raspberry Pi.

I recently had a conversation with a young aspiring coder, who complained he had no access to “decent” coding tutorials and mentoring, despite owning a MacBook Pro and having access to the internet. Among other things, I wrote the following:

You’re competing with a world of people that are smarter than you, and have better resources. You’re also competing against coders that have had it worse than you. They didn’t win despite adversity, but because of it. Do you give up? NO! You work harder. It’s the only thing you can do: work harder than the next person. When their conviction is wavering, you dig in your heels, you keep going, you persevere, and you’ll win.

Winning in this sense isn’t like winning a race, of course. You’re not competing with anyone else; you’re only really up against yourself. If you want to learn how to code, don’t dawdle over choosing a $3.000 or a $2.900 laptop. If anything, it’ll keep you from developing the grit you need to learn coding.

Great ideas can change the world, but only if they’re accompanied by deliberate action. Likewise, simply complaining about adversity isn’t going to create opportunities for growth – unless you take action. I leapfrogged my way from one hand-me-down computer to the next. I’m not saying you should too, but I do want to underscore how it helped me develop character.

If you want to learn how to code, welcome adversity. Be excellent because of it, or despite it, and never give up. Start coding today! Don’t wait until you’ve got all your ducks in a row.

Is Macbook Air Good For Sims 4 Download

Which MacBook is Fast Enough for Xcode 11?

The recommended system specs to run Xcode 11 are:

A Mac with macOS Catalina (10.15.2) for Xcode 11.5 or macOS Mojave (10.14.4) for Xcode 11.0 (see alternatives for PC here)
At least an Intel i5- or i7-equivalent CPU, so about 2.0 GHz should be enough
At least 8 GB of RAM, but 16 GB lets you run more apps at the same time
At least 256 GB disk storage, although 512 GB is more comfortable
You’ll need about 8 GB of disk space, but Xcode’s intermediate files can take up to 10-30 GB of extra disk space

Looking for a second-hand Mac? The following models should be fast enough for Xcode, but YMMV!

4th-generation MacBook Pro (2016)
3rd-generation Mac Mini (2014)
2nd-generation MacBook Air (2017)
5th-generation iMac (2015)

Macbook Air Apps Download

When you’re looking for a Mac or MacBook to purchase, make sure it runs the latest version of macOS. Xcode versions you can run are tied to macOS versions your hardware runs, and iOS versions you can build for are tied to Xcode versions. See how that works? This is especially true for SwiftUI, which is iOS 13.0 and up only. Make sure you can run the latest!

Pro tip: You can often find the latest macOS version a device model supports on their Wikipedia page (see above links, scroll down to Supported macOS releases). You can then cross-reference that with Xcode’s minimum OS requirements (see here, scroll to min macOS to run), and see which iOS versions you’ll be able to run.