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MacBook Air M4 vs M5: World of Warcraft Midnight Benchmark Deep DiveThis video compares the gaming performance of World of Warcraft: Midnight on MacBook Air M4 and M5 models. Both models suffer from significant performance degradation due to thermal throttling. As a result, the theoretical performance advantage of the M5 is not strongly felt in actual gameplay, and in some situations, it shows similar results to the M4. Notably, despite using more power, the M5 struggles with thermal management due to its thin design and lack of a fan.
1. 🎮 MacBook Air M4 and M5 CPU/GPU Performance Analysis
· We compared the performance of World of Warcraft: Midnight on MacBook Air M4 and M5 models.
· CPU performance is superior on the M5 for single-core gaming.
· GPU performance was compared between M4 8-core and M5 8-core/10-core, and actual performance is significantly degraded due to thermal throttling on the MacBook Air.
· The M5 10-core GPU, with a theoretical max performance of 75k, drops to 34k after thermal throttling, which is about 45% of its potential.
· CPU performance is superior on the M5 for single-core gaming.
· GPU performance was compared between M4 8-core and M5 8-core/10-core, and actual performance is significantly degraded due to thermal throttling on the MacBook Air.
· The M5 10-core GPU, with a theoretical max performance of 75k, drops to 34k after thermal throttling, which is about 45% of its potential.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| M1 (Max) | 32K |
| M4 8-core (Max) | 47K (Almost 48K) |
| M4 8-core (After Thermal Throttling) | 28K (Approx. Half) |
| M5 8-core (Max) | 64K (Almost 65K) |
| M5 10-core (Max) | 75K |
| M5 10-core (After Thermal Throttling) | 34K (45% of Max Performance) |
00:00 - 01:30
1. 🎮 MacBook Air M4 and M5 CPU/GPU Performance Analysis
· We compared the performance of World of Warcraft: Midnight on MacBook Air M4 and M5 models.
· CPU performance is superior on the M5 for single-core gaming.
· GPU performance was compared between M4 8-core and M5 8-core/10-core, and actual performance is significantly degraded due to thermal throttling on the MacBook Air.
· The M5 10-core GPU, with a theoretical max performance of 75k, drops to 34k after thermal throttling, which is about 45% of its potential.
· CPU performance is superior on the M5 for single-core gaming.
· GPU performance was compared between M4 8-core and M5 8-core/10-core, and actual performance is significantly degraded due to thermal throttling on the MacBook Air.
· The M5 10-core GPU, with a theoretical max performance of 75k, drops to 34k after thermal throttling, which is about 45% of its potential.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| M1 (Max) | 32K |
| M4 8-core (Max) | 47K (Almost 48K) |
| M4 8-core (After Thermal Throttling) | 28K (Approx. Half) |
| M5 8-core (Max) | 64K (Almost 65K) |
| M5 10-core (Max) | 75K |
| M5 10-core (After Thermal Throttling) | 34K (45% of Max Performance) |
01:31 - 02:07
2. ✈️ Silvermoon Flight Performance and Game Settings
· Both M4 and M5 were tested with similar settings when flying in the Silvermoon area.
· Due to thermal throttling, the performance difference between the two models was not significant.
· Game settings were conducted with the same resolution and options; the Mac Mini can play at higher settings due to better cooling performance.
· Due to thermal throttling, the performance difference between the two models was not significant.
· Game settings were conducted with the same resolution and options; the Mac Mini can play at higher settings due to better cooling performance.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Test Settings | Same resolution and game options (M5 and M4 identical) |
| Resolution | Laptop monitor resolution (1600x1080 or similar) |
| Graphics Quality | 4/10 (Low setting) |
02:08 - 03:52
3. 🏞️ Zul'Aman and Eversong Woods Flight Performance Comparison
· When flying in Zul'Aman, the M4 recorded 40-49 FPS, while the M5 recorded approximately 60 FPS, showing 30-40% better performance for the M5.
· When flying in Eversong Woods, the M4 recorded 50 FPS, and the M5 recorded 60-67 FPS.
· While the M5 offers better performance, thermal throttling still occurs, raising the question of whether upgrading to the M5 is worth it just to get 60 FPS at low graphics settings.
· The MacBook Neo (compared to M4 Air) consumes less power, resulting in less thermal throttling, and has the advantage of similar performance to the M4 at a lower price.
· When flying in Eversong Woods, the M4 recorded 50 FPS, and the M5 recorded 60-67 FPS.
· While the M5 offers better performance, thermal throttling still occurs, raising the question of whether upgrading to the M5 is worth it just to get 60 FPS at low graphics settings.
· The MacBook Neo (compared to M4 Air) consumes less power, resulting in less thermal throttling, and has the advantage of similar performance to the M4 at a lower price.
03:53 - 05:09
4. 🚶 Silvermoon Ground Movement Performance and Thermal Issues
· When moving on the ground (walking/mount) within Silvermoon City, the performance of the M4 and M5 was almost identical.
· The M5 uses 7-10W more power than the M4, but due to the MacBook Air's thin design and lack of a fan, it overheated, showing similar or even lower performance than the M4.
· The M5 severely downclocked due to overheating, resulting in almost no performance difference from the M4.
· The opinion is that while the MacBook Air is good for web browsing, it needs a new identity for gaming.
· The M5 uses 7-10W more power than the M4, but due to the MacBook Air's thin design and lack of a fan, it overheated, showing similar or even lower performance than the M4.
· The M5 severely downclocked due to overheating, resulting in almost no performance difference from the M4.
· The opinion is that while the MacBook Air is good for web browsing, it needs a new identity for gaming.
05:10 - 05:27
5. 💡 M4 vs M5: A Reflection on Upgrade Value
· This section raises the question of whether upgrading to the M5 is truly worth it.
· If a few frames don't matter, keeping the M4 or buying a discounted M4 is a good option.
· If you insist on 60 FPS, you might consider the M5, but it's only achievable at low settings, and you'll have to accept performance degradation due to thermal throttling.
· If a few frames don't matter, keeping the M4 or buying a discounted M4 is a good option.
· If you insist on 60 FPS, you might consider the M5, but it's only achievable at low settings, and you'll have to accept performance degradation due to thermal throttling.