Apple MacBook 2015: All you need to know [PART 2]

Apple MacBook 2015 gaming performance

If there's a downside to the MacBook's power-efficient Core M processor and fanless design, it's that GPU performance takes a severe hit. It's not that the integrated HD Graphics 5300 GPU is underpowered, but rather due to the constraints of the Core M's frugal power envelope. With little more than 5 or 6 watts of power to work with, there simply isn't the headroom (nor the thermal capacity) to simultaneously get the most out of both the CPU and integrated GPU cores.

In GFXBench GL's suite of graphics benchmarks, all run in 1080p resolution, the MacBook produced average frame rates which were ~30% higher than the Cherry Trail Atom processor in the Microsoft Surface 3, and ~35% slower than the Intel HD Graphics 6000 GPU in the 13-inch MacBook Air. 

In terms of real-world gaming performance, you can all but forget about playing games at the MacBook's native screen resolution. Fire up recent titles such as BioShock Infinite, and you'll need to drop the resolution right down to 1,024 x 768 and reduce detail settings to minimum if playable framerates are the order of the day. It's safe to say that the MacBook is not a featherweight gaming machine. 

Apple MacBook 2015 connectivity

Perhaps the biggest compromise in the MacBook’s design is connectivity. When it comes to wireless, 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4 still make the cut, but physical connections are now limited to a single USB-C port and a headphone socket. That really is your lot.

The MacBook relies on its single USB-C port for everything bar audio. The power supply charges the MacBook via a 2m, reversible USB-C cable, and should you want to connect a USB device – or a monitor or Ethernet cable for that matter – you have one option: buy one of Apple’s pricey adapters or seek out a third-party alternative.

For some, that sole USB-C port may crush the MacBook’s appeal, but it’s worth bearing in mind that the USB 3.1 (Gen 1) standard that Apple has employed is designed to defeat such limitations. A single cable is capable of transferring data at a rate of 5Gbits/sec, as well as up to 100W of power, so there’s no need to choose between hooking up a hard drive or charging your laptop. Once a good supply of USB-C hubs, adapters and peripherals hit the market, the MacBook’s single port may prove more an asset than a limitation.

There are even some more pragmatic benefits to Apple’s decision. Using USB-C as a power connector opens up the possibility of topping up the MacBook’s battery from a portable USB charger, given a suitable adapter cable. 

Apple MacBook 2015 verdict

For anyone who can afford a MacBook, the question of whether they actually need one will be met with a disinterested shrug: as a lust-inducing example of laptop design, there are few, if any, devices on the market able to engender the same kind of instant, irrational desire.

Of course, there are practical concerns. The MacBook is simply not fast enough to replace a desktop or more powerful laptop for demanding users; and, depending on how you use your laptop, the connectivity may prove obstructive – for now, at least. And at this price,