I’ve seen a few older threads on this but nothing recent. I’m new to using Zwift altogether and love the app but am disappointed with the graphics performance when using it through my Mac with a 4K TV. Even at low settings I get at best 8-10 FPS and frequent ~1s freezes when riding. It has not crashed during a ride and is acceptable but looks like Half Life did in 1998 on a P2.
When launching the app before starting a rideI watched resource use. CPU use goes to >100% for several seconds, locks up the machine (spinning wheel) for about 10s before responding again. It reads about 800 MB from disk then uses ~2 GB memory at idle. After 5 minutes of just sitting at the screen where the sensors are discovered CPU use never drops below 35% when it should be doing essentially nothing at this point. Memory and disk use do not change during this time.
I have a 2016 MacBook, 1.1 GHz m3, 256 GB SSD, 8 GB RAM, Intel UHD 515 graphics, and with OS X Mojave 10.14.6. I am using Zwift version 1.0.4326 also. While not as good as the new systems, it is well within recommended specs for most current apps and certainly should perform better than this.
Is there anything that can be done to improve performance or the app itself?
I’m on a 2012 MBP on Mojave and get about the same FPS. I can’t speak to resource use, but Macs are known as subpar gaming machines, mostly due to pedestrian graphics cards and lack of upgradeability.
I’ve chosen to live with the low FPS, since I’ll be replacing that machine in the near future. I’m really curious to hear how the new 16" MBP performs, or whether I’ll have to give in and splurge for a Zwift-dedicated Windows tower.
Do any other Zwifters have a modern Mac that can comment on performance with the current generation platforms? I’m not opposed to upgrading hardware if needed but given the lack of hardware configurations I’d consider building a dedicated PC for Zwift.
Has anyone built a PC that runs the app in 4K with good quality that can share their build specs?
I was using a 2012 MBP for my first few rides (just got a trainer this winter). It wasn’t bad, but the graphics profile was definitely low end. For the past month I have been using a 2019 16" MBP. It’s like night and day, and the frame rate is quite smooth even when set to maximum graphics settings in the app.
That being said, I do not like using my laptop for this purpose. It generates too much heat for too long of a sustained period. I’d much rather build a cheap dedicated system for it – No Linux support yet? - #32 by James_Sumners
Moderator closed Zwift on MAC high CPU (ping @Andrew_Jones) so I guess I have to reply here instead. High CPU use on Macbooks has nothing to do with Makuri/Neokyo, it has been like that since always, there is some kind of not quite overclocking going on as long as you are operating with a power adapter connected. The game is rendering normal scenery already in the background for the start menu screen so that’s why the load goes up before you even start riding yourself.
For what it’s worth, I suspect that the thermal load from less than ~6 months of Zwift use damaged the screen in my Macbook Pro (first as thin horizontal stripes only visible with certain colours which later developed to a completely borken display) so continue at your own risk.
Thanks for your reply, I’m not sure why that person locked it, I’ve opened it again Zwift on MAC high CPU - 2.0.
I still had over 50% CPU usage with the power adapter disconnected and in a different world.
To be fair, the Makuri Islands issues are ‘new’ (since Yumezi and much worse with Neokyo) and are separate to what appears to be a wider problem on Mac being raised.
I’ve just started Zwift up, I haven’t gone into any worlds and the available worlds are London and Yorkshire so any Makuri Island problem shouldn’t come into play and it’s showing 60% CPU usage.
I use Zwift on a trash can 2013 Mac Pro 16 core with an upper end stock video card and it does high frame rate at 4k. Nice shadows and lighting. Really stable. Looks awesome. Here’s a photo.
Which processor is that? As far as I’m aware it can only have the maximum Xeon E5 2697V2 - 2.7ghz 12 core.
I have this computer with dual D700 graphics cards and 1TB SSD. For me it didn’t run Zwift smoothly, sometimes it would stutter. If Zwift could make use of the dial graphics cards it would be great.
My older 3.46ghz X5690 and RX580 does much better. Runs cooler too!
I notice that two, just at the menu or pairing screen my GPU is cooking away at 75°C. I’m guessing it is the background? When I go riding it actually cools down a bit.
I purchased this many years ago - they sell used on eBay for about a grand. I think its the graphic card that is making the difference as this was used as a film editing station
I use an Apple 4k tv for Zwift as well, and I keep bringing down the Macpro as the graphics are so much richer.
I wanted to update this post - as I hadn’t done an ERG workout with the Mac Pro. I had troubles - twice - and ended up going back to the Apple TV.
Wahoo just replaced my Kicker Bike yesterday (Great customer service!) so will try again with the Mac and the AppleTV to see if there are issues between them.
The Mac in ERG mode wasn’t tracking the cadence correctly, so it was impossible to meet the wattage required by Zwift. Otherwise, it worked great with races and free riding in SIM mode!
