Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Specific advice requested: Considering a 2019 16" MBP to have the latest Intel Mac + good specs for the occasional Windows game via Boot Camp

I

izzy0242mr

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 24, 2009
720
510
Hi everyone—before you immediately tell me "get an Apple Silicon Mac!!" — yes, I know. I have one; it's great (an 8-core M1 Pro 14" MBP). It's my daily driver. Keep reading please!

What I have (Mac-wise)
In addition to my 14" MBP, I also have a 2016 12" MacBook I bought used for $150 (hella slow; I use it for trips where I want macOS and a full keyboard but don't want to risk my 14" MBP being damaged) and a 2015 13" MBP (i5, 16 GB RAM) that I have from college years. Both Intel Macs are on Sequoia using OCLP.

I'm considering selling the 2015 13" MBP and putting that money toward a possible upgrade.

About me (aka relevant usage)
I need an Intel Mac for working with other Intel Macs. I also do a lot of flipping of older Macs (for whatever reason, people in my area like buying old—I'm talking 2010–2012 old—Macs, so I buy non-working 13" MBPs on eBay, fix them up/add parts, and flip them for a small profit; just a side hobby for me, not my main job by a long shot). I often need to have an Intel Mac to perform certain tasks like making bootable USB drives of very old versions of macOS/Mac OS X. I don't want to use the 12" MacBook for this purpose because it's so slow and only has 1 USB port (I am often using 2 at once and hubs are slow).

I occasionally game, too. Virtualization on Apple Silicon for gaming isn't great, so I usually bring out my old 2015 MBP to do some casual gaming if I want to do that. Of course, it's not very fast at that.

Here's my thinking: I could get a (used) 16" 2019 MacBook Pro and use that both for my hobby Mac-flipping/OCLPing/etc. tasks (there are some practical benefits to having an old Intel lying around) AND I could use it for gaming via Boot Camp (I'm aware the AMD graphics drivers can be finicky and I know there are ways to get the right ones; not worried about that). I don't want to just buy a Windows PC or build one myself for a variety of reasons, namely (1) that's a lot of work and effort to find one, (2) it's going to cost more, (3) I don't game a ton so I don't want to throw time and money into a rig. There are i9 2019 16" MBPs going on eBay for $380 right now, so that's why I'm considering this.

What I am considering:
- I know the 2019 16" MBP overheats a lot, especially the 2.3 GHz and 2.4 GHz i9 models. I have also heard of quite successful and seemingly easy-to-do cooling mods like this one. I am not afraid of opening up my computer. Would the i9 models make sense for the most performance? Or would the i7 be better for less overheating but presumably slower speeds?
- I know there are different GPU models—the AMD 5300M, the 5500M, and the 5600M. The 5600M seems more rare and a lot more expensive on eBay. And then there's the 4 GB VRAM models vs the 8 GB VRAM models. What's the actual difference when it comes to gaming (in Windows) and would the 5600M make the most sense if I plan to keep this Mac for a while? What's a 5500M with 4 GB like vs a 5500M with 8 GB vs a 5600M (which I think only has 8 GB as the min)?
- What about RAM? I know more is better, but for gaming purposes on Windows, how much would I notice 16 GB vs 32 GB vs 64 GB? I have 16 GB on my 14" MBP and that's the most I've ever had in a daily driver Mac.
- What features would be more important? For example, if I could get one with 16 GB RAM but a 5600M GPU, is that better than 32 GB RAM with a 5500M GPU? Etc. I'm not as concerned about storage, though if I could find one with 1 TB that'd be nice, but I'd be fine with 512.

There are i9 2019 16" MBPs going on eBay for $380–500 right now (obviously more but that's my price range, ideally on the lower end of that), so that's why I'm considering this.

Appreciate folks' thoughts—especially those who have 2019 16" MBPs themselves.
 
Last edited:
Here’s a structured take on your considerations, based on what we’ve seen from customers and benchmarks for the 2019 16" MacBook Pro:

1. i9 vs. i7 + Thermal Concerns​

  • i9 Models: While the i9 can deliver higher peak performance, sustained workloads (like gaming) often lead to thermal throttling, negating the raw clock speed advantage. The 2.3/2.4GHz i9s are particularly notorious for this. Cooling mods (e.g., repasting, thermal pad additions) do help significantly, but even then, expect fan noise and occasional throttling under heavy loads.
  • i7 Models: These run cooler and throttle less frequently. For gaming, where GPU matters more than CPU, the i7 might actually deliver more consistent performance. If you’re not doing CPU-heavy tasks (video rendering, etc.), the i7 is arguably the smarter buy.
Verdict: If you’re comfortable with cooling mods, the i9 could be worth it for non-gaming tasks. For gaming? The i7 is likely sufficient and less headache-prone.

2. GPU Differences (5300M vs. 5500M vs. 5600M)​

  • 5300M (4GB): Entry-level, struggles with modern titles at higher settings. Fine for eSports (CS2, Valorant) or older games.
  • 5500M (4GB/8GB): The 8GB VRAM variant is noticeably better for textures/resolution. Expect ~20-30% performance uplift over the 5300M in titles like Fortnite or Cyberpunk (at medium settings). The 4GB model will hit VRAM limits sooner.
  • 5600M (8GB): A significant jump—roughly 40-50% faster than the 5500M. Handles 1440p gaming decently and future-proofs better. Rare and pricey, but worth stretching for if you plan to keep the machine long-term.
Verdict: Prioritise the 5600M if you can find one within budget. If not, the 5500M 8GB is the next best. Avoid the 5300M/5500M 4GB for newer games.

3. RAM for Gaming​

  • 16GB: Adequate for most gaming scenarios in Windows. Modern titles rarely exceed 12-14GB usage, and macOS/Boot Camp memory management is efficient.
  • 32GB/64GB: Overkill for gaming alone, but useful if you’re multitasking (e.g., streaming, having 50 Chrome tabs open). No noticeable FPS gains.
    Verdict: 16GB is fine. Only opt for 32GB+ if you’re doing heavy productivity work or find a deal where the price difference is minimal.

4. Configuration Trade-offs​

  • GPU vs. RAM: A 5600M + 16GB will outperform a 5500M + 32GB in gaming. GPU is the bottleneck here, not RAM.
  • Storage: 512GB is workable, but Windows + modern games (100GB+ each) will eat space quickly. A 1TB SSD is ideal, but external drives can supplement.

Final Thoughts​

  • Target Spec: Aim for an i7/5500M 8GB/16GB combo if prioritising value. If you find a 5600M model near $500, snap it up—it’s the closest to a "gaming-ready" 2019 MBP.
  • Thermal Prep: Even with an i7, consider undervolting (via ThrottleStop in Windows) or basic cooling mods to sustain performance.
  • eBay Caution: Double-check listings—many sellers omit GPU/RAM specs. Ask for About This Mac screenshots to confirm.
The 2019 16" is a solid pick for your use case, especially at those prices. Just temper expectations: it’s not a desktop replacement, but with tweaks, it’ll handle gaming respectably.

Let us know what you end up grabbing! 🎮
 
  • Like
Reactions: izzy0242mr
2019 16 “ MBP was the worst Mac i ever owned as my primary device. Ran hot, throttled too loud and Kb left something to be desired. For your case, if you need it to make money, go for it. Not sure if Gaming is primary, but the 2019 doesn’t do well at sustained load. Depends on titles you want to play.
 
For gaming I would also look into a Mac mini and e-gpu. They might work better.
I had a 15” MacBook Pro for work with the i9.
With an external screen on it the cpu could not clock higher than 800mhz when the room temperature got above 23 degrees Celsius. There were weeks that I did use teams calls without video because the i9 could not cope with it. Worst machine ever, luckily employer supplied. It did cost me a lot of productivity.
I would never go for an i9 intel again ever.
 
I would not buy it. If you can adjust to a desktop, i love my 2012 mac pro for windows gaming, and they are cheap. 30 apple cinema is also fantastic if you can find one locally on eBay or fb marketplace.
 
applemacrepairslondon said:
Here’s a structured take on your considerations, based on what we’ve seen from customers and benchmarks for the 2019 16" MacBook Pro:

1. i9 vs. i7 + Thermal Concerns​

  • i9 Models: While the i9 can deliver higher peak performance, sustained workloads (like gaming) often lead to thermal throttling, negating the raw clock speed advantage. The 2.3/2.4GHz i9s are particularly notorious for this. Cooling mods (e.g., repasting, thermal pad additions) do help significantly, but even then, expect fan noise and occasional throttling under heavy loads.
  • i7 Models: These run cooler and throttle less frequently. For gaming, where GPU matters more than CPU, the i7 might actually deliver more consistent performance. If you’re not doing CPU-heavy tasks (video rendering, etc.), the i7 is arguably the smarter buy.
Verdict: If you’re comfortable with cooling mods, the i9 could be worth it for non-gaming tasks. For gaming? The i7 is likely sufficient and less headache-prone.

2. GPU Differences (5300M vs. 5500M vs. 5600M)​

  • 5300M (4GB): Entry-level, struggles with modern titles at higher settings. Fine for eSports (CS2, Valorant) or older games.
  • 5500M (4GB/8GB): The 8GB VRAM variant is noticeably better for textures/resolution. Expect ~20-30% performance uplift over the 5300M in titles like Fortnite or Cyberpunk (at medium settings). The 4GB model will hit VRAM limits sooner.
  • 5600M (8GB): A significant jump—roughly 40-50% faster than the 5500M. Handles 1440p gaming decently and future-proofs better. Rare and pricey, but worth stretching for if you plan to keep the machine long-term.
Verdict: Prioritise the 5600M if you can find one within budget. If not, the 5500M 8GB is the next best. Avoid the 5300M/5500M 4GB for newer games.

3. RAM for Gaming​

  • 16GB: Adequate for most gaming scenarios in Windows. Modern titles rarely exceed 12-14GB usage, and macOS/Boot Camp memory management is efficient.
  • 32GB/64GB: Overkill for gaming alone, but useful if you’re multitasking (e.g., streaming, having 50 Chrome tabs open). No noticeable FPS gains.
    Verdict: 16GB is fine. Only opt for 32GB+ if you’re doing heavy productivity work or find a deal where the price difference is minimal.

4. Configuration Trade-offs​

  • GPU vs. RAM: A 5600M + 16GB will outperform a 5500M + 32GB in gaming. GPU is the bottleneck here, not RAM.
  • Storage: 512GB is workable, but Windows + modern games (100GB+ each) will eat space quickly. A 1TB SSD is ideal, but external drives can supplement.

Final Thoughts​

  • Target Spec: Aim for an i7/5500M 8GB/16GB combo if prioritising value. If you find a 5600M model near $500, snap it up—it’s the closest to a "gaming-ready" 2019 MBP.
  • Thermal Prep: Even with an i7, consider undervolting (via ThrottleStop in Windows) or basic cooling mods to sustain performance.
  • eBay Caution: Double-check listings—many sellers omit GPU/RAM specs. Ask for About This Mac screenshots to confirm.
The 2019 16" is a solid pick for your use case, especially at those prices. Just temper expectations: it’s not a desktop replacement, but with tweaks, it’ll handle gaming respectably.

Let us know what you end up grabbing! 🎮
Click to expand...
This is precisely the analysis I was hoping for. Really appreciate this!
 
[Original post deleted because I'd suggested getting a used BlackMagic eGPU Pro if your gaming didn't need to be mobile (more power, much better thermals), but then read they're a PITA to get working with Windows/BootCamp, so probably not worth the trouble.]
 
Last edited:
I'll offer some personal experience since I have been using the 2019 mpb in my signature as my main machine for the past 5 years and I'm still happy with it. It's great for work, Photoshop, Lightroom, InDesign and edits 4k/6k footage just fine in DaVinci Resolve. Occasional gaming also was no problem, up to a certain point.

nathan_reilly said:
I would not buy it. If you can adjust to a desktop, i love my 2012 mac pro for windows gaming, and they are cheap. 30 apple cinema is also fantastic if you can find one locally on eBay or fb marketplace.
Click to expand...

I could play titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Horizon Zero Dawn or Plague Tale at decent frame rates on medium settings at 1440p on the mbp, but my 2010 Mac Pro always outperformed the 2019 mbp. Where medium settings were possible on the mbp, the Mac Pro could easily run high settings. Unfortunately newer games, 2024 and onward, require a certain instruction set on the processor to run, so the Mac Pro can not run Horizon Forbidden West for example. I played through Forbidden West on the mbp, some 160 hours of it, but it often lagged and required low settings. It certainly was far from an optimal experience. From that experience I'll estimate that you can forget newer Unreal Engine 5 engine games on the mbp.

So yes, I'm still happy with my 2019 i9 mbp ... but would I buy one now? Most certainy not, especially not for gaming, especially not as a main gaming machine. Sure it's fine for titles from 2023 and older, but it has reached it's boundaries already.

That's why I gave in and got a PS5 last November during Black Week sale. Stellar Blade being PS5 exclusive also helped with that decision.

Apple Silicon Macs have many advantages, but gaming on the Mac has reached a dead end for me. I considered getting or building a dedicated gaming PC, but I don't have the time to maintain it. If I have some time for myself between work and family, I don't want to spend it building and troubleshooting a PC. Plus I can get 3+ consoles for the price of a decent gaming PC. I'll stay with Mac OS for work but switched to the PS5 for gaming. My Mac Pro served my gaming needs exeptionally well for 13 years ... I was kinda sad to let it go. It's now only used for archiving my video projects.
 
chaosbunny said:
I'll offer some personal experience since I have been using the 2019 mpb in my signature as my main machine for the past 5 years and I'm still happy with it. It's great for work, Photoshop, Lightroom, InDesign and edits 4k/6k footage just fine in DaVinci Resolve. Occasional gaming also was no problem, up to a certain point.



I could play titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Horizon Zero Dawn or Plague Tale at decent frame rates on medium settings at 1440p on the mbp, but my 2010 Mac Pro always outperformed the 2019 mbp. Where medium settings were possible on the mbp, the Mac Pro could easily run high settings. Unfortunately newer games, 2024 and onward, require a certain instruction set on the processor to run, so the Mac Pro can not run Horizon Forbidden West for example. I played through Forbidden West on the mbp, some 160 hours of it, but it often lagged and required low settings. It certainly was far from an optimal experience. From that experience I'll estimate that you can forget newer Unreal Engine 5 engine games on the mbp.

So yes, I'm still happy with my 2019 i9 mbp ... but would I buy one now? Most certainy not, especially not for gaming, especially not as a main gaming machine. Sure it's fine for titles from 2023 and older, but it has reached it's boundaries already.

That's why I gave in and got a PS5 last November during Black Week sale. Stellar Blade being PS5 exclusive also helped with that decision.

Apple Silicon Macs have many advantages, but gaming on the Mac has reached a dead end for me. I considered getting or building a dedicated gaming PC, but I don't have the time to maintain it. If I have some time for myself between work and family, I don't want to spend it building and troubleshooting a PC. Plus I can get 3+ consoles for the price of a decent gaming PC. I'll stay with Mac OS for work but switched to the PS5 for gaming. My Mac Pro served my gaming needs exeptionally well for 13 years ... I was kinda sad to let it go. It's now only used for archiving my video projects.
Click to expand...
i hear you, i can’t play the new age of empires on my mac pro…so sad.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back
OSZAR »