M3 Ultra Flexes 80-Core GPU Muscles in Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition with Path Tracing

Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition is finally playable on Mac, but only if you’re packing serious firepower. Thanks to the mighty Apple M3 Ultra with its 80-core GPU, even the visually insane path tracing mode is no longer a PC-exclusive experience. But don’t let that Apple logo fool you-this kind of performance doesn’t come cheap.

Tech enthusiast Max Weinbach recently shared performance figures that are making the rounds: his Mac equipped with the M3 Ultra (80-core GPU, 512GB unified RAM) hit an average of 50.64 FPS at 1440p with all graphics settings maxed out, path tracing enabled, and MetalFX set to auto. The maximum framerate recorded was a smooth 59.99 FPS. Not bad for a game known to chew through GPUs like candy when path tracing is turned on.

But let’s keep it real-this performance is only possible thanks to AMD’s FSR 3.1 Frame Generation, which boosts framerate by interpolating extra frames. Without it, you’d likely be staring at a choppy 20-30 FPS experience, which wouldn’t do justice to the neon-drenched streets of Night City.

Apple clearly knows the limits-CD PROJEKT RED didn’t enable ray tracing or path tracing by default for Macs, likely to spare less capable configurations from meltdown. Even the base M3 Ultra setup (32-core CPU, 60-core GPU, 96GB RAM) starts at $3,999, and a decked-out version like Weinbach’s could easily hit over $6,000.

So yes, the M3 Ultra can technically run Cyberpunk 2077 at its peak, but it’s not a casual gamer’s dream. You’re essentially paying workstation-class prices to play a game that still needs upscaling magic to reach playable framerates. Still, it’s a major step for Apple Silicon and a signal that the gap between Macs and traditional gaming rigs is shrinking-even if only for the 1% who can afford it.

Let’s just hope Apple figures out how to deliver this kind of power without needing to mortgage your house.