A Windows server workload is a program or app that a server processes when it runs. The size of the workload determines how many computer resources are necessary to run it. On a Mac, the WindowServer process handles all graphical output to your screen. When the load is high it can cause lag and affect your gaming performance. You can take various measures to adjust the load and make your gaming more seamless.
Close unused apps
When you’re using an app on your Mac computer, WindowServer enables you to view it dynamically. If you’re experiencing lag while playing games, it will help to close the apps you don’t use. This applies particularly to those with active graphical interfaces like messaging apps or video players. You can use the Task Manager in Windows to find a memory-intensive Windows application. On a Mac, the Activity Monitor is where you see memory and central processing unit (CPU) usage.
What is WindowServer on Mac? If you open up the Activity Monitor you will notice something called WindowServer. The Mac WindowServer process renders what you see on your screen. This includes application windows, icons, and websites. The more Windows you have open, the more CPU resources the process requires. This can slow down your computer. Besides closing unused apps it may help to reboot your Mac to reduce WindowServer Mac CPU usage. You can also improve performance if you declutter your desktop and clear your web browser’s cache and cookies.
Optimize display settings
You don’t have to be stuck with your default settings. You can adjust them to reduce their resource demands. For example, you can go to System Settings>Displays and select a lower resolution. This helps to reduce WindowServer load. It is also possible to reduce the complexity of animations, graphics, and effects in applications. These all involve visual elements that increase CPU usage.
Disconnect external monitors
● External monitors can increase rendering load.
● Disconnect any external monitors you don’t need for gaming.
● For high refresh rate monitors, ensure the refresh rate matches the needs of the game. A lower refresh rate will reduce the rendering load.
Reduce transparency effects
Transparent effects use more RAM and CPU to offer better visuals. This slows down your Mac.
You can reduce the transparency effects to speed up OS processing.
● Go to the Apple Menu and choose System Preferences.
● Navigate to the Accessibility section and Open Display.
● Enable the Reduce Transparency box.
Disable spaces rearrangement
If you have Spaces enabled, it helps to disable automatic rearranging.
● Go to Apple Menu and choose System Preferences.
● Navigate to Mission Control.
● Disable the ‘Automatically rearrange Spaces based on the most recent use’ setting.
Keep Mac OS and apps updated
When playing games, part of game server administration involves updating hardware and software. Updating hardware and installing newer versions of apps reduce WindowServer Mac CPU usage.
Updating your hardware and apps means you can benefit from bug fixes, new features, and other improvements that optimize performance. You can update apps from the Apple Store by clicking on your profile and the Update icon next to the app. Updating games to the latest versions also offers better compatibility and performance.
Upgrade hardware or optimize Mac for gaming
If your Mac supports upgrades, you can add more random access memory (RAM). You can also replace your hard drive with a faster SSD (solid state drive). Consider upgrading your CPU, graphics processing unit (GPU), or installing a cooling system.
It is important to keep your Mac cool during gaming. If it overheats, it can throttle GPU performance and increase strain on WindowServer, something which will interrupt the gaming process and leave you frustrated.
Other tips for seamless gaming
Using a virtual private network (VPN) for online gaming can reduce lag and latency. It optimizes your connection by routing it through servers closer to the gaming server. This reduces the distance data has to travel. Backing up VPS files ensures that you can restore data in case of a system failure, a security breach, or data loss.
When playing games, competition for resources can lead to lag and other performance issues. If you want to know how to improve server performance, use dedicated game servers. Dedicated game servers are private servers that exclusively host a single video game. This is a good option if you want a stable, high performance gaming experience.
Conclusion
When the graphics rendering process on Mac is more complex, it can affect your gaming performance. Adjusting the WindowsServer load can reduce CPU usage. There are many ways to do this such as closing unused apps and optimizing display settings. You can also reduce desktop clutter as WindowsServer renders each icon individually. These adjustments will also improve the overall responsiveness of your Mac during resource-intensive tasks.