

I wanted to focus on two aspects to see if the M1 could meet the minimum hardware requirements for Enscape (if that program ever comes to Mac) and meet the minimum specifications for standard VR headsets. The next most important thing to focus on is the M1’s GPU performance because today’s BIM solutions are more dovetailed with leading photo-realistic and interactive rendering programs.
IMAC PRO VS IMAC 2017 SERIES
However, its single-core performance-thanks to Apple’s Firestorm cores-is quite astounding, besting AMD’s Ryzen 5000 series top-flight chip on Geekbench 5 scores. The M1 delivers very respectable multi-core performance, as we will see below. This is not to disregard multi-core processing. It should help out in basic operations such as transformations, tessellation, projection of geometry entities in Vectorworks, as well as inside the Parasolid modeling kernel. For example, when speaking of Rhino, they say, “because modeling is its primary function, Rhino is a frequency-bound application, a key factor to consider when determining your Rhino 3D hardware requirements.”įP performance is important to both 2D and 3D Vectorworks. That is why the workstation folks over at BOXX aim architecture and engineering customers to high-frequency hardware solutions.

To back that “yes” up, I want to note that single-core performance is of the highest importance in the CAD world, particularly in AEC.

But could a sub-1000 dollar machine really be a serviceable CAD/3D machine for professionals? After many benchmarks and real-world app tests (under Rosetta 2.0 no less), the short answer is “yes!” Introduction: Tests and Machines
IMAC PRO VS IMAC 2017 SOFTWARE
And I had heard stunning praise from CAD industry software developers. I already knew Apple Silicon was a possible game-changer.

IMAC PRO VS IMAC 2017 MAC
Now, less than a year later, Apple has come out with a chip (M1) that delivers a stunning performance of its own, and at least by one benchmark is the new reigning single-core performance champion.īut just how powerful is the M1 as compared to rival hardware options out there? And how well might this chip perform in CAD and 3D application environments? These were the questions I sought to answer ever since Architosh obtained a new (late 2020) Mac mini with an M1 processor. The MP is a deprecated machine, on its way out, and maybe you could get one cheap, although they seem to remain overpriced new.īut why a new Mac? why not use the MBP? or even trade up to a newer, faster MBP and just lose the old 21"? Yeah, a MP would be faster than your 21", but not a good value at all.IT WASN’T THAT LONG AGO THAT AMD stole Intel’s single-core performance crown with its Zen 3 chip architecture in the new Ryzen 5000 series CPUs. I wouldn't ever wanna go back to a 2.5k monitor after using a modern iPhone, retina MBP, etc. I dunno what monitor you have and what MBP, but using an old low resolution monitor, even if better with color, as the only monitor for a computer might be a less than pleasing experience. The Mac Pro is spec'd with 3.7 GHz Intel Xeon E5 Quad-Core and Dual AMD FirePro D300 GPUs (2 x 2GB) I'm not super spec tech knowledgeable but how would that compare to a 2017 iMac? (3.4GHz (3.8 Boost) quad-core 7th-generation Intel Core i5 processor and Radeon Pro 570 with 4GB video memory) They both go for roughly the same amount so thats not a major deciding factor to me. I don't really have the desk space for a 27 inch iMac + my current external monitor, but I didn't know if the 2017 would be a better performer than the 2013. I'm leaning toward a Mac Pro since it doesn't have a built in monitor and can use my 27 inch external monitor which will also be used by my MBP. I'm looking to replace my current desktop computer (21in Mid-2010 iMac).
