Does a better graphic card (i.e. external graphic card unit) speed up the Archicad software?

[2raarchitecture]

I am looking at the Sonnet Radeon RX 5500XT eGPU Breakaway Puck from B&h...

[Laszlo Nagy]

Only those parts that rely on the graphics card:

https://community.graphisoft.com/t5/Setup-License-articles/Recommended-Graphics-Cards-for-Archicad-2...

Unfortunately, that article currently does not contain performance information about eGPUs (it says it is coming...)

[Karl Ottenstein]

@2raarchitecture Everything I've read says that you can NOT use an eGPU with an M1 Mac - not supported.  So, any question of improvement is moot (assuming your signature accurately reflects the Mac that you're asking about).

[2raarchitecture]

Karl, and Lazlo, thank you! I am thinking that the reason the file is slow mostly relates to libraries. I can do work very swiftly with my set up otherwise. Sonnet shows this, but I have to confess my ignorance. I am not sure if it will work. I appreciate your feedback

 

[Laszlo Nagy]

I can not be of any further help in this, I have no Mac and no eGPU.

It would be best if you could try it out, maybe go to a place where they sell Macs and have them let you install Archicad on a M1 Mac with eGPU and see the performance for yourself.

[Karl Ottenstein]

You'll notice it does not say M1 Mac... as this device was built before the new Macs arrived.  You can Google and see that all reports say that the new M1 Macs are a closed system and no eGPU will work with them.  The Sonnet device will work with an Intel Mac.

[Karl Ottenstein]

M1 Macs cannot use eGPUs, Laszlo. 🙂

[Laszlo Nagy]

See, that's how much I don't know M1 Macs. 🙂

[2raarchitecture]

If an EGPU is not useable with M1, is there a way to boost its productivity. Witness alert, my Mac Mini is working awesome so far.