ArchiCad on 2018 MacBook Pro i9

[yma2010]

I was wondering if anyone is using AC on the new MacBook Pro with the i9 processor and if there are any observable benefits to it. Or, even Windows users if they have seen any benefit to the i9 processor.

[Anonymous]

I would be interested as well and does it take more advantage of the new acceleration in archicad 22?

[Anonymous]

Also interested in knowing whether it's better to upgrade to i9 or get an eGPU to benefit fully from ArchiCad 22. Anybody has actual experience?

[Anonymous]

We run ARCHICAD 22 on our iMac Pro (3.2GHz 8 Core Xeon with 64GB RAM and 2TB solid state drive). It works fast when running under macOS and we see no degradation in speed when we run it under Window 10 using Boot Camp. The only noticeable difference is that Windows 10 graphic rendering of text and other graphic items is n nowhere near as clear or as easy on the mark 1 human eyeball as when ARCHICAD 22 runs under macOS.

We also have a MacBook Pro (early 2017) so its processor is a lot slower but ARCHICAD 22 still works fine.

Phil Allsopp
KAMBRIO - development-finance-human habitat
iMac Pro
3.2GHz 8 Core Xeon
64GB RAM
2TB solid state drive
12 TB G-Drive RAID unit

[Eduardo Rolon]

eGPU will not help with AC

[Gerald Hoffman]

yma2010 wrote:
I was wondering if anyone is using AC on the new MacBook Pro with the i9 processor and if there are any observable benefits to it. Or, even Windows users if they have seen any benefit to the i9 processor.

I am now using my new MacBook Pro with the i9 processor. I was on a 17" late 2011 model before this so the difference is noticeable. I was waiting for the 32 GB of RAM to update which is at least as important as the processor. I also opted to get the Blackmagic eGPU which makes it quite usable with Twinmotion. I use the eGPU most of the time just plugged into the MacBook which charges it at the same time and gives the MacBook 8 GB of GPU.

So far no problems with AC 22.

Cheers,

[Anonymous]

Archicad works fine with the BlackMagic?. I mean, does Archicad use and load the work actually to the eGPU?
Thanks in advanced for the answer. I really want a new setup as yours but I was not sure if it works
Regards

[Gerald Hoffman]

ArchiCad does work with Blackmagic. If you are using it with the MacBook you have to change a small setting to make ArchiCad prefer the external GPU. I had to do this for Twinmotion as well. There is a GPU history you can monitor in the Activity app.

I did notice though on the GPU monitor it seems to use both the eGPU and the internal Radeon Pro 560X at the same time. I am not sure why it does this or if it makes the performance better or worse.

You only have to do this if you are running it on the MacBook. If you use an external display it will switch to the eGPU automatically if you use the MacBook in clamshell mode.

Cheers,

[Daniel Kovacs]

Hi,

Let me just link our Recommended Graphics Cards for ARCHICAD 22 article here. It has a section called "External graphics processor in macOS", which is about our experiences with eGPUs on macOS so far (in regards of using ARCHICAD of course).

Generally it shows benefits when you only have an integrated graphics chip in your MacBook, but if you also have a dedicated chip, our experience is that the eGPU won't provide that much of a boost in ARCHICAD. We are still testing these solutions to see if this is a hardware/ARCHICAD limitation, or if we can improve ARCHICAD's compatibility with eGPUs in the future.

We will post our findings in the article above as we progress, but please let us know about your experiences in this Topic! Real-life usage is always the best "benchmark".

Regards,

[Anonymous]

Thanks. All I want to hear

Cheers,

[Anonymous]

Useful discussion...

I use a 15 inch 2.9GHz i9
Mem - 16GB 2400Mhz DDR4
Redeon Pro 560x

I am finding it unbelievably slow... in clamshell mode with two monitors.

The zoom in and out function is on its knees... so frustrating.

I was considering the Black Magic box of tricks. Do you think this will help?

Cheers

Ben

[Anonymous]

Ben,
i9 MacBook Pro has serious thermal issues (google it) running in clamshell mode would just accelerate thermal throttling

Sorry I don’t think things will get better
Scott

[Gerald Hoffman]

I don't use my laptop in clamshell most of the time and haven't experienced any throttling after Apple applied the fix soon after release of the 2108 model.

A new updated MacBook Pro has just been released with updated Radeon Vega graphics. Early reports indicate from 30-60% speed bump over the 560X that I have. This was just 3 -4 months after the 2018 update so I am a little upset given that Apple had to have been working on this all along.

Cheers,

[Ben Cohen]

I had a bad run with my Macbook pro i9. ArchiCAD was running well but the machine would get hot. After 7 weeks the right hand USB-C port stopped working.. Apple gave me the option to replace the machine or I could get a refund. I asked for complimentary Applecare to cover me if this happened in the future (thinking this design could not handle the i9 - thermally) They would only give me complimentary apple care on an i7...
Needless to say I took the refund.
I am now back to my old 2015 Macbook pro. Its a bit slower but it has 2 x USB-A ports - HDMI, SD slot, 2xThunderbolt ports, Mag safe and an escape key... plus I am 7k richer...
I really think Apple has lost its way with pro users. They need to remove the POS touchbar, increase the thickness to improve the cooling and then drop the price 1k before I buy again.

[Anonymous]

Ben,
I am of the same opinion, have been using Macs since the Macplus but would not buy one today.
Scott

[cagarruta]

Phil wrote:
We run ARCHICAD 22 on our iMac Pro (3.2GHz 8 Core Xeon with 64GB RAM and 2TB solid state drive). It works fast when running under macOS and we see no degradation in speed when we run it under Window 10 using Boot Camp. The only noticeable difference is that Windows 10 graphic rendering of text and other graphic items is n nowhere near as clear or as easy on the mark 1 human eyeball as when ARCHICAD 22 runs under macOS.

We also have a MacBook Pro (early 2017) so its processor is a lot slower but ARCHICAD 22 still works fine.

Phil Allsopp
KAMBRIO - development-finance-human habitat
iMac Pro
3.2GHz 8 Core Xeon
64GB RAM
2TB solid state drive
12 TB G-Drive RAID unit

Hello Phill, what file/Project size you ussually make small, medium or large?

Its important to know The performance, thanks,
JCG

[aahatimo]

I am getting ready to buy a 2018 MBP with 32 GB ram but will go with the I7 2.6 processor not I9 due to the heat issues reported for the I9 (and save $300). The reported performance is fairly close w the I7.
My question is regarding the $350 Radeon Pro Vega 20 graphics card option over the stock Pro 560 and if there is a noticeable performance gain with ArchiCad 22?
Of course I could wait for the possible 16.5” 2019 model but I’m using a 7 year old MBP now. It still does a good job with ArchiCad, pretty amazing!
Is anyone using a similar equipped MBP?
Thanks!

[Erwin Edel]

I've allways 'maxed out' the GPU in my iMacs and this I feel helped with keeping them capable of running the software I'm using on it for years.

I do feel like Apple is putting stock GPU in their machines that struggle to handle the pixels of their 4k/5k screens, so for me that would be another reason to get the 'best' they have on offer.

That said, I don't think ArchiCAD is very taxing on the GPU.

My main work machine is a pretty old HP Workstation that still seems capable of handling ArchiCAD22 just fine with its Nvidia Quatro GPU from way back when, but that is running two HD screens.

[aahatimo]

Erwin,
Generally my approach also. I now have a new MBP 2.6 ghz 6 core I7, 32 gb ram, 512gb ssd and the Pro Vega 20. Finally found one on Apple's refurbished site for $3k, saved $550. Love it, thanks! Now I am waiting for more options for a 5k monitor and may retire my 2015 retina 5k loaded 27" iMac.
Tim

[Ben Cohen]

Ben wrote:
I really think Apple has lost its way with pro users. They need to remove the POS touchbar, increase the thickness to improve the cooling and then drop the price 1k before I buy again.

WOW!! Nailed it. They modified the touchbar to include an Escape key, increased the thickness and re-designed the cooling, Plus they dropped the price over 1k - for the same specs as last year!!

I think we may have an Apple executive trolling the forums