G4 vs. G5: Part 2

[David Maudlin]

Folks:

This is a follow up to the comparison I posted to ArchiTalk about a month ago, testing a G4 vs. a G5. These results add a new test using the G5 with Panther (OS X.3) and ArchiCAD 8.1. The full description of the test methods can be found at:
http://www.davidmaudlin.com/ArchiCAD/DigitalArchitecture/Extra/Speed/Speed.html

The machines and software are:
G4 Dual 1GHz/768 meg ram/OSX10.2.6/ATI 9000 Radeon Pro w/ 64 Meg/AC8.0.0v3+ USA
G5/8.0: G5 Dual 2GHz/1.5 gig ram/OSX10.2.7(G5)/ATI 9600 Radeon Pro w/ 64 Meg/AC8.0.0v3+ USA
G5/8.1: G5 Dual 2GHz/1.5 gig ram/OSX10.3(7B85)/ATI 9600 Radeon Pro w/ 64 Meg/AC8.1.0v1 USA
They all have more than 40 gigs of free hard drive space, and were attached to the same Apple 22" Cinema Display.

G4 - G5/X.2/8.0 - G5/X.3/8.1
1. BOOT UP COMPUTER
Push power button to appearance of desk top
1:17 - 1:08 - 0:47

2. LAUNCH ARCHICAD
Click on dock icon to appearance of file selection dialog box
0:16 - 0:05 - 0:03

3. QUIT ARCHICAD
Click on "Quit" button of file selection dialog box to disappearance of black arrow on dock icon
0:11 - 0:05 - 0:03

4. LAUNCH PROJECT
Drag file to dock icon to file being opened (includes launching ArchiCAD and loading libraries)
0:37 - 0:21 - 0:21

5. OPEN SECTION (Model)
Open section/elevation to model appearing in window
0:11 - 0:10 - 0:06

6. REGENERATE SECTION (Model)
Regenerating section/elevation to revised model appearing in window
0:05 - 0:04 - 0:03

7. GENERATE HIDDEN LINE PERSPECTIVE
Open 3D window and generate perspective
0:10 - 0:07 - 0:04

8. GENERATE PHOTORENDERING
Generate PhotoRendering
6:45 - 3:01 - 2:58

9. OPEN GL
Move in 3D window with Open GL enabled
0:30 - 0:17 - 0:13

10. PUBLISH
Publish a set of pmk files to hard disk
0:30 - 0:19 - 0:19

11. QUIT ARCHICAD
Select ArchiCAD>Quit ArchiCAD to disappearance of black arrow on dock icon
0:15 - 0:08 - 0:09

Some improvements, but not across the board. We still have ArchiCAD 8.2 to look forward to (March 04 ? with Apple recommended improvements). ArchiCAD 8.1 and Panther overall feel very responsive on the newest configuration.

For what it is worth.

David Maudlin

[Anonymous]

Thanks for posting those times, makes for interesting reading, Im hope to be able to place order for a dual 1.8G5 soon.

David Said "We still have ArchiCAD 8.2 to look forward to (March 04 ? with Apple recommended improvements)."

Not sure 8.2 will happen, I think version 8.1 is version 7's silver bullet(box). Lets hope there is more optimization for G5s and Dual proccessors in version 9 (Dec 04?)

Perhaps someone could start up an ArchiCAD rumours site, a bit like macrumors .com. Voulnteers anyone?

[JCovarrubias]

G5 is the way to go it seems!

additionally - 8.2 is specifically being developed for speed improvements on Mac OS X..

(this is unofficial info, but not a rumour from GS US)

[Anonymous]

My local reseller of ArchiCAD, guaranteed me that the Graphisoft has at this moment 7 seniors programmers working in the improvement of ArchiCAD 8.1 performance in the Mac OS X. If they (GS) gone a call it 8.2, I don´t know.

[David Pacifico]

I think to compare the G4 to G5, that you need to see how the G4 runs with 8.1 with the same RAM. David, I don't mean to make work for you, but the G4 may look better than you think. 1Ghz vs 2Ghz the G5 should show that ratio of improvment.

[Rick Thompson]

David wrote:
I think to compare the G4 to G5, that you need to see how the G4 runs with 8.1 with the same RAM. David, I don't mean to make work for you, but the G4 may look better than you think. 1Ghz vs 2Ghz the G5 should show that ratio of improvment.

I was using 8.1 on a G4/800 with 1 gig ram. My dual G5 with 1.5 gi ram reduced the same rendering (sketch) from 12 min to 1 min 40 sec. Not exact, but clearly a hugh increase....for what it might be worth.