BEST INVESTMENT ON M SERIES SYSTEM. M2 ULTRA, M3 MAX OR WAIT FOR M4`S? FOR ARCHITECT & DESIGNER.

[RICARDO OLVERA ARELLANO]

Hello, Im new here. 

 

I run VW24 on intel iMac 27 in (Core i7, 128GB RAM, 16GB video). I get a lot of crashes with VW on simple things. 

I run also VW24 on MBP M1 16 RAM, for simple things works well, but not on BIM Models or renderings. 

 

Currently im migrating from AutoCAD, SKETCH UP AND & Keynote workflow to Vectorworks, but seems difficult to keep going with my limitations on hardware. 

This summer Im focus on learning and stretching a purchase decision weather:

a) Buying a M2 ULTRA Studio 1TB, 64 RAM for $2,500 USD. (Refurbished). 

b) Buying a M3 PRO MAX. 64 RAM, 16 inches, for $5,500 USD. 

c) Waiting until M4 PRO MAX, 48- 64 RAM. 

 

I work Architecture projects, migrating from 2D to BIM. This is my main goal to use the machine for. 

Secondly I work concept and production design for events, I do from basic 3d to conceptual renderings using keynote, Live 3D HOME PRO, Pixelmator pro and more.

 

I wonder, what would it be best for my workflow regarding and upgrade to my computers? 

The iMac, I would not sell. Works great for admin and creative tasks. 

The M1 Pro, I could, but I find good for my mobile work. Im open to sell to trade for the next. 

 

I feel limited on VW24 on my equipments, but also discomforted on how M series systems aged.  What would you recommend as a good investment for what I do? Thank you!

 

ROA

[Jeff Prince]

5 hours ago, RICARDO OLVERA ARELLANO said:

I run VW24 on intel iMac 27 in (Core i7, 128GB RAM, 16GB video). I get a lot of crashes with VW on simple things. 

I run a similar setup (72GGB Ram/8GB vram) and make extremely large BIM and topographical models with very advanced use of tools, worksheets, and data visualizations.   I do this without issue.  Your hardware should be more than enough for almost any project you would try in Vectorworks, some else is wrong.  You should try to open one of the VWX university BIM projects for testing your computer.  It should easily navigate the museum project and perform various reporting tasks.

 

I suspect you may be using the latest MacOS, that could be a problem.  I advise all of my clients to stay one release behind on MacOS and Vectorworks for the ultimate in reliability and performance.  I do my important modeling work in 2023 still.

 

These M series chips seem to need the same approach because each time they introduce a new chip, incompatibilities happen, do like you would never believe.  Like when the M2 came out, it introduced errors into communicating with our network storage necessitating rebuilding an entire 5 drive RAID array.  If you go bleeding edge, expect to be cut.

 

Your old iMac should serves you for at least another 4 years unless VWX/MacOS removes intel support.

[zoomer]

I agree with Jeff.

 

The iMac with 128 GB RAM and 16 GB VRAM should be very capable for VW and BIM.

Just the i7 may no more be the best in single core performance.

 

 

Not sure why it crashes.

 

1 hour ago, Jeff Prince said:

I suspect you may be using the latest MacOS

 

Maybe Apple does no more put much love for Intel in current macOS.

Or maybe he does not use the latest macOS, but an older one that is no more supported by VW 2024 ?

 

 

7 hours ago, RICARDO OLVERA ARELLANO said:

c) Waiting until M4 PRO MAX, 48- 64 RAM. 

 

That is what I do.

Basically since 2012 ....

 

I would feel bad if I had to by a M2 Ultra now,

just another interims machine.

Like my 16 GB M1 Mini, that extended its expected use time frame already by 2.5+ years ...

 

 

[line-weight]

32 minutes ago, zoomer said:

Like my 16 GB M1 Mini, that extended its expected use time frame already by 2.5+ years ...

 

My 16GB M1 Mini continues to work (with 3 monitors) just fine, for the most part!

 

 

Edited July 17 by line-weight

[zoomer]

If it would have been available with 32 or better 64 GB I could easily

use it for another 2-3 years 🙂

Speed isn't such a problem but the models should fit in.

I get so often brownish memory curve in activity monitor and the Mini

starts to lag.

 

 

[RICARDO OLVERA ARELLANO]

Thank you gentlemen! I had troubles updating from SP3 (I did not realize it did not updated properly), so I had to reinstall with the SP6. I se major improvements when manipulating the sample projects that @Jeff Princerecommend. Thank you Jeff. 

 

When rendering with red shift the CPU usage went to 100% (vector works and safari only) with temperature of 71º Celsius (159.8 ºF). 

 

Thank you!

 

[E|FA]

Safari can be a memory hog especially if you have a lot of tabs open (Chrome, too).  I’ve had to change my browser habits to kerp that under control. 

[zoomer]

On 7/20/2024 at 6:28 PM, E|FA said:

Safari can be a memory hog

 

Yes, while football EM, official UEFA site needed 2 GB !?

But that shouldn't be a problem, as when in background it will be swapped on SSD.

The problem only really begins if you have a single App, like VW, that needs a large

amount of memory as a single bunch, which that is not available in memory.

Then it will terribly lag. Much harder than just bringing a 2 GB Safari Tab back from

SSD swap foreground again.

 

Typical users that do web surfing, office, image editing and such things, can work

fine on their M1 8 GB MBA, although they basically would need 256 GB.

Just when they would need to open a single Safari Tab asking for 10 GB,

they would get into trouble.

[E|FA]

2 hours ago, zoomer said:

But that shouldn't be a problem, as when in background it will be swapped on SSD

In theory...  When I stopped keeping tons of Safari tabs open I noticed fewer slowdowns in VW.  It might be a placebo effect, SSD memory swap time, or something else.