Benny_G

Hi Renerabbitt, I appreciate very much the time and efforts you invested to provide your answer. Honestly said, you are much more advanced in what you do with video and the workflows than I am. Up to now I haven't done any video and my workflows are pretty short because I do the plan in CA X18, do the PBR and then get the result which is an image into a this tool https://app.myarchitectai.com. This is a tool for which you pay an annual flat rate. I use it without any creativity and do not want that it changes anything to the design I did. My goal is simply that the tool makes the rendering more photo-realistic. I attach two renders to better explain. My clientele today consists of roughly 50% private persons who want to build or reform a house or smaller institutional clients who build multi-family homes which are mostly sold once they are finished. The latest client is now already starting with videos in his marketing activities; but he is the first one. All other clients up to now were happy with the renderings. The question which I may obviously not answer is, if my chances to win more, bigger, more interesting projects if I had e.g. the video capacity. I haven't tried yet. I currently have three offices where I work: in my home in Switzerland, in my office in Switzerland and in my office in Spain. In all three places I have the same setup with two 27" monitors and a CalDigit Thunderbolt mini dock which allows me to connect the macbook pro to the two monitors. If I bought a PC instead of a Mac, which product and configuration would you suggest for such a setup? Thanks a lot for your help. Kind regards Benny

Hi Renerabbitt Your feedback is highly appreciated. It is actually not that easy to predict how much the role of PBR will increase. Currently, I spend roughly 80-90 percent of my time doing 2D plans. The visualizations are mainly used when asking for building permits (quality of the rendering of minor importance) or for sales purposes in institutional investor projects. The latter obviously is very demanding work and top quality of the renderings is regarded as a competitive advantage. I was originally a PC user but when I bought CA X12 I switched to Mac. May I ask you why use PCs' and not Macs' for your work? Benny

Hi Steve-C Since the Mac Studio M5 Max is on the market since roughly one month, what is your plan? I asked AI on google and this was the feedback I got (pretty impressive). Although I asked KI in English language, the answer was in German. I translated the feedback:: mac studio m5 max or m5 ultra for architects rendering? The Mac Studio with the M5 Max is more than sufficient for most architects, whereas the Mac Studio with the M5 Ultra only makes sense for extreme 3D projects, massive textures, or large-scale rendering scenes. Mac Studio M5 Max • Specifications: Up to an 18-core CPU, up to a 40-core GPU with 3rd-generation ray tracing, and support for up to 128 GB of unified memory (depending on the configuration). • Best suited for: • Daily CAD work, BIM modeling (e.g., Archicad, Revit via macOS/cloud, Vectorworks), and live viewports. • Standard 3D rendering (Blender, Cinema 4D, Twinmotion, Enscape) with moderate to high project detail. • Seamless workflows involving large-scale plans, PDFs, and simultaneous use of Photoshop/Illustrator. • Advantage: Offers the best price-to-performance ratio for everyday office tasks. Mac Studio M5 Ultra • Specifications: Up to a 36-core CPU, up to an 80-core GPU, and up to 512 GB of unified memory with a memory bandwidth of 1.2 TB/s. • Best suited for: • Extremely large architectural and urban planning projects that exceed the 128 GB RAM limit (e.g., massive point clouds from laser scans or highly complex, comprehensive models). • Frequent, time-critical GPU rendering (e.g., demanding Blender scenes, where the M5 Ultra can be up to 70–86% faster than the Max). • Advantage: Delivers maximum raw performance and a massive RAM capacity for projects where every second spent waiting in a render queue counts. Recommendation for Architects • Choose the M5 Max: If you work on standard-to-large-scale designs, plans, and typical visualizations. A solid amount of RAM (e.g., 64 GB or 128 GB, if configurable) will ensure you are well-equipped. • Choose the M5 Ultra if you regularly process massive amounts of data (large point clouds, gigantic comprehensive BIM models) or require maximum GPU computing power for demanding 3D engines. If you’d like, the following details would help me make the best recommendation: • Which programs do you primarily use for rendering and drafting (e.g., Enscape, Blender, Archicad, Revit, Twinmotion)? • What is the typical scale of your projects (single-family homes, large-scale developments, point clouds)? Chief Architect Premier X18, single-family and multi-family homes, file size for rendering up to 300 MB For your specific requirements in Chief Architect Premier X18 (single-family and multi-family homes with file sizes of up to 300 MB), the Mac Studio with the M5 Max chip is the perfect choice. Upgrading to the M5 Ultra is neither economically justified nor necessary in terms of performance for your use case. Here is a detailed explanation of why the M5 Max is optimally suited to your workflow: Why the M5 Max is more than sufficient for your needs M5 Max CHF 2,499.00 & other prices Apple & more File size (300 MB): For a Chief Architect project, 300 MB is a typical to substantial size for residential buildings. The M5 Max supports up to 128 GB of unified memory. For a 300 MB model—including all textures and loaded 3D libraries—a configuration with 64 GB or 128 GB of RAM is more than adequate. The data fits entirely into this high-speed memory, ensuring the system does not need to rely on slower, external storage (swapping). M5 Max CHF 2,499.00 & other prices Apple & more Project type (single-family & multi-family homes): Chief Architect is highly optimized for the efficient rendering of residential building components (walls, roofs, stairs). The M5 Max features up to 40 GPU cores, including the latest generation of hardware-accelerated ray tracing. This allows Chief Architect’s computationally intensive rendering modes—such as Physically Based Rendering (PBR) and real-time ray tracing—to run with exceptional fluidity. CPU and single-thread performance When drafting in 2D or automatically generating 3D models and wall elevations, Chief Architect benefits significantly from high single-core clock speeds. The individual performance cores of the M5 Max are identical to those of the M5 Ultra. Consequently, you will not notice any difference in speed when performing tasks like drawing or editing. [1] (https://www.apple.com/chde/newsroom/2026/08/apple-introduces-new-mac-studio-with-m5-max-and-m5-ultra/), [2] (https://www.chiefarchitect.com/), [3] (https://www.facebook.com/groups/UsersofChiefArchitect/posts/10164805237726098/) When would the M5 Ultra actually be necessary? The M5 Ultra essentially doubles the number of CPU and GPU cores (up to 80 GPU cores) and doubles the RAM limit to as much as 512 GB. In Chief Architect, this only provides a tangible benefit for: [1] (https://topix.ch/apple/mac-studio) • Gigantic projects, such as modeling entire city districts or importing massive point clouds (laser scans of sites) where file sizes reach several gigabytes. • Simultaneous rendering using extremely demanding standalone GPU-based renderers (e.g., if you are also continuously processing massive scenes in software like Twinmotion or Blender). [1] (https://chieftalk.chiefarchitect.com/topic/49827-mac-m5-ultra-studio-vs-m5-max-studio-for-x18/) Configuration Recommendation for Your System When ordering your Mac Studio, it is better to invest your budget in RAM rather than upgrading to the Ultra chip: • Processor: M5 Max (18-core CPU, 40-core GPU). • RAM: 64 GB, or ideally 128 GB. Since memory in Apple Silicon systems cannot be upgraded later, 128 GB offers maximum future-proofing for "Version X19" projects or even more complex multi-family housing developments. • Storage: At least 1 TB or 2 TB SSD, as Chief Architect catalogs and project backups consume a significant amount of space. For presentations, do you rely exclusively on Chief Architect’s built-in render engine, or do you sometimes export your models to third-party software such as Twinmotion or Lumion?

Happy to join your discussion. I am thinking too about investing into a Mac Mini M6 or Mac Studio M5 and abound my MacBook Pro. I had some discussions regarding the improvement of the rendering speed in CA with some IT cracks I know, and I visited the local Apple store in Zurich (Switzerland). Unfortunately nobody could give me an answer since CA ist not that widely known in Europe. What I realize when I do renderings for marketing purpose with data-heavy pictures (sometimes 300 MB and more), my MacBook Pro needs very long to perform the physically based rendering (ray trace) rendering. It usually shows 0 pics per second. Any idea how much the speed could improve by utilizing a Mac mini M6 or a Mac studio M5 machine? Helpful insights and comment are highly appreciated. Benny Benny Gasser Mobile: +41/79 749 36 49, benny.gasser@gasser-architects.ch Chief Architect X18, MacBook Pro M1 Max, 1 TB, 64 GB RAM

Hi Teatime, actually, the cause why I have to go to 1'000 might be the difference between the imperial and the metric system. In your world it is inch and foot for the short length, whereas in your hemisphere it is millimeters, centimeters, decimeters and meters. Somewhere in the parametrization this might lead to the different relations. I import the dwg/dxf files from the state (in Switzerland it is canton) and then I do the work in the plan view. The official files just provides me with the plot and the external lines of any building. On this plan I have to add my project. The issue that I did not see any difference between the lines happened here. Once I am done with the plan, I export it to the layout page and send the export page to the city council.

Hi Ken, yes I guess setting the line to a weight of 1'000 solves the issue. Here in Europe is 20 minutes to midnight. Happy to do an online meeting now; if not happy to go to sleep. THANKS A LOT FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Hi TeaTime, I guess you are right. When I zoom in very much, I may see the difference of the line weights. Since the plan I have to send to the city council will consist of large polylines, does this mean that I have to put the line weight to 1'000 that you see the difference of the line weights without zooming in?

Hi Ken You are right. On the design I created it works. I guess this was a misunderstanding from my side since in the various discussions I read, the line weights mentioned were 30 or 50; but never 300. So, increasing the line weight much more, is the solution to the problem. However, on the plan I worked on, it still does not change although I changed the line weight to 300. I have deleted a lot of content to get the file size below 14 MB and attached it to this message. Any idea how to solve this issue? CA_Line Weight Issue Sample Plan_240813.plan.zip

Hi Nestor, I know. Line weights is turned on in preferences. The issue is that even I do a zip of the file, it is 16 MB and the system does not allow me to upload it. Since the problem is always the same, I have done a new plan with a few lines. It is attached to this message. CA_Line Weight Issue Sample Plan_240813.plan

Hi DBCooper, I think you are right. It has to be a more general setup problem, since this actually never worked. Please find a copy of the drawing attached. On the plan you have the neighboring plots and buildings and project. The building filled in light yellow color is existing and the red one is the project. CA_Line Weight Issue_240813.dwg

Good afternoon, Nestor Lineweights are turned on. This does not seem to be the issue.

Good afternoon DBCopper I have seen that you are semi-retired, so thanks a lot for your help. My mother tongue is German and although I would say that my English language command is not bad it is still not my mother tongue. I have read the information in the link that you have sent to me. Unfortunately, there is nothing that I could find which would help me to change the weight of the lines. What honestly bothers me most is that if I change the line color there is no problem but if I try to change the weight of the line, nothing happens. Both characteristics are defined in the polyline specification or in object layer properties. But whatever I do, the color changes, the weight unfortunately doesn't. Sorry for bothering you, but I am really in trouble since the city council is asking me to adjust it.

LINE WEIGHTS NOT CHANGING I have gone through all blogs and discussions but found nothing that would help me. So apologies for another issue with the line weights. When I draw a line or a rectangular or I try to change the line style on imported terrain data I face the following problem: I may change the color of the line from e.g. black to pink and in the case of a rectangular I may also change the fill. But no matter what I do, the line weight is not changing. In preferences/appearance/line weights "show line weights" is on. Any ideas why I may not change the line weight in any design? Your help is much appreciated!

Hi Ryan, This is a full camera view generated out of a floor plan. Kind regards, Benny

Dear all, A few days ago, I started having a problem which is new to me. Before when using CA without turning off my macbook after some weeks it could happen that the camera view tool showed a blurry picture. i turned off the computer in the afternoon and turned it on again and soon after the picture I got was again blurry. Any idea where this comes from and what I may do not having this issue? Thanks a lot. Kind regards Benny Benny Gasser Architect www.gasser-architects.ch Chief Architect Premier X15 on Apple MacBook Pro - 2TB SSD - AMD 5500M - 16GB

Thanks a lot for the help. The solution you suggested worked really well. Benny

Hi Joe, Thanks for your answer. I guess this should not be the case. As you may see on the picture, the roof is actually joined. The problem is however that on one side the two roof surface have a very large open joint and on the other side that the ridge cap is missing.

I am currently planning reform works for a family home. Whereas on the tower's roof the ridge cap is automatically showing, on the main roof, it doesn't. Any idea why this is the case? Benny Gasser Architect benny.gasser@gasser-architects.ch Chief Architect Premier X15 on Apple MacBook Pro - 2TB SSD - AMD 5500M - 16GB

Dear Chief Architect community, I am currently working on a reform of a house from the ninety's. The building has a kind of small tower with a broken arch window on all four sides. Above the window there is a niche an in this niche there is millwork done with the same bricks as the interior and exterior sash of this window. Whether the millwork is in the niche of just the millwork or the niche is not that much important to me. But does somebody have an idea how to create the decorative part above the window? Your help is very much appreciated. Kind regards, Benny Benny Gasser Mobile: +41/79 749 36 49, benny.gasser@gasser-architects.ch Chief Architect X15, MacBookPro, 2 TB, 16 GB RAM

Dear ericepv and Dermot, Sorry for taking so long to reply. I was under pressure with other projects. Thank you very much for the support. I tried the cross section/elevation and this looks good. Kind regards , Benny

Good morning, I seem to have an issue with the display of my back-clipped cross sections. The walls and the floors (see picture below) are just shown with two or more lines. I would like to show these parts with a fill (e.g. the white part in between the two lines in black color too). It should look like the back-clipped cross section in the second picture. Does somebody have an idea, how to do that? Your help is very much appreciated. Kind regards Benny

Ryan and Erick thanks a lot. It worked! I wish you a nice Sunday!

Thanks. If I do this, the system asks me to enter coordinates. Probably the solution might still be to do a room of the stairs.

Thanks a lot Eric. And how do I select the attribute Room Specification for stairs? When I double click on stairs I get always in Stair Specification and not Room Specification. Is there any problem that in my design stairs are just part of the room around but not really defined as a room? I appreciate your support. Kind regards, Benny