DG1949 Posted June 11 Share Posted June 11 Very disappointed that my 4 year old iMac 27" (About $2800.00) is now obsolete thanks to the M1 requirement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCB_BdnMY Posted June 11 Share Posted June 11 Mac's haven't been very compatible with CAD software for pretty much.. forever.. how are you surprised? Mac salesperson: Its not upgradable, will always be a hassle, only compatible with other apple products, but hey.... its white and glossy! Mac userbase: Also that machine is probably still super capable for almost anything except X17, far from "obsolete". Just the usual unwanted $0.02 from a former mac user that's made the switch. Make the switch and never worry about your PC again. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoff_Design Posted June 11 Share Posted June 11 I have a variety of machines and have found that the windows PC has been very good for Architecture and 3D graphics and most studio and video work... but when I am doing an event requiring media and audio, the mac has never failed me. So I am obviously not much help. I feel your pain. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoff_Design Posted June 11 Share Posted June 11 Did we get the down vote from the Mac or the PC? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
para-CAD Posted June 12 Share Posted June 12 I started on Windows in the Army in 1995. I watched a "contractor" burrow into our Army Gold Master windows NT system that was considered secure from the Signal Corps, in seconds. Yep........N[ ]A has back doors. Windows takes user work to keep it maintained. People who like to tinker like Windows and Android. I started to hate computers and mac was a nice change. I could focus on creating the content and not have to also be a computer tech. The intel to Apple silicon switch is a bummer, but computers have a shelf life. As new features are introduced, software is modified to take advantage.....6 years is about right. I still have a 27" 2011 iMac. Works like a champ on most online tasks. I also still have an Alienware Area 51 desktop (WIN 10) for tasks that windows supports with better apps, but my M1 max MBP is a workhorse. I haven't found a need for rendering that people would pay for so I don't get all giddy for PBR. I guess if I was using rendering to actually sell the job then that might be different. All I do is create plans for permit which most jurisdictions want everything in 2D. People are odd. Often it's an ego thing......Ford better than Chevy......Dodge pfft. Everyone should like what they like and use what they want and keep to themselves about what other people choose to like or choose. I hope everyone has a super fabulous day. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gr8trim4u Posted June 12 Share Posted June 12 Hey don't pick on RAM. I love replacing a transmission every 125k!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renerabbitt Posted June 12 Share Posted June 12 16 hours ago, para-CAD said: I started on Windows in the Army in 1995. I watched a "contractor" burrow into our Army Gold Master windows NT system that was considered secure from the Signal Corps, in seconds. Yep........N[ ]A has back doors. Windows takes user work to keep it maintained. People who like to tinker like Windows and Android. Not looking to argue but thought I should mention that this is an old outtake on PC vs Mac. One that I remember well, when Mac was far more secure from cyberbullying and took less to maintain. I have not had a 3rd party antivirus on my machine since 2010, and I have not had a virus that I have needed to scan things for, in fact I've had to do no maintenance on machine whatsoever in terms of it operating smoothly. It runs as smooth as silk with no work on my end. The handshake from an aggregator app on my phone is top tier, I can seamlessly navigate a number of apps from my PC. I do agree that buying an android is typical of those that like modifications and/or more capable cutting edge hardware. After 23 iPhones I will never be going back after purchasing a Oneplus Open...the user experience for me is above and beyond. I do however love my iPad Pro and am on my second version of that...It works brilliantly with Astropad Studio and Luna as a wireless hi def drawing pen tablet as a second monitor to my PC I also think the M4 MAX is a huge leap forward and the laptops with that chip are a sweet machine. I couldn't possibly give up mnemonic keys though...you couldnt pay me enough. To the OP.. I feel your pain, a year after I bought a $4K Surface Book 3 top of the line, Chief introduced PBR and my machine felt worthless 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
para-CAD Posted June 12 Share Posted June 12 You know the old saying......everything before the "but" means nothing... (just kidding.....since written text can sometimes be misunderstood) I used to be able to raytrace by CPU but I can't seem to find that right now. I made a pier block in sketchup and .skp files now import so I brought it over into chief. I'm actually rendering a few things to see how I might create 3D details more. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renerabbitt Posted June 13 Share Posted June 13 38 minutes ago, para-CAD said: You know the old saying......everything before the "but" means nothing... (just kidding.....since written text can sometimes be misunderstood) I used to be able to raytrace by CPU but I can't seem to find that right now. I made a pier block in sketchup and .skp files now import so I brought it over into chief. I'm actually rendering a few things to see how I might create 3D details more. im still holding off on 3d details until we get layer based fill styles and layer based fill style poche fill so that we can automatically annotate 3d details by fill styles and get section cut poche fills that actually mean something for 3d details. I WILL be in Idaho at chief on August with a whole presentation on this 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoff_Design Posted June 13 Share Posted June 13 5 hours ago, para-CAD said: You know the old saying......everything before the "but" means nothing... (just kidding.....since written text can sometimes be misunderstood) I used to be able to raytrace by CPU but I can't seem to find that right now. I made a pier block in sketchup and .skp files now import so I brought it over into chief. I'm actually rendering a few things to see how I might create 3D details more. Good job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisb222 Posted June 13 Share Posted June 13 14 hours ago, para-CAD said: I used to be able to raytrace by CPU but I can't seem to find that right now. Yeah it's gone. From Help: 3D Rendering and Ray Tracing The obsolete CPU Ray Tracing tool has been retired in favor of real-time GPU Ray Tracing. See GPU Ray Tracing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DG1949 Posted June 13 Author Share Posted June 13 Thank you all, gentlemen, for your generous responses and feedback. Had to get it off my chest. I have twin 27" iMacs, 128gb ram, and Universal Control. Hard to let go. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PitMan71 Posted June 13 Share Posted June 13 I am with you bro.... in the same boat. I don't want a PC because it's too much work to maintain them. I just want to turn it on and draw. I will say that PCs have come a long way. I have considered that route, but I believe I am staying with apple. Shane 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael_Gia Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 On 6/11/2025 at 4:30 PM, TCB_BdnMY said: Make the switch and never worry about your PC again. Wow now that's some heavy coolaid drinking right there. Mac has it's problems but have you not been on any Windows forums lately? Microsoft and Apple have both become misguided and deaf to their user base lately. They really should just merge at this point. I hate them both equally. I have both a PC and a Mac. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chele555 Posted Saturday at 02:34 AM Share Posted Saturday at 02:34 AM On 6/11/2025 at 4:16 PM, DG1949 said: Very disappointed that my 4 year old iMac 27" (About $2800.00) is now obsolete thanks to the M1 requirement. I feel disappointed as well. Was hoping X17 would resolve the mac vs PC rendering quality issues, buffering, and all the crashes at a minimum but I have yet to notice any positives yet. Negative actually. Would be nice if Chief was more transparent about the issues and did what Mcneel Rhino did with offering a decade long Beta giving updates while requesting feedback. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HumbleChief Posted 21 hours ago Share Posted 21 hours ago On 6/13/2025 at 7:21 AM, Chrisb222 said: Yeah it's gone. From Help: 3D Rendering and Ray Tracing The obsolete CPU Ray Tracing tool has been retired in favor of real-time GPU Ray Tracing. See GPU Ray Tracing. Did not know this. I don't have GPU Ray Tracing and don't need it for my business. I have X17 and my SSA is due this month but have been using X16 because I just don't like the 'feel' of X17 and the project management tools. I know I can use the legacy tools in X17 but still more comfortable using X16 and the deletion of the CPU raytracing tool will ensure I stick with X16 for a while longer as it has all the tools I need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisb222 Posted 21 hours ago Share Posted 21 hours ago 11 minutes ago, HumbleChief said: Did not know this. I don't have GPU Ray Tracing and don't need it for my business. I have X17 and my SSA is due this month but have been using X16 because I just don't like the 'feel' of X17 and the project management tools. I know I can use the legacy tools in X17 but still more comfortable using X16 and the deletion of the CPU raytracing tool will ensure I stick with X16 for a while longer as it has all the tools I need. Same here. I can't imagine why it would just be axed, unless something about the new version made it too difficult to continue with it. Maybe add you support to the Suggestion thread I posted... https://chieftalk.chiefarchitect.com/topic/46318-please-restore-cpu-ray-tracing/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBCooper Posted 20 hours ago Share Posted 20 hours ago Quote Did not know this. I don't have GPU Ray Tracing and don't need it for my business. I have X17 and my SSA is due this month but have been using X16 because I just don't like the 'feel' of X17 and the project management tools. I know I can use the legacy tools in X17 but still more comfortable using X16 and the deletion of the CPU raytracing tool will ensure I stick with X16 for a while longer as it has all the tools I need. Larry, you might try working with X17 with the new project management system turned off for a while and see how it goes. I have found that it basically works just like X16 (as far as file management is concerned) and you can then take advantage of the new features without being forced to work any differently. Just curious how come you don't need the GPU raytracing for your business but you still need the CPU raytracing? I have a pretty good video card and love how fast the GPU raytracing is so I guess I am in a different boat. I never really got into the CPU raytracing because I never had the patience to wait hours for an image just to realize that it wasn't quite right for some reason and then had to start over. What used to take hours now takes seconds so I end up using the GPU raytracing much more often now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HumbleChief Posted 20 hours ago Share Posted 20 hours ago 16 minutes ago, DBCooper said: Larry, you might try working with X17 with the new project management system turned off for a while and see how it goes. I have found that it basically works just like X16 (as far as file management is concerned) and you can then take advantage of the new features without being forced to work any differently. Just curious how come you don't need the GPU raytracing for your business but you still need the CPU raytracing? I have a pretty good video card and love how fast the GPU raytracing is so I guess I am in a different boat. I never really got into the CPU raytracing because I never had the patience to wait hours for an image just to realize that it wasn't quite right for some reason and then had to start over. What used to take hours now takes seconds so I end up using the GPU raytracing much more often now. Thanks DB and Yes will probably use X17 in legacy mode when I complete a couple jobs started in Project management mode and decide to use it full time and the 'new features' in X17 are in no way a compelling reason for me to use X17. My business requires very little Ray Tracing use overall as the standard views serve my purposes in most cases (and the YouTube Videos I produce for my clients) and the very occasional need that I have for a Ray Trace the CPU Ray Trace, which doesn't take hours for an image, works just fine for my business. I also have an older system and monitors that may or may not be compatible with a new graphics card and I can't justify the cost and complexity for something I really don't need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRAWZILLA Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago 18 minutes ago, HumbleChief said: Thanks DB and Yes will probably use X17 in legacy mode when I complete a couple jobs started in Project management mode and decide to use it full time and the 'new features' in X17 are in no way a compelling reason for me to use X17. My business requires very little Ray Tracing use overall as the standard views serve my purposes in most cases (and the YouTube Videos I produce for my clients) and the very occasional need that I have for a Ray Trace the CPU Ray Trace, which doesn't take hours for an image, works just fine for my business. I also have an older system and monitors that may or may not be compatible with a new graphics card and I can't justify the cost and complexity for something I really don't need. Larry, I don't use project management and x17 is good for me, it does have other good stuff too. Just remember if you don't pay your SSA legacy ,you will have to pay full price from now on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HumbleChief Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago 11 minutes ago, DRAWZILLA said: Larry, I don't use project management and x17 is good for me, it does have other good stuff too. Just remember if you don't pay your SSA legacy ,you will have to pay full price from now on. Thanks P and am planning to keep my SSA up to date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now