However, its single-core performance-thanks to Apple’s Firestorm cores-is quite astounding, besting AMD’s Ryzen 5000 series top-flight chip on Geekbench 5 scores.

The M1 delivers very respectable multi-core performance, as we will see below. This is not to disregard multi-core processing. It should help out in basic operations such as transformations, tessellation, projection of geometry entities in Vectorworks, as well as inside the Parasolid modeling kernel. For example, when speaking of Rhino, they say, “because modeling is its primary function, Rhino is a frequency-bound application, a key factor to consider when determining your Rhino 3D hardware requirements.”įP performance is important to both 2D and 3D Vectorworks. That is why the workstation folks over at BOXX aim architecture and engineering customers to high-frequency hardware solutions. To back that “yes” up, I want to note that single-core performance is of the highest importance in the CAD world, particularly in AEC. But could a sub-1000 dollar machine really be a serviceable CAD/3D machine for professionals? After many benchmarks and real-world app tests (under Rosetta 2.0 no less), the short answer is “yes!” Introduction: Tests and Machines And I had heard stunning praise from CAD industry software developers.

I already knew Apple Silicon was a possible game-changer. Now, less than a year later, Apple has come out with a chip (M1) that delivers a stunning performance of its own, and at least by one benchmark is the new reigning single-core performance champion.īut just how powerful is the M1 as compared to rival hardware options out there? And how well might this chip perform in CAD and 3D application environments? These were the questions I sought to answer ever since Architosh obtained a new (late 2020) Mac mini with an M1 processor.

IT WASN’T THAT LONG AGO THAT AMD stole Intel’s single-core performance crown with its Zen 3 chip architecture in the new Ryzen 5000 series CPUs.

Late 2017 mac mini