I need a new machine to run Sketch UP pro 2024 to build Mid size models of buildings with not too much fine detail ( ie I won’t be placing hundreds of sketch up warehouse items in the model like furniture or appliances etc )
I then plan to render model using the free Twin Motion license.
I may use Rhino or another renderer but the 2 above are the Software packages I’d be using predominantly.
Trying to decide whether to buy a new entry level IMac M4
a mid level IMac Mini with M4 pro chip : spec 12-Core CPU, 16-Core GPU, 24GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD Storage ( retailing for 1679 eu )
I’m reading about compatibility issues between Sketch up and New IMac M4 Silicone chip, which I’d like to get because I also hope to do some graphic design / product design .
I’ve used sketch up years ago on a 2011 era Mac and it ran quite well. However concerned that the new Mac will be unusable with Sketch up Pro 2024.
Should I just go for a powerful windows based desktop like a Dell XPS with i7 chip and Nvidia G Force RTX 3060 or higher , or an Acer gaming desktop ?
My budget is about 2000 eu max . Apple Pro or Studio machines are out of my price range
I’d be looking to render a single design to a high quality using TwinMotion within a more basic clay model of a city block for context. Virtual Reality / AI / Ultra High Definition Motion graphics capability would be a bonus but not essential.
between the two, I’d say mini. 24gb ram is a lot better than 16. and twice the storage is also quite useful.
now, that being said…
rendering softwares are not as optimised on macs as on pcs.
I have a 2.7 Ghz i5 with a 3050 rtx and it’s performing A LOT better than my mini M1 on twinmotion. the performances were on par with some high end studio that were 4-5 times the price. plus, I had access to the RTX engine (but they kicked my ass on everything else)
So, the question is, how much of what sort of work are you planning to do ? a rendering per week ? per month ? per day ?
besides sketchup, do you have other softwares you’d like to use ? or games ?
Thanks for the feedback, I had wondered whether i5 was ok and if i7 or i9 was overkill.
I’d be building a sketch up model or slight variations of the same model using new files to the point where im 80-90% happy with it . Then I’d be rendering.
Im not offering 3D rendering / modelling services to the public as such. In that im competing with Others on speed or image quality. I’m not going to be using this new computer in a high speed / pressure work situation where I have clients calling me with “is it ready yet ? We need these renders by tomorrow” kind of a thing . I’m building 3D model of a Design of my own and then going to pitch it to a Developer.
So most of the rendering would be done one model at a time after maybe 3 or 4 weeks of work first just building the 3D model. Rendering in Real time isn’t a huge deal as I’ve made renders before and have a fair idea how things will look when I actually do start the render process.
Thanks , yes I’ve considered a used machine with M2 or M3 chip as I’ve read that these are more compatible with Sketch up 2023 . It’s the new Mac OS Sequoai that seems to be the issue as it comes preinstalled on the new Imac M4s . I’d be reluctant to install previous MacOs on brand new IMac but wondering if that itself would cause any issues - would I be replacing Sequoai or would both MacOs versions be installed with me using the previous 2023 MacOs for Sketch Up 2023 and then maybe upgrading to Sketch Up 2024 once Trimble can bring Sketch Up 2024 up to speed with Apples M4 chip
This is somewhere between extremely difficult and impossible. Mac’s generally cannot be downgraded below what they were shipped with. You could go used or refurbished for some savings, or new M3 still available from Apple don’t forget the different flavors, Max and Ultra.
The real reason for considering an older Machien is not to get and older system, but to get 32 or 64gb of RAM for the same price, which will have a bigger effect on the perceived “speed” as a daily driver than a slightly faster processor with 16gb.
Thanks , didn’t realise that but makes sense suppose .
It’s almost like Apple are moving too fast for some software developers to keep up. I havnt bought a new Apple computer in a long time ( my 2010 Imac lasted til 2018 ) so I expect anything post 2020 would be a big leap forward in my expectations . My 2010 iMac specs I’m not sure but think it had only 4gb Ram maybe 8gb Ram at most . It would have been entry level although there was less choice at the time so it’s like almost as if the old entry level IMacs were better in relative terms to subsequent entry level machines I wonder ?
The power of Marketing etc , everything these days has multiple options
And you’d be right. Everything since 2020 has been Apple silicon and they are a very welcome step forward. You’ll be happy getting one, even though rendering is faster with an nvidia graphics card.
I upgraded to a M3 MacBook Air for email / presentations / etc. and went for the Mac Studio M2 Max with 64gb RAM for SketchUp and VRay and my photography work. Very very happy. And the studio display is wonderful, even coming from a 5k 2019 iMac.
Note that for VRay I do small test renders but send 5k renders with fur, atmosphere, trees, glass, etc to ChaosCloud for finals. But everything is so much quicker on the new machine compared to the 2019 iMac and 2015 MacBook Pro.
Thx but Apple Max / Pro chips beyond my budget and im not after a laptop. If I was I’d go for the Acer Predator as it’s at least 750eu cheaper than an Apple Mac Pro laptop and has i5/i7 or Ryzen 5/7 & Nvidia GForce RTx graphic cards as standard
I’m bit wary to buy a 2nd hand Pro / Business level Apple Machine , as by definition Pro Machines will have been used quite intensively.
Anyone wanna offer feedback on how many More trouble free years I’d get out of a used 2020 Mac M1 Imac ? 2 ? 3? 5? I’m looking for something that will give me 5 years minimum trouble free performance. I know that’s a long time in Computer years
Actually, now that Apple releases Betas of their upcoming operating systems to developers, it is a lot better than it was in the past. I’m using an M4 Mac with Sequoia and haven’t had any problems with Sketchup, printer drivers etc. And I am really liking Sequoia. It seems very stable and has some genuinely useful new interface features.
As others have mentioned the critical thing with buying a new Mac and Sketchup seems to be buying plenty of Ram. Now that the Ram is part of the Apple Silicon chip it is not something that can be upgraded later.
Thanks for comment , is that Sketch Up Pro 2024 you are using on Sequoia that you are using trouble free then ? You see I’d be buying Sketch Up 2024 Pro new also @same time as I would the Imac M4 . It’s that specific combination I refer to.
Regardless of Ram (if 8gb was ok historically then 16gb should be ok for what I intend )
Maybe Im overanalysing it or worrying too much . One reads comments about this software not working so well with this platform etc etc without knowing just how fussy some people are .
I consider myself a well versed Sketch up user. I try to build models using mostly components to keep models efficient. My designs would be very geometric in nature with a lot of repetition / editable components.
Anytime I had issues with Sketch up in past it usually tended to be where I’d bring in some ridiculously over designed Sketch Up warehouse model - like a thoroughly detailed model of a kitchen cooker or a car or a tree with huge no. Of surfaces etc into a House Model which obviously would slow the model when panning / zooming or rendering. I wouldn’t be doing that with my upcoming workflow . Also I learned after a few yrs to distinguish between badly designed models in Sketch Up warehouse with huge no. Of surfaces and simpler models which did the trick.
Most of that is redundant anyway now with Twin Motion used to bring in Trees & other features to bring models to life
I think this is the case. If you worry too much you can never update. I have more than one Mac and I first update the one that is not so critical to work to the new OS and use it for a bit. But Sequoia has been out for a while now and I have all my Macs on it.
Added to that, the Apple Silicon Macs are quite amazing. It feels like we are in a good period with Apple again.
16 absolute min. I would strongly consider 32. You can call me in a few years and thank me. Macs tend to be more expensive and are non user configurable after purchase, but they also tend to keep working well for a very long time in my experience.I generally get 3-4 years which is forever in computer time.
Seeing as they are nearing in on 5 years old already, I would say not much more than 2 before you’re left out of updates and features. Support soon after.
Sketchup runs predominantly on single core and the M4 is hands down the best single core performance computer for the price. If you’re planning to render… that’s different. Rendering leverages everything (multicore, processor speed, Ram, CPU,GPU) so any upgrades are going to help (particularly larger GPU I would buy the second config listed and get a decent 4k monitor to go with it. You don’t need to drop all your coin on a studio display (although that would be very nice) I use a LG 32UN550-W 31.5inch UHD 4K HDR FreeSync VA LED Monitor and it looks great. You should be able to pick one up for about $250. But buy the Mac mini M4 base model and try it out (preferably with 512GB and min 24gb ram. You can always return if it doesnt work for you and upgrade it.
