The new M1 processor!

SketchUp
#194

“ M1 unifies its high‑bandwidth, low‑latency memory into a single pool within a custom package. As a result, all of the technologies in the SoC can access the same data without copying it between multiple pools of memory . This dramatically improves performance and power efficiency.”

“Apple is using high-bandwidth memory here. The memory is closer to the CPU (and other components), and it’s just faster to access than it would be to access a traditional RAM chip connected to a motherboard via a socket interface.”

“… because all the aspects of the processor can access all of the system memory, there’s no performance hit when the graphics cores need to access something that was previously being accessed by a processor core. On other systems, the data has to be copied from one portion of memory to another—but on the M1, it’s just instantly accessible.”

3 Likes
#195

One of @monospaced quotes makes a key point about memory sharing between CPU and GPU: with Integrated Graphics, only the GPU elements are placed on the same chip with the CPU. The shared RAM is still on separate chips on the motherboard, and in a PC often in sockets.

In Apple Silicon, everything is on the same chip (SoC = “System on a Chip”).

2 Likes
#196

Additionally, the benchmarks speak for themselves. The M1 absolutely destroys any Intel integrated chip in existence. In graphics and processing power, with fewer cores and memory and power usage. So the integrated memory of the M1 is simply superior in every way than intels version. No more explanation necessary beyond the performance increase shown.

1 Like
#197

Here’s an article that goes into a lot of detail about what is different about the M1 chip:

https://debugger.medium.com/why-is-apples-m1-chip-so-fast-3262b158cba2

1 Like
#198

Both my iMac and MacBook Pro went down that I use daily to produce production fitment drawings and production line workflow documents. Both went down. Only M1 available was the base MacBook Pro from Costco. Working against a deadline I sprinted out the door, to my local Costco. Grabbed the machine, came back to work. And within an hour I was up and running and blowing my mind. SketchUp, Layout, and Affinity drawing tools. Fastest workstation I have ever owned. Did I also mention silky smooth flying to do tasks that would have, and did chunk my iMac from a graphics standpoint. For example, needing to fly into a model to make a tricky adjustment while someone is watching over your shoulder. I would hesitate to do that on my other machines. Not this little guy. Fly in. Select, move, push pull, and done. Faster than my bosses MacBook Pro 16" fully loaded laptop. To get this speed I would have spent $5k on a windows laptop. Well maybe not, still might be slow. Spent the summer on Windows 10 running Advanced Steel, Revit, and Inventor. So glad to be back on the best tooling around. SU and Big Sur. Now don’t get me wrong… there are some issues that still need to be worked out with some plugins. Some issues where models exported out of Inventor “apple chunk wheel” bad. But BAM I love this little beast. Looking forward to that 16 MBP M2 in the Summer. :slight_smile: :laughing:

4 Likes
#199

Really ? That’s quite a statement. (Is this Opposite Day or Bizzaro World?) Still wondering how this might affect decisions for rendering, as I was expecting my next computer would need to be a PC.

2 Likes
#200

I am excited to get mine. I ordered the 16gb version so mine wont show till the end of the month.

#201

Mostly I do not need to render. But for kicks and giggles I fired up my Ambient Occlusion Fx and notices a few things. 1. All 8 processors went to 100%. 2. It did not lock up my MacBook, and I could do other things, like read and send and email. In the past this was near impossible. (Late model 2015 fully loaded iMac) 3. Its fast. Fast enough that I am thinking. Oh wow I should do more of this for my bosses.

#202

M1 Mac – Plugin Update.
SKALP

  1. Does not fully work.
  2. Opening SketchUp gives me an error message about SKALP and the plug-in is then disabled.
  3. Sometimes, SketchUp will not re-open after Mac has gone to sleep. I get a dialog about not loading plug-ins.
  4. Seems this is connected to SKALP. I have disabled it for now.
#203

Are you using the 2021 version from a couple of weeks ago?:

http://download.skalp4sketchup.com/downloads/latest/

If you are still using SketchUp 2020, try the updated 2020 RBZ file.

#204

Does the 3D Spacemouse work on the M1? Wacom tablet?

#205

Colin, Yes-- latest 12-22-20.

#206

3D Space Mouse Wireless. Some caveats to get it to work smoothly and reliably. 1. The wireless USB dongle causes unreliable flying inside of SU. If the MacBook goes to sleep. You have to close SU and re-open. Sometimes it just will not work until you re-boot. 2. However. If you plug in your charging USB cord and bypass the wireless dongle then it is dam smooth flying. Upon the laptop going to sleep, it often still works upon waking. If it does stop, closing SU works, with out needing to reboot. This has been my experience.

#207

My corded 3Dconnexion space mouse works fine with SU21 on M1 Mac mini (lowest spec). SU windows on the other hand (‘trays’ for Tags, Components, Outliner and toolsets that I have open on a second monitor) switch between the 2nd and 3rd screen as they feel like it after waking from sleep.

#208

Pretty much the same as SketchUp has always been on the Mac.

3 Likes
#209

There definitely needs to be a better way of managing trays on the Mac side of things. I am wondering if this can be solved with a plugin, or are trays at the SU system level of things.

1 Like
#210

There is a discussion about that, over here:

The 17th post shows an extension being used to control the visibility of extension palettes.

#211

This is native SU UI and unfortunately can’t be fixed by an extension.

#212

Thanks for the info.

#213

Ok this is the M1 Chunk Circle of Death.

How to trigger?

  1. Space Mouse (Flying) to Fast
  2. Space Mouse (Flying) and Clicking to Fast