New MBP for Archicad and Rendering?

Hi,
This is my first post as I'm planning to switch to Mac in a few days.
I am finishing my Architecture studies in Barcelona and i am also a photographer an Construction Engineer.
I actually use a HP mobile workstation 8510w with the following specs:
CPU T8100@2,10GHz 4gbRAM (uses 3,0 with Windows XP) and NVIDIA QUADRO FX570M
I use Archicad 13 and Artlantis 3 (rendering) for architecture and Photoshop CS4 for Photos. No games at all.

People keeps telling me than a Mac will perform better than a PC even with similar specs.

Can i expect a big advantage working with the basic new 15" i5 2,4GHz MBP with HDantiglare screen? I think 256Mb for the graphics is a bit low but I cannot afford the 2,6 model. Maybe the 128Mb SSD could be an improvement to consider? (Iuse an external drive anyway).

Sony's F11Z1E shows better specs for the same price:
i7(4n) 1,6GHz 8Gb and same Nvidia GT330 but with 1gb! and a good 16'4" HD antiglare screen....

Please help me decide...
BTW, Iknow an iMac could be a better performer, but i need a notebook (with a calibrated NEC 21").

Thank's a lot for the help for this newbe..

Jaime

 

Surprised that nobody has responded to this, rare for this forum at least.

I don't know much about Architecture Programs and the sort, but I will say that while a Macbook itself will not necessarily run faster than a PC notebook of the same specs, the Mac OSX is likely to "run faster' than any Windows OS. This is simply because (especially vista) windows OS are known to hog up a lot of memory, thus causing your computer to slow down a fair bit (or just seem slower all together, as you'd never know the difference).

The new graphics cards in the MBP (the 256MB one you speak of) aren't great, to be honest, but they are a slight upgrade from the previous model, and unless you are doing some real intense graphic/3D work, it should be sufficient. Most 3D programs split CPU/GPU usage to a certain ratio, so it all depends on what you are running really.

You won't likely notice *much* of a difference between the 1GB and 256MB version of the graphics card either. I would tend to think that would be more in gaming where you'd notice a differnce of being able to have a few more fancy reflectors turned on.

The real question really is between the Operating system... Mac OSX or Windows 7. Specs are likely the same, but note you will pay slightly more for a Mac. Just because of novelty, looks, unique OS and all that jazz.

Hope this helps.

 

Thank's for your reply,

I was hoping someone using a Macbook Pro for architecture could share his experience.

I use my notebook mainly for Archicad (3D GDL objets and 2D drawings) an Photoshop.
But every project i develop has a good part of render images wich i calculate with Artlantis. There is where i find a possible problem.
My Quadro card was considered as some of the best for notebooks when i bought my actual machine. I'm not so sure about this Nvidia GT330 (and low memory)
But maybe i am mistaken and it is not so good for gaming but optimal for rendering....

We'll see if someone could help about that.

Thank's again

Jaime

 

Im not sure how I missed this thread ... My wife is an achitect for a home builder here and subcontracts to do some LARGE projects ( and a journey man cabinet maker ... HARDCORE CAD type user ).... Her MBP 15" and 17" now live in the corner they had one advantage battery life.

for your needs I would say go look at the new HP and Dell workstations with the Qaudro and Fire GL cards.

 

I currently work as an electrical engineer and would like to give my thoughts at least pertaining to my field. I am not that familiar with architecture programs but as far as EE programs go, windows is essentially the only choice. I realize that you can use boot camp but then why pay the premium when you can get a pc with better specifications for a lower price. I currently have an older MB but rely on my PC for anything related to work.

 

my dad used to run archicad 12 on a MBP late 2006 but after switching to a windows desktop he's not looking back to his mac days

his C2Q Q6600 is performin better under WIN7 than on MACOSx in archicad 12 and rendering artlantis 3.5 (it can dualboot to win + macos); additionally he can check his archicad DXF/DWG and IFC exports in autocad 2010 and revit2010 which wasn't as easy on the mac system

he was very surprised by the usability of WIN7 and even switched the MBP to win7 / macos dualboot (still got the calender on macosx) as he is using it only as a DTR for presentations

i'd take a look at newest gen HP and Dell workstations which are great performers and very solid (not as shiny as the MBPs) built because software support for CAD systems is much better on win7

 

I'd just like to add further confrimation:

Dell Precision 6500M or HP Elitebook's are pretty much where you want to start and finish your search. Won't be the sexiest, but won't be ugly either. And the performance you'll get for the money should be significantly better.

Unless you know the apps you need to use can run natively in OSX and unless you expect that you can run OSX for 90% of the time for 90% of your needs...and unless you need battery life more than anything else...you'll want to look elsewhere.

 

Actually I think rendering is one of those rare occasion where the memory on your GPU really matters.


You are going to want to go with the Sony. You are considering the Vaio F so I am assuming you don't need 8 hour battery. And honestly that's pretty much the only thing the MBP has over the Vaio F right now.

It should be about 500 dollars cheaper when configured "similarly", the physical quad cores will help really cut those rendering times, a GPU that hasn't been neutered, a option for full HD resolution screen, nice large desktop space to work with RAW images.

 

Very correct, for instance MANY worksation cards in desktops actually USE up to 4 GB of VRAM

 

Thank's to all of you for your kind help,

Let me add some points before the final decision:

Weight andbattery life is something i would like to upgrade from my actual HP workstation. But i do not want to sacrify roughness.
This machine has proved as a reliable and very heavy duty tool as i carry it with me most of the time. (clients, construction, etc...)
I can almost always find somewhere to plug it, but being able to rely on the battery could be a great improvement (Sony's batt is only a couple of hours).
My everyday software (archicad...) is available (even native) to MacOs (but in my profession we use plenty of different software from time to time).

My actual notebook (see specs above) can manage my rendering work with difficulties. But is able to do. I want a significant improvement . Not a dramatic one.

Is the new MBP an improvement in performance (CPU certainly is, but GPU not so sure) respect my actual machine? And how worse is it compared to the Sony (having in mind that the battery life an MacOs are improvements)?

Thank's again!
Hope to make the decission soon as my deadline for my final project for becoming architect is so cloooossseee,,

 

based on the battery life thread, it looks like you can expect 3.5-4.5 hours of battery life from the MBP, as the software you want to run will engage the discrete GPU, which will hammer the battery life. maybe a little bit more if you turn those apps off when not using them.

will that be enough battery life for you?

 

for your work you will be upgrading the CPU but overall downgrading the GPU as your applications are heavily optimized for workstation cards no amtter if it is OSX or Windows. and Apple does not put out an actual workstation laptop at this time. I know of Mac Pros with FireGL cards and Matrox borrds in use but you will not find them in the MBP soon or if at all

 

I would definitely look at the Elitebooks. Those laptops are great business laptops with excellent support. They get decent battery life. I think Notebookreview tested and got about 5.5 hours. Which is really good considering it's impressive specs.

 

I'd recommend something like Elitebook 8540w with an i7 and an Quadro FX 880m w/ 1GB vRAM. The 15inch macbook is fine for 2D CAD/DCC, but the 880m in the elitebook is the professional version of the 330m and comes with drivers optimized for 3D rendering and has 4x the memory. The biggest weakness of the macbooks is 3D performance, which is what you'll be doing most, so I can't recommend the macbook. Plus the Elitebook is real durable, comes with a default 3 year warranty, all that jazz. Macbooks is more for consumers and 2D art/photo work, with the high gamut screens and small form factor.