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Retina and CAD??

twietee

twietee

macrumors 603
Original poster
Jan 24, 2012
5,300
1,675
Maybe anyone has made some experiences with CAD software running on the rMBP? Just found one youtube vid running AutoCAD and it looked awful..really choppy - but video wasn't really informative either (no specs, used res etc.).

I imagine vector-graphics will look much more beautiful on the screen compared to the other MBPs. Is the tech not capable for that? I can hardly believe that..:confused:


The machine I thought about would be the 2.6 16gb
 
I have no problems running AutoCAD with my retina 2.3GHz and 16Gb memory.

Of course AutoDesk is planning on supporting retina class optimizations in the near future, but as it is now, it is great.
 
Aldaris said:
I have no problems running AutoCAD with my retina 2.3GHz and 16Gb memory.

Of course AutoDesk is planning on supporting retina class optimizations in the near future, but as it is now, it is great.
Click to expand...



Thank's Aldaris, based upon your post I ordered one now...:p
So your vectors/drawings look sharp? That's my only concern right now. And which resolution do you work on normally?
 
Not looking as good as I was expecting it to be but at least with the 2013 sp1 beta it stopped crashing. I suppose you will feel more comfortable with the scaled 1920x1200 res since it gives you more real state. If you want any specific screen just email me and I'll be pleased to help :)
 
do1984 said:
Not looking as good as I was expecting it to be but at least with the 2013 sp1 beta it stopped crashing. I suppose you will feel more comfortable with the scaled 1920x1200 res since it gives you more real state. If you want any specific screen just email me and I'll be pleased to help :)
Click to expand...

Thank's do! You are running AutoCAD? It doesn't look worse than upon a matte MBP screen for example though? 1920x1200 was what I was thinking about yes.

And this "If you want any specific screen just email me and I'll be pleased to help" I don't quite understand. You mean screenshot?
 
I prefer the retina less glossy over the matte, but I suppose that's personal. Yes I'm using Autocad 2013 with the SP1 beta, since the 2013 isn't fully compatible with mountain Lion and tends to crash. It looks OK on the scaled resolution, but not even close to the "best for retina" despite the real state. But I use the cad on a 27 thunderbolt display so it's ok hehe. Yes, screenshots
 
do1984 said:
Not looking as good as I was expecting it to be but at least with the 2013 sp1 beta it stopped crashing. I suppose you will feel more comfortable with the scaled 1920x1200 res since it gives you more real state. If you want any specific screen just email me and I'll be pleased to help :)
Click to expand...

Where did you get the 2013 SP1? You still on Lion or running the SP1 on ML?
 
For what it is worth I am running 2013 Mac (G.55.M.2)

I included a quick little drawing just to show what is sharp and clear. The only thing blurry, that I can tell, is the navigation view cube. Pallets, Commands, Inspectors and tools, amazingly clear. AutoCAD Screen Shot.jpg
 
auhlixer said:
hd4000 no the gt650m
Click to expand...

hope so. here's the link to the vid:

I think especially the first stuff s/hes doing looks really choppy, e.g. extrusion of cylinder, but may also be some grid-snap option that makes it look like this. Never used AutoCAD myself really, so I've no idea.

But as I wrote no info, no explanations, no nada.
 
twietee said:
hope so. here's the link to the vid:

I think especially the first stuff s/hes doing looks really choppy, e.g. extrusion of cylinder, but may also be some grid-snap option that makes it look like this. Never used AutoCAD myself really, so I've no idea.

But as I wrote no info, no explanations, no nada.
Click to expand...

To disable the hd400 you goto system preferences / energy saver and un-check automatic graphics switching
 
Aldaris said:
For what it is worth I am running 2013 Mac (G.55.M.2)

I included a quick little drawing just to show what is sharp and clear. The only thing blurry, that I can tell, is the navigation view cube. Pallets, Commands, Inspectors and tools, amazingly clear.View attachment 357385
Click to expand...
Hey Aldaris, please post fullsize a 1920-ish screenshot of AutoCAD 2013 on Retina display!!!

This would help me a lot to make a decision to buy or not to buy rMBP.

Please include both "retina resolution" image (3880xsomething) and scaled down to 2880x1800. Preferably with some drawing being processes!!!

Thanks!!!
 
dspsbl said:
Hey Aldaris, please post fullsize a 1920-ish screenshot of AutoCAD 2013 on Retina display!!!

This would help me a lot to make a decision to buy or not to buy rMBP.

Please include both "retina resolution" image (3880xsomething) and scaled down to 2880x1800. Preferably with some drawing being processes!!!

Thanks!!!
Click to expand...

*Forgive me for being so late. I am having problems uploading, but I'll keep trying. As for Retina AutoCAD, I wouldn't be surprised if we all didn't hear something in a few days.
 
Last edited:
Forgive me... For whatever reason a .jpg is having issues and I am resorting to a PDF...
 

Attachments

  • AutoCAD on 1920 x 1200PDF.pdf
    1.6 MB · Views: 228
dspsbl said:
Hey Aldaris, please post fullsize a 1920-ish screenshot of AutoCAD 2013 on Retina display!!!

This would help me a lot to make a decision to buy or not to buy rMBP.

Please include both "retina resolution" image (3880xsomething) and scaled down to 2880x1800. Preferably with some drawing being processes!!!

Thanks!!!
Click to expand...

Retina resolution greater than 2880? Thats only on the new Dell XPS 15 available today.... unless Apple somehow one ups Dell on Tuesday, which many feel unlikely.
 
Starfyre said:
Retina resolution greater than 2880? Thats only on the new Dell XPS 15 available today.... unless Apple somehow one ups Dell on Tuesday, which many feel unlikely.
Click to expand...
It's geater. OS X renders Retina in 3800-ish then scales it down to fix 15-inch 2880x1800 screen. Take a screenshot on rMBP and see yourself - image will be 3800-ish in size.
 
Per default, OpenGL views are not HiDPI to improve performance. E.g. a 1920x1200 OpenGL view is indeed 1920x1200 and not 3840x1400 like all other HiDPI surfaces. Applications can ask to get a high-res OpenGL surface if the so desire though, its just one line of code. Of course, the OpenGL rendering also must be adapted in most cases.
 
About to move Retina but?

I currently use 2011 MBP i7 with 8gb and 512gb SSD. I'm a long time Mac user for all my photo, docs etc. I also use this machine with Bootcamp for Autodesk Civil3d, Autocad, Navisworks and schedulling software when mobile for work!

I need to increase Ram and VRAM for my mobile work so I'm looking at the new 15" MPB.

Question though, how does Win 7 on Bootcamp handle the retina screen and in particular with vector based CAD software. Can't use Autocad for mac as I will still need access to Civil 3d.

My main works are done in the office currently on a iMac and soon to be nMP! But I do need my mobile kit at least 3 days a fortnight.

Anybody got any work experience of the above?
 
Autocad retina MBP advice

I am a Civil Engineering student in my fourth year and am going to make an investment in a new Retina Macbook pro! I was planning on getting the new low end model and upgrading the ssd to 512gb. Will 8gb be enough for the potenial use of Civil3d and/or Autocad Revit Structure and Revit Architecture? Also what is your opinion on Iris. Will it really be a huge drop from GT 650M?

My options are the new 2013 rMBP for $2161
2.0ghz processor
Iris graphics
8gb Ram
512gb SSD

or the

Refurbished 15.4-inch Retina MacBook Pro 2.7GHz Quad-core Intel i7
Originally released February 2013
16GB of 1600MHz DDR3L SDRAM
512GB Flash Storage
720p FaceTime HD Camera
NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1GB of GDDR5 memory

for 2199

or save some money for school and get this:

Refurbished 15.4-inch Retina MacBook Pro 2.6GHz Quad-core Intel i7
Originally released June 2012
8GB of 1600MHz DDR3L SDRAM
512GB Flash Storage
720p FaceTime HD Camera
NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1GB of GDDR5 memory

for $1939

I used my last 15" MBP(Mid 2009) (which I sold today) for the past 4 years and I intend on using this for the next 4 years as well. Is having thunderbolt 2 and Pcie storage and 802.11ac for future proofing really worth it?

I would appreciate any help and advice with this big decision!
 
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