With the recent long-awaited release of Rhino 8 for Mac, I’m considering upgrading from my old 2015 27"iMac to a Mac Studio M2 Max. I use Rhino for 50-75% for my design and modeling work. The remaining work is done with AutoCAD and presentation apps such as Photoshop and Illustrator. Although its ubiquitous, I’d like to wean myself off AutoCAD, primarily because of its subscription cost.
I’m thinking of the Apple M2 Max with 12‑core CPU, 30‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine, upgraded to 64GB unified memory and1TB SSD storage.
I’d be interested in any feedback from users with a similar setup and/or other recommendations, particularly what to get for a display.
I don’t have a Max studio, but a MacBook Pro (Mac14,5) with M2 Max (also 12-core and 30-core GPU), 64GB RAM and 1TB SSD. Compared to the M1 (16GB RAM, 8-core GPU) I also use it is much better. The M1 is always starved for memory and takes ages to compile Rhino on (although the M1 is still faster than the Intel Macbook Pro with Nvidia GPU in). I don’t use external monitors with the M1 nor M2 laptops, so can’t help with that.
I still prefer my Windows PC though, but that is a different matter.
I went from 27" iMac (Mid 2015) to the cheapest 14" MacBook Pro with M3-chip and 8 GB memory. The performance of this MacBook has been really positive surprise so far! My old iMac had 24 GB of memory and SSD.
I am still kinda waiting that Apple would release a new big iMac, as this would be the computer (and display) I would actually want. If this never happens, I will probably get the Apple Studio Display at some point. I really don’t see any other options, as pretty much all of the PC monitors are so low density. I also want a monitor with good build-in speakers.
Didn’t know back in 2015 that 5K resolution with 218 PPI would be so rare and special even in the end of 2023!
Like posts above, I’m hanging on on a late 15 27” iMac, Mine is: I7 4 Ghz, 16 memory, (hard to complain about a machine that’s lasted me S16-S24, but the end is near).
I”m not working as a Pro, using Rhino for my own projects, however striving for pro level, and accustomed to pro level working with adobe applications. Using Rhino 65% of non browsing time…
Was hoping for a 27” M3 iMac in November event, alas…
Anyone running Rhino 8 on M3 iMac 24”? Early impressions?
•• Otherwise I’m looking at Mac Studio, M2 Max, 3.7 GHZ 12CPU cores, 30 GPU cores, 64 RAM, 1TB, Any other suggestions?
• Any chance the 24” M3 iMac is good enough??
Was hoping I could hang on long enough for apple to drop some other M3 options, bigger iMac, M3 mini or studio, but my sense is I need to migrate to a new machine by March 24.
I’ve been waiting for the 27" M3 iMac as well, but it doesn’t look to be happening until later '24. However the 27" screen is a limitation in Rhino modeling with panels and toolbars (and my eyes). I’m thinking about a Samsung 32" 5k display…
Seaweed – absolutly, more screen real estate is needed for rhino:
I was thinking about 2, 27 inch screens, likely the LG 5k, had access to one a year back, and it’s super close to just as good. Experimented with a less expensive Samsung 28" 4k, text is not clean enough on that screen. not a total waste of time maybe I found the two big screens maybe not ergonical enough, a lot of head/neck movement (maybe just a matter of it being new?).
wondering if 2) really good 24 inch screens, or 1) 27 and a crisp 24 for extra menus…