Autocad causes graphic glitches on OS X

[Anonymous]

Hello, I am writing this post to report this huge problem that occourred using Autocad for Mac (I tried all the versions: 2013, 2014 and 2015) with my almost new Macbook Pro 15 retina (with the Iris Pro).
One day, suddenly and apparently without reason, all the system started to have a weird graphic behavior visible especially scrolling (for example on Safari or iTunes) or changing desktop. There are some videos on youtube that shows the issue:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV9QKegvcvI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JctYg0c7Xk

I went to the Apple store, thinking about a hardware problem, but they said that there are not problem at all with the computer. I tried to reinstall OS X (both Mavericks and Yosemite) and also all the solutions that I found on internet (like the workaround on the 2015 version, or the reset of the PRAM, or all the updates...), but it seems that nothing is working and no one knows why one mac on thousand has this very annoying problem that makes impossibile to use the program.

I'm asking if it's true that there aren't solutions, I would be glad at least to know that Autodesk knows that the problem exists and that it's working on some updates to fix it.

I will provide more informations if it's necessary. Thanks in advance.

Andrea.

[maxim_k]

Welcome to Autodesk Forums!

Hi Andrea,

Yes, there is such problem with AutoCAD and this problem occurs randomly on different hardware, maybe on Macs with Iris Pro graphics card it occurs more frequently.
The solution which worked for me (I also have seen such issue, but only a few times) is to launch AutoCAD and then quit it completely (means using menu AutoCAD -> Quit AutoCAD). The main idea is to ensure that AutoCAD quit without any crashes, so - don't open any existing drawings, just launch AutoCAD with new empty drawing and than quit AutoCAD.
From this point the glitches should go away, of course until something wrong happens when you will use AutoCAD in future - such as crash, but I have to say that not all crashes can case this issue to appear.

Maxim

[Anonymous]

Hi, unfortunately i tried this solution but it didn't work. The problem occours just when i use Autocad so open and quit the program doesn't help, and i had to remove completely the application to "solve" any kind of problem.

At the moment I think I have to give up, but is it possibile that we will have an update to fix it? Or the 2016 version? Even because I still don't understand if the problem it's concerning my computer, or the program. Maybe there are some preference file, or drivers, that i have to reset, or update. I really hope that there is something like that because i saw lot of threads about that on internet, so it will help a lot of peolple, but no one seems to know what causes the problem.

Thank you.

Andrea.

[maxim_k]

Sorry Andrea, I'm not aware about the update which will resolve this problem.
Could you clarify: do you have this graphics glitches only when AutoCAD is running on your Mac? I'm asking about this as you wrote:
"The problem occours just when i use Autocad". Can you see the glitches when AutoCAD is not running, but just installed on your Mac?

Maxim

[Anonymous]

The glitches appear only when i launch Autocad, but there are delays and other small lags when i open applications even if the program remain installed on the pc but not open. I know that is weird but for some reason when i delete all the Autocad folders, the system goes back to normal.

I hope that someone will inform the community if there are news!

Andrea.

[maxim_k]

I'm willing to believe that you can experience these glitches when AutoCAD is running on your Mac, but when it is just installed - it is doubtful. Maybe you just think that AutoCAD is not running, but in fact it is running and just hangs?

Maxim

[Anonymous]

I know it seems strange but apparently the problem remains when autocad is closed, even if it's possibile that the program is running some way actually.

But the point is that it's really hard to use the system with this trouble and i had to renounce to use autocad for mac.

I think that it's quite absurd that it is unsolveble: it's not an hardware problem but happens only on a few number of computers. Apple didn't help me at all, and more, the kind macbooks are just a few and mine it's one the most common...it seems magic, not computer science! I'm not blaming anyone of course, the only hope it's that we will have some news from autodesk about that or that someone more experienced with softwares will find some solution!

Thank you anyway maxim!

Andrea.

[maxim_k]

Hi Andrea,

As the last attempt:
When you install AutoCAD it also install Autodesk 360 application which is running at system startup by default, even you don't launch AutoCAD. When you remove AutoCAD, it also remove Autodesk 360 app.
What if you will try to prevent Autodesk 360 from launching at system startup after you install AutoCAD? You need to remove Autodesk 360 from Startup items in Users pane of Mac OS System preferences, than try to see if the problem with graphics glitches still there.

Maxim

[Anonymous]

Hi, i tried closing A360 but i didn't solve anything. It seems that the same problem of this thread: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6295683
Even with the LT version is the same, and the problem is that of course even the drawing inside the application lags so i think i have to switch to parallels or something similar. I have to admit that i was very unlucky, i will wait for some news anyway!

Andrea.

[DavidGirard5926]

I think this is caused by AutoCAD disabling vsync. It also happened in older versions of Maya

[Anonymous]

And have you solved that problem in maya? Maybe could be helpful for Autocad too, thanks!

Andrea

[Anonymous]

Hi, i found some threads talking about the same vsync problem:
http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-for-mac-general/mac-autocad-2013-student-version-flickering-wh...

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-for-mac-general/enable-vertical-sync-v-sync-in-autocad-2014-fo...

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1603811

It seems that we finally found the cause. So is there a way to adjust, enable or change this vsync parameter?

Andrea.

[DavidGirard5926]

Until AutoCAD uses the correct method that Maya 2015 SP5 and later use, you can change the vsync settings with the Quartz Debug utility, which is part of the Xcode Graphics tools. It's under Beam Sync.

[Anonymous]

I downloaded the Quartz Debug utility and if i click on "Quartz Debug Setting" pops up the window that i uploaded. I can disable or force teh Beam Sync but it doesn't help because disabling all the graphic glitches even more and forcing doesn't change anything (appparently).

Am i using this tool in the right way? I'm quite sure that this is the core of teh problem. Thanks.

Andrea.

[brunomartinsdosreis]

i have the exact same problem! it will get worst if you don't uninstall autocad soon.

[brunomartinsdosreis]

you are not that unlucky... i had the same problem in 5 different macs.

[Anonymous]

Maybe i'm not that unlucky but it's so weird that the kind of mac (es. Macbook Pro mid 2014 with Iris Pro) doesn't influence the problem: the notebook can be affected by the problem apparently without reason, when another one, with an identical hardware, hasn't any kind of issue.

Anyway, if it's more common that I thought, maybe Autodesk should do something soon.

Andrea.