Autocad on macbook pro 2015

[Anonymous]

Hello ! I'm new on this . I want to learn autocad for civil engineering, for this i will buy a macbook ( using osx not windows) . I'm thinking on macbook pro 15' 2015 -i7 ,16gb ram and integrated GPU .and 256 gb SSD . If anyone use this ... will be good enough for autocad or i need to go for the newer one with integrated GPU. ( I don't like the touchbar) ... i ask to make the corect purchase for the next 3 years at least.
Thank you for your time.

[maxim_k]

Welcome to Autodesk Forums!

Hi Eugen,

Although i7 with 16 gb RAM is a good choice for AutoCAD for Mac, but dedicated graphics card is preferable to integrated, especially when you will work with complex drawings.

Maxim

[Anonymous]

So , you said to go on new one with touchbar ... Will be a very big difference between with and without dedicated GPU ? Because the price is , about 700£ .hope I don't disturb with my childish questions, but i pay from my pocket and i want to buy a good one. Just for this Autocad.

[maxim_k]

Well, I don't have any experience with Intel Iris Pro 5200 Graphics which MacBook Pro 15" 2015 have onboard, so I cannot say it will operate good enough with AutoCAD.

I have MacBook Pro 13" 2015 with Intel Iris 6100 GPU. It gives me decent performance in most cases with average drawings. But if i connect it to the external 4K monitor, I'm starting to see some lags inside AutoCAD and in macOS UI, especially if I gave a lot of applications running simultaneously.

You also can look at the discussion about Iris 6100 vs Iris Pro 5200 here:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/intel-iris-pro-5200-vs-intel-iris-graphic-6100.1855181/

On the other hand I'm not sure buying MacBook Pro 15" 2015 with integrated GPU will be the "correct purchase for the next 3 years at least". Who knows what can happen in a year or two with the software requirements (for AutoCAD and for other applications), believe me - your desires on use of the computer won't be limited to AutoCAD only.

Maxim

[Anonymous]

Ok , latest model will be :). Thank you !

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

I see that you are visiting as a new member to the AutoCAD for Mac forum. Welcome to the Autodesk Community!

I see you started this conversation a few days ago but I hopefully am not too late to offer some help. I am curious why you are choosing AutoCAD when AutoCAD Civil 3D is probably a much better choice for doing civil engineering.  If this is really where you will end up then perhaps running on the MacBook is not the best choice.

My MacBook sounds very similar to @maxim_k's.  Typically I do architectural work and some 3D modeling. For this type of work it seems to perform well. Civil drawings though tend to be much larger and more complex.

I am not trying to dissuade you from a Mac purchase or AutoCAD but want to make sure that you are aware of the other options that are available to you.

Please let me know if you have further questions.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[Anonymous]

Thank you @ JOHN .

I choose the latest macbook with dedicated GPU. I will try the 3D Civil Autocad . I had a pc ( a very professional one ) , but i sell it for portability and needed to chose between macbook and alienware ... the second one is about 4kg.

[Anonymous]

Ok John . Tell me what you have in mind ... i have another 10 days to get my money back . I wait for your suggestion and some arguments.
Thank you very much!!!

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

If you decide that you need to go with AutoCAD Civil 3D then I think you should stick to the Windows platform. I know that the graphics can be very demanding and I am not sure how well the MacBook will deal with that.

If you are willing to stay with core AutoCAD then you could run both the Mac and Windows versions on your Mac if you set up a Bootcamp partition and install a license of Windows in it. Please note however, the Mac version does not have object enablers for Civil 3D so if you share drawings with others that might be problematic.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[pendean]

C3D only runs in the Windows OS platform.

[Anonymous]

Ok ... alienware 17". 2017. Or I should stay with macbook pro 15 with touchbar.

???

[Anonymous]

I just ordered the latest Alienware laptop , i7 , gtx 1080 and 32gb ram

[Anonymous]

Hello , again!
Yes i know ... another childish question. Witch one is better specifically for autocad ... macbook i7 , 16 gb and 4gb Gpu or I should stay with alienware i7 , 32gb ram and 1080 8gb Gpu ??? For me are the same just for this autocad .As you see I can't decide

[Anonymous]

I know it sounds childish, but just for autocad should i stay with macbook ( i7 quad, 16gb ram , 512ssd and 4 gb GPU ). Or Alienware (i7 quad , 32 gb ram , 8gb Gpu 1080, 512 ssd). ? I can't decide, ... and is not about the OS vs Windows ( i can get windows on mac) not the other way .

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

It sounds like you really want the Mac

Perhaps that is the direction go then. Like I indicated, I run AutoCAD, Revit and a variety of demanding applications both in the MacOS and in Bootcamp.  I feel that you need to know that there might be limitations in graphics for AutoCAD Civil 3D if you end up going that route.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[Anonymous]

So if you have a macbook and you run autocad and other programs on mac os or boot camp... how it is . Is working well , good , superb . Because for that i looking for , i want a real test not just what is on youtube. Macbook is good for this task ? On bootcamp how it is ? Thank you and my apologies if I disturb. I prefer macbook because is more light and is very portable ( not like alienware) but on this money i want to choose something that is good for what i want to do .

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

I would not say that the programs run in the SUPERB category but certainly adequate. Response and performance is good and I have even done some rendering on both OSs without any real issues.  Do you have any friends/classmates/co-workers with this type of configuration that you can borrow from for a day? Hands on would be the best way to make this judgment.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[Anonymous]

To be honest , no I don't ( all my friends are on Windows) . If i had at least one i won't be here. For that i ask and ask .

[john.vellek · Accepted solution]

HI @Anonymous,

I can understand your anxiety about this and I only wish I could offer more assistance on this.  Technically it works on the Mac but I don't know if it will work well enough for your needs.I am happy with it because it is lightweight, easy to switch between OS version (some customers love using Parallels or VMware Fusion to make this easier than re-booting), and the applications run well.

I wish you the best and hope that your decision works out the way you want.