How important is a GPU?

JakeMM · 21 Jul 2020, 12:41

How much does SketchUp and Layout rely on a GPU? I've been using a 2013 MacBook 13" with integrated graphics for the last 7 years.

I'm now buying a 2018 Mac Mini which has double the graphics performance of my 2013 MacBook, but I'll be using it to drive 3 x 4k displays (2 of which are mirrored), and not dual 1080p.

I have the ability of adding an eGPU with either a 5700 XT, RX 580, or Vega 64 - but I'm not sure how overkill this is?

My main consideration holding me back from buying an eGPU at the same time as the Mac Mini isn't cost, it's actually noise and reliability. Using the inbuilt graphics will be near silent and I'm not sure how reliable eGPU's are. I don't want to be messing around switching it on and off if it doesn't connect one day.

The computer will solely be used for SketchUp and Layout. Is there much to be gained with a decent graphics card? Or does performance mostly boil down to single core CPU performance?

Dave R · 21 Jul 2020, 15:14

Since the release of SketchUp 2017 it has required a suitable graphics card that has good support for OpenGL. There is no option to compensate for an inadequate graphics card as there was in earlier versions where you could turn off Hardware Acceleration and make the CPU do the heavy lifting. So a good GPU is indeed important.

JakeMM · 3 Aug 2020, 14:49

Thanks for the reply!

As an update, I bought the Mac mini and currently have it connected to 3 x 4k displays.

Looking at the GPU usage graphs, I've been able to reach about 80% of the limit of the Integrated UHD 630 with SketchUp alone, and using maximum texture sizes.

The only thing that's maxed out the GPU so far has been the screensaver I use.

I can orbit large models easily, but there's a slight delay when I stop orbiting, and before the textures load. It doesn't orbit quickly with the textures still visible - it changes to solid colours.

For the moment, I'm going to keep with the integrated graphics as this computer seems almost silent, but if I decide to buy an eGPU, I'll update this thread to show the comparisons.

This is with the 2018 i7 Mac mini, 6 core, and 64GB Ram - running SketchUp and Layout 2020