Advice Needed: Mac-Centric Setup for Architecture Post-Grad (Heavy 3D Rendering)

TidBITS Talk
1

Hi All

I’m seeking advice on the best computer setup for a relative starting an architecture post-grad degree in London. They are an experienced 3D designer who prefers working day-to-day on macOS.

Their software stack will include AutoCAD/Rhino, with intensive rendering in Enscape, Blender, Unreal Engine, and possibly Maya. The trend among their peers is powerful Windows laptops like the Asus ProArt PX13 with an RTX 4070, primarily because this software is heavily optimised for Nvidia GPU performance. (The PX13 versus Macbook Pro M4 performance is usefully compared here, showing the RTX 4070 offering a significant advantage for these specific tasks.)

A key observation is that even students with these powerful machines need to offload renders to a second computer (or the university’s computer lab machines) when deadlines loom to allow them to keep working on their primary laptop. This makes me think a two-computer strategy could be the smartest path.

We’re considering pairing something like a MacBook Air for design and coursework with a more powerful solution for the rendering itself. This leads me to two main questions:

  1. Has anyone had experience with cloud rendering services like GarageFarm? It’s hard to evaluate their cost-effectiveness and ease of use for a student’s project-based schedule without diving in. Any real-world feedback would be invaluable.

  2. The alternative is a dedicated desktop “home render box” in their flat (perhaps a Framework Desktop such as a Ryzen AI Max+ 395?). I’d be grateful for comments on the feasibility of this scenario too, and for the best way to securely connect to this desktop running Windows to kick off renders (the desktop will have a decent fibre connection.) My memory of using rdesktop years ago through a VPN was that it was pretty clunky.

Thoughts on these and/or alternative strategies would be very gratefully received.

2

A quick thought about cloud vs. desktop for rendering: if the user regularly faces tight deadlines and often works up until the last minute, it might be better not to be subject to the vagaries of online connectivity, data center outages, and cloud software maintenance periods.

3

That’s a great point, thank you. I also notice that GarageFarm’s more affordable compute is on a lower priority queue. That really might not work well for working to tight deadlines!