Fusion 360 on Apple Silicon M1 MacBook Pro

Summary

In this video, Justin explores the compatibility of Fusion 360 with Apple's new M1 chip on a MacBook Pro. He demonstrates the installation process, discusses the use of Rosetta 2 for running Intel-based apps, and tests Fusion's performance. The video showcases the M1's efficiency, improved battery life, and potential for CAD work, while also highlighting some known issues and the expectation for future optimizations.

Takeaways

• 💻 Justin has purchased a new MacBook Pro with the M1 chip, which is a significant change in Apple's processor technology.
• 🛠️ Fusion 360, a CAD and CAM software, is a primary concern for Justin as he is a die-hard Mac user in the CAD and CAM world.
• 🔄 Apple Silicon, the new technology, has caused a shake-up for software on Mac, including Fusion 360, which now uses Rosetta 2 to run on M1 chips.
• 📦 Justin installed Fusion 360 on his new MacBook Pro by opening a .dmg file, which took about a minute and 35 seconds due to his internet speed.
• 🔧 Rosetta 2 is a transitional technology that allows Intel-based software to run on M1 chips until developers optimize their software for the new architecture.
• 🎉 Justin's reaction to Fusion 360 working well on the M1 chip is positive, as it runs seamlessly despite the different architecture.
• 📈 The M1 chip is efficient, which should improve battery life significantly compared to previous Intel-based Macs.
• 🖥️ Justin's new MacBook Pro has 16GB of RAM and a 512GB hard drive, which are the main upgrade options for this model.
• 📸 Justin demonstrates Fusion 360's performance on the M1 chip, noting that rendering appears to be faster and more efficient than on his previous MacBook Pro.
• 🔧 There are known issues with Fusion 360 on Rosetta 2, which are expected to be resolved, as mentioned by the Fusion 360 team.
• ☕️ Justin encourages viewers to support the channel through Patreon or by buying him a coffee, a one-time support option.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is the user's experience with installing and using Fusion 360 on a new MacBook Pro with the M1 chip.

Why is the M1 chip significant for software on Mac?

The M1 chip is significant because it represents a new technology called Apple Silicon, which has caused a shake-up for software compatibility on Mac, including Fusion 360.

What is the user's background with Mac in the CAD and CAM world?

The user is a die-hard Mac user in the CAD and CAM world, for whom using Mac has not always been easy but works best most of the time.

How does the user install Fusion 360 on the new MacBook Pro?

The user installs Fusion 360 by opening the .dmg file in the Downloads folder, which mounts the image for installation.

What role does Rosetta 2 technology play in Fusion 360 running on the M1 chip?

Rosetta 2 technology allows old Intel-based architecture software like Fusion 360 to work on the new Apple Silicon M1 computers, acting as a bridge until developers optimize their software for the M1 chip.

How does the user describe the performance of Fusion 360 on the M1 chip?

The user finds the performance of Fusion 360 remarkable, as it works well despite using a different type of software architecture through Rosetta 2.

What is the user's reaction to Fusion 360's performance on the M1 chip?

The user is pleasantly surprised and finds the performance to be encouraging, as Fusion 360 loads and operates as expected.

What is the user's observation regarding the rendering performance of Fusion 360 on the M1 chip?

The user notes that the rendering performance seems better than on their 2018 MacBook Pro with an i5 processor, although not significantly improved due to the CPU-intensive nature of Fusion renderings.

How does the user describe the energy efficiency of the new MacBook Pro with the M1 chip?

The user describes the MacBook Pro with the M1 chip as very energy efficient, with the fans taking longer to react compared to older Intel-based machines.

What are the known issues with Fusion 360 running on Rosetta 2 mentioned in the video?

The known issues with Fusion 360 running on Rosetta 2 are not detailed in the script, but the user mentions that they are covered in a post by kaching on the Fusion 360 team.

What is the user's conclusion about using the new MacBook Pro with the M1 chip for Fusion 360?

The user concludes that the new MacBook Pro with the M1 chip is efficient and should be able to handle Fusion 360 well for the next couple of years, without significant waiting times for CAM to generate.