I did not have a chance to run some Helicon Focus tests. The DPReview review of the Mac Studio would tend to suggest the Ultra premium over the Max is not actually worth it.ĭid you manage to compare Helicon Focus performance differences on your two computers? I would be interested in knowing the results. Just got an email that Topaz Labs has now released Gigapixel AI 6.0 with Native M1 support. So, I decided to future proof to some degree by purchasing the Ultra. My 2013 Mac Pro has served me well for 9 years. Is the extra $2k or so worth it If it takes 20' to apply Sharpen AI with the Ultra but 30' with the Max? I don't replace my computers every other year. What I can't say is how a Mac Studio Max would stack up. PS and LR also seem so much faster overall. Testing subtle changes in the applicable settings and sharpening models is now seamless.Īt least compared to a 2013 Mac Pro, the performance of the Mac Studio Ultra is just astonishing with these two programs. A preview with the Mac Studio was almost instantaneous, but took around 5 seconds with the Mac Pro. With the X1D files, the Mac Studio took 10' and 12', and the Mac Pro took 1'58' and 2'14'.

To apply Sharpen AI as a filter in PS, the two IQ180 files in the Mac Studio took 19' and 20', and the Mac Prp took 3'37' in both cases. To process 4 previews, the Mac Studio took around 2 seconds, and the the Mac Pro 10'-12'. The two X1D files took 27' and 19' with the Mac Studio, and 4'41' and 4'28' with the Mac Pro. The two files from the IQ180 took 42' and 47' to process with the Mac Studio, and 9'13' and 7'25' with the Mac Pro. I enlarged the files to a width of 46' in Gigapixel AI. (Sharpen AI runs natively on Mac Silicon SOCs, but Gigapixel does not yet.) These programs, along with Helicon Focus, have been the most significant bottlenecks in my workflow. Two files from an 80MP IQ180 P1 back, and two files from a 50MP Hasselblad X1D. I just purchased a Mac Studio Ultra with 64 GB of RAM and 48 GPU Cores, and ran four files through Gigapixel AI and Sharpen AI with the Mac Studio and my 2013 Mac Pro with 32GB of RAM, 6 Cores and AMD FirePro D300 video for comparison. Mac Studio Ultra with Topaz Gigapixel AI and Sharpen AI.

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