Enabling Mac Metal compute acceleration by Affinity Photo - v 1.10.4. >>> Failed

[nucleonbge]

 

About my computer:

Computer: iMac (late 2012)

Processor: 2.9 Ghz Quad-Core Intel Core I5

Memory:  24 GB 1600 MHz  DDR3

Graphics:  NVIDIA GeForce GTX 66M 512 MB

 

The Mac system report for the Hardware indicates that Metal acceleration is available:

About This Mac > System Report > Hardware > Graphics/Displays > Metal: Supported, feature set macOS GPUFamily1 v4

 

However, Affinity does not see the Metal option or does not use it:

Affinity > Preferences > Performance  > Hardware acceleration: Enable Metal compute acceleration

(No compatible GPU)

 

My Question: How to make Mac “Metal compute acceleration” usable (recognizable) by Affinity Photo v 1.10.4 ?

Thank you ,

Leo

[Dazmondo77]

It's not something that's shouted from the rooftops, but if you do some deep digging here on the forum, there's a post somewhere, I think from a moderator that states the Metal Compute doesn't support NVIDIA cards on the mac - pretty sure that the equivalent acceleration on PC (can't remember what its called) does - just a mac thing. I'm in the same boat with a metal compatible NVIDIA GeForce GT 630 2 GB that works better using Open GL as theres a few glitched and screen taring when using metal and as Metal compute is greyed out, I've no experience with the speed benefits 

[R C-R]

10 hours ago, nucleonbge said:

My Question: How to make Mac “Metal compute acceleration” usable (recognizable) by Affinity Photo v 1.10.4 ?

Short version: you can't. That's what "(No compatible GPU)" means in the preference.

Slightly longer version (that may not be 100% accurate): Metal compute acceleration requires a GPU that supports "Metal 2" which I think (but am far from sure) means a 'Family2' or better feature set. Apparently the 'Family1' feature set of your (& perhaps all?) NVIDIA GPU does not support "Metal 2" so while you can use Metal rendering acceleration, you cannot use Metal computational acceleration.

[nucleonbge]

Thank you for the explanation.

In the opened Affinity Performance Metal Acceleration option is not available.

With previous versions of Affinity Photo and Mac OS the editing was fast, in real time.  

I have attached the copy of Affinity Performance screen.

[nucleonbge]

Dazmondo77, thank you for the info.

It seems that updating has two part in itself: useful and one a that helps to push users to purchase new software and hardware. I also have purchase ON1 Photo RAw on COVID-19 sele for $50, which use as a bowser. ON1 editing is the same fast as before. However, my brains accept it only as browser. There are many things that make the Affinity superior. 

I am waiting for Apple April announcement for new Mac Mini and iMac 24" to decide. The most likely winner is the Mac Mini.

Leo

[R C-R]

22 minutes ago, nucleonbge said:

I have attached the copy of Affinity Performance screen.

You should be able to switch the Display preference for OpenGL to Metal. If so, try doing that, restarting the app, & seeing if editing performance improves.