Minis, Graphics, Photoshop CS5, OpenGL

[Travis Bickle]

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/853/screenshot20111213at210.png

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/163/screenshot20111213at210.png

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/710/screenshot20111213at210.png

I'm running a 19" samsung sync master 930BF, not noticed any stutter so far to be honest.....and no probs about the misunderstanding, plenty of plonkers online so you've got to be on your guard

 

[elliotn]

The OpenGL score is basically the same as the base mini.

Thanks for checking this out.

It seems that whilst the base mini and mini Server have the same graphics capabilities, Photoshop doesn't see it this way, and locks out the Server from its fancier openGL interface designs.

I've spoken to both Apple and Adobe support about this, but neither have been helpful.

I can only guess that on launch Photoshop makes note of the graphics capabilities and CPU clock speed and uses that to set the openGL graphics capabilities (ignoring the number of cores). That would explain why my 1.7ghz Air and 2.0ghz mini Server are only offered 'basic' mode, whereas the 2.3, 2.5 and 2.7 ghz minis are offered the full range of 'basic', 'normal' and 'advanced'.

Apple have told me that because it's Xmas I have until 9 Jan to decide whether I want to return the mini Server for a refund. They've suggested I really put it through its paces before deciding whether to return it. If I can find the time I'll buy an AMD mini and compare it with Server (using my workflows).

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I'm running a 19" samsung sync master 930BF, not noticed any stutter so far to be honest.....and no probs about the misunderstanding, plenty of plonkers online so you've got to be on your guard

Thanks for the screengrabs. And sorry for misrepresenting you again - - it was another forum member who was using a 30" HP ZR30 monitor - using it happily with a mini Server:

https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/13999212/

 

[Scheimpflug]

Re: Mini Server PS 5.5 performance

Greetings,

I've just purchased a stop gap mini server to hold me over until the new pros come out (hopefully not IF they come out).

I was using an early 08 MBP with 6GB RAM and a OWC SSD. It has an 8600m GT GPU which, from what I can tell, has 'comparable' performance to the intel HD 3000. With the 8600 photoshop would allow both the 'normal' and 'advanced' options, but they really only slowed down the performance of the program. My understanding is that PS is having the underpowered GPU perform beyond it's capability, which it can do, albeit at a very slow speed. I only ever used it in 'basic' mode, as the other options became frustratingly slow.

So, while my new Mini Server 2.0 Quad, 16GB RAM, 120GB OWC 6g scratch, only allows for 'basic', it is more than adequate for working on 225MB TIFF files on a 23" ACD. I'm waiting for my thunderbolt to display port cable from NEC (should be here monday), to see how the HD 3000 will hold up while pushing my NEC PA271W, and the 23" ACD at the same time.

My thinking is that the quad core is the way to go, but your images may be smaller than what I am usually working with. I also use Capture One Pro frequently, and it will top out all 8 cores (4 real, 4 virtual) while processing, so the quad will have a clear advantage here as well.

I ran that speed test at 17 seconds flat.

Good luck.

 

[elliotn]

I ran that speed test at 17 seconds flat.

That's interesting. I only got 22 seconds. It's either your 16Gb of Ram (I just have 8Gb), or your SSD scratch (I was running both system and Photoshop off the 256Gb Apple-installed SSD (Toshiba), with no separate scratch designated).

Anyone care to run the speed test on their AMD mini?

http://clubofone.com/speedtest/

 

[nREMfan]

FWIW: I got 18.2 seconds using Photoshop CS5.5

Again, I have a Quad i7 server, 8GB RAM, second hard drive is set as a scratch disc, and connected to a HP ZR30w.

 

[spacedcadet]

Open GL slowdown

You might want to read this regarding using OpenGL drawing in Photoshop.

From Lloyd Chambers.

"Using OpenGL (which exposes the power of the GPU) makes some operations run more slowly! Since nothing I do runs faster with OpenGL, and it also causes some distracting screen refresh problems, I say no to OpenGL, and turn it off."

http://macperformanceguide.com/PhotoshopCS5-performance-gpu.html

 

[elliotn]

FWIW: I got 18.2 seconds using Photoshop CS5.5

Again, I have a Quad i7 server, 8GB RAM, second hard drive is set as a scratch disc, and connected to a HP ZR30w.

I just went back and tried the test again. I'm now getting 17 or 18 seconds, on my mini Server (256Gb SSD, 8Gb RAM), like both of you. The test uses quite a small file, so I don't think scratch disks (or RAM above 8Gb) are relevant.

I'd still like to see results for the base and mid minis - I don't know how well Photoshop utilises the quadcore processor, so the other minis might be faster.