Tips for Buying a New Computer If you are thinking about purchasing a new computer to run Chief Architect, here are some things to keep in mind while shopping around: Most rendering is performed by the video card. Gaming cards are best suited to handle renderings in Chief Architect. A mid-range gaming card with more than 4 GB of dedicated onboard memory can improve your 3D rendering and response times. If you plan to run a virtual reality headset, make sure to verify the system requirements from your VR headset manufacturer.

Ray Traces and some artistic rendering techniques (watercolor, painting) are performed by your system CPU, not your video card. The number of processor cores available is the most important factor in improving the speed of ray tracing and artistic rendering. Memory and CPU speed are also factors that can contribute to improved performance. A multi-core system, such as a system that uses a quad-core i7 processor, would be a good choice. Multiple and/or larger displays can improve productivity.

Chief Architect's tabbed window interface allows you to take full advantage of multiple monitors to expand your workspace and increase productivity. When adding monitors, make sure that your graphics card supports multiple monitors. For more information on hardware, you can access benchmark sites like. There are also frequent discussions of hardware on that can be helpful.

Comments: I purchased an updated version chief architect X6. I have used previous versions for years on a PC and was assured it would run great on a Mac. I downloaded the software to my Mac which was running the minimum system requirements (Mavericks) listed on the chief architect website.

I had issues with this software working from the start, i.e. When I would open or try to edit a dialog box it would open a new window behind all previous open windows.

Since this computer was a few years old I mistakenly thought it was an issue with my computer. I purchased a new Mac to run the software and ran into the same issues as before. I put up with these problems for more than a year before I contacted chief architect looking for a fix for their software. I was informed by a chief architect tech that this was a known issue that their software developers were aware of and had fixed in later versions and that the only solution to this issue was to upgrade the software.

After being transferred to a sales associate I was informed that I would have to pay over money to chief architect to get a version of the software that would work. I told him that I have already purchased software from chief architect and that they need to fix the issue with the version I have or they should stand behind their product and upgrade it for free. I made a complaint with the senior supervisor/manager who informed me that since they could not re-create the issue in house and that I am now currently using an updated Mac with the (Sierra) operating system they would not stand behind there software. Under system requirements for X6 it lists that you need a minimum operating system of (Mountain Lion / Mavericks) nowhere does it say if you have a newer operating system that their software will not work. I would like to see chief architect stand behind the product I've spent thousands of dollars on.

Top Result 100 Unique Chief Architect For Mac Free Download

So far this has been one of the worst customer experiences I've ever had and I definitely feel I have been ripped off by chief architect. Pros: This software is easy to use easy to learn. You don't have to attend their classes because they have a great library of videos to help with the learning curve. They also have a great community of people working to help you solve problems. They respond quickly and are always helpful. Cons: Nothing to dislike for me! This is great software for anyone wanting to get into this kind of design.

Overall: They have a great customer support. They have helped me on multiple occasions. I have the SSA package and it is well worth the value. Must have they will solve any issue you have. Pros: The wide range of textures, furnishings and finishes available, and the 3d walk through.

Top Result 100 Unique Chief Architect For Mac

Also allows for input of land features for full landscaping finish to product drawings. Cons: Steep learning curve especially in the Plan Layout stages of finishing. Also the roofing tool takes a lot of practice to get the fancy roofing structures just right, Overall: Drew and submitted my own home plan and got it approved first try! The spacial orientation of furniture in the drawing also greatly assisted in getting the rooms just right as well as arranging electrical and water systems accurately.

The software also allows for an estimate of all materials and fittings necessary to bring your plan to reality. Pros: Chief Architect is a very powerful tool for creating plans and layouts for buildings. It is very easy to pickup and there is a number of official tutorials both on their website and YouTube that cover virtually everything the program has to offer. You can make as much or as little as you need in this program. Cons: Some automatically generated walls and roofs come in incorrectly and can be very difficult to edit and manipulate. Often times there are work-arounds that suffice, but it can be overly cumbersome to edit.

Pros: I like that the system is automated enough to allow you to design and render the building without having to worry about every little detail of how to draw every little line or manually setting every light and texture for rendering, but flexible enough to allow a wide variety of building styles. Cons: It's not the industry standard, so unless you are the company owner or principal architect, don't expect to enter the job market as a proficient Chief user. This stuff is mostly used by one and two man shops who can't afford to hire. Most hiring is temporary and/or freelance, and that market is quite competitive. Overall: This software allowed me to obtain skill in its use through it's 'grow up' scale, starting from early home versions working up to the top line business version. It allows the creation of a rendering fairly easily, at a reasonable if not top-notch quality, which provides quite a bit of bang for the buck.