Can I upgrade image processing on an iMac?

Question

Can I upgrade image processing on an iMac?

I have this iMac:

Model Name: iMac

Model Identifier: iMac12,1

Processor Name: Intel Core i5

Processor Speed: 2.5 GHz

Number of Processors: 1

Total Number of Cores: 4

L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB

L3 Cache: 6 MB

Memory: 4 GB (recently upgraded to 16 GB)

Boot ROM Version: 87.0.0.0.0

SMC Version (system): 1.71f22

I have installed Corel Painter 2020 on it and it

is complaining that I do not have an extension

on the machine:

AVX2

Is this software or hardware specific and can I add

this to the system?

Thank you for time and attention

JK

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on Feb 22, 2020 2:23 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Feb 22, 2020 8:05 PM in response to BDAqua

"It is just an extended processor instruction set, nothing you can do but get a Mac with a newer CPU."

Is there a list of Mac models/processors/OS's that would support it?

Thank you;

JK

Reply

Answer 2

BDAqua

Level 10

250,253 points

Feb 22, 2020 5:05 PM in response to anotherJeff273

It is just an extended processor instruction set, nothing you can do but get a Mac with a newer CPU.

Reply

Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

250,253 points

Feb 22, 2020 4:40 PM in response to anotherJeff273

JK,

Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX, also known as Sandy Bridge New Extensions) are extensions to the x86 instruction set architecture for microprocessors from Intel and AMD proposed by Intel in March 2008 and first supported by Intel with the Sandy Bridge [1] processor shipping in Q1 2011 and later on by AMD with the Bulldozer [2] processor shipping in Q3 2011. AVX provides new features, new instructions and a new coding scheme.

AVX2 expands most integer commands to 256 bits and introduces fused multiply-accumulate (FMA) operations. AVX-512 expands AVX to 512-bit support using a new EVEX prefix encoding proposed by Intel in July 2013 and first supported by Intel with the Knights Landing processor, which shipped in 2016.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Vector_Extensions

Mac:

macOS 10.14 or OS X 10.13, with the latest revision

Intel Core 2 Duo

4 physical cores/8 logical cores or higher (recommended)

OpenCL 1.2 capable video card (recommended)

2 GB RAM

8 GB RAM or higher (recommended)

850 MB hard disk space for application files

Solid-state drive (recommended)

1280 x 800 @ 100% (or higher) screen resolution

1920 x 1080 @ 150% (or higher) (recommended)

Mouse or tablet

DVD drive (required for box installation)

To activate your product, you must connect to the Internet and register it first.

https://support.corel.com/hc/en-us/articles/360025478313-Painter-2020-System-Requirements

Reply

Answer 4

BDAqua

Level 10

250,253 points

Feb 23, 2020 5:20 AM in response to anotherJeff273

JK, I can't find out if any Macs support AVX2 for certain, or which ones might.

AVX...

AXV1.0 CPU feature in the report from my Mac: iMac 27" Late 2012 3.4GHz Core i7.

https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/360962/how-can-i-tell-if-my-mac-cpu-supports-avx

My 2010 Mac Pro>2*2.93 GHZ 12 core does not even support AVX...

sysctl -a | grep machdep.cpu.features

machdep.cpu.features: FPU VME DE PSE TSC MSR PAE MCE CX8 APIC SEP MTRR PGE MCA CMOV PAT PSE36 CLFSH DS ACPI MMX FXSR SSE SSE2 SS HTT TM PBE SSE3 PCLMULQDQ DTES64 MON DSCPL VMX SMX EST TM2 SSSE3 CX16 TPR PDCM SSE4.1 SSE4.2 POPCNT AES PCID

If I were to guess by this...

For AVX2 that would be 10.8.4 build 12E3067 or 12E4022

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/38319245/what-is-the-minimum-version-of-os-x-for-use-with-avx-avx2

It would likely require a 2014 Mac or later with maybe i7.

Reply