We've just updated our System Requirements page and supported graphics card page in regards to requirements and graphics cards for use with Houdini on OSX

http://www.sidefx.com/sysreq [sidefx.com]

http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2680&Itemid=390 [sidefx.com]

We now require OSX 10.10.2 or 10.10.3 at minimum. This is to ensure that you have the most recent OGL driver fixes available. Earlier versions of OSX (10.9 and 10.8 ) are likely to be less stable and have more display/selection issues, as many of you have noticed and communicated to us. We've also modified the list of graphics cards that are supported for use with Houdini on OSX. We're still working with Apple on the remaining issues but at this point it's clear that the best path forward is to update to the latest versions of OSX.

My workstation is a 5K iMac running 10.10.5, AMD Radeon R9 M295X 4096 MB. I know from the supported graphics cards that this is not a supported configuration. Houdini 14 was completely unusable and 15 appears to be too - barely any geometry in the scene and it hangs, crashes, etc.

Is the harsh reality that any Houdini beyond 13 will not be usable on OS X with AMD Radeon R9? Will H15 run smoothly if I run through Windows on Parallels? Or my only other option to run smoothly on a Mac is a MacPro?

If I install Houdini Engine 2.0 will my H13 HDAs benefit from the new Engine for Maya features? I'm hesitant to upgrade anything at this point as I have a working system running H13 and seems like that may be all the further I can get with versioning up Houdini given my system specs.

AMD has fixed the source of the problem in their OSX driver, and it should be rolling out with the new El Cap update.

That's great news, and thanks for the swift reply!

Hello,
Reading the list of supported Mac Graphics Cards below, I don't see any of the cards of MacBookPro (AMD Radeon R9 M370X) and iMac Retina 5k (AMD Radeon R9 M395) and iMac Retina 4K (Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200).
Does that mean that none of the latest Macs would run Houdini smoothly ? :?
I'd like to buy an iMac (preferably, or MacBookPro) for video/photo mainly but with the possibility to experiment in Houdini as well.
Thanks for the help!

AMD FirePro D300, D500, D700
AMD Radeon 5770
AMD Radeon 5870
AMD Radeon 7970

Nvidia Quadro K5000
Nvidia Quadro 4000
Nvidia 650M and 750M

Intel cards are not supported on the Mac :? -> looks like iMac 4k is totally out of the question

Anyone who's got a mac can give me their feedback on this please?
Thanks!

twod
AMD has fixed the source of the problem in their OSX driver, and it should be rolling out with the new El Cap update.

So is the advice to update to El Capitan now?

fmax007
Anyone who's got a mac can give me their feedback on this please?
Thanks!

I'm running a mid 2015 Mac Book Pro, OSX 10.10.5, 16GB RAM, AMD Radeon R9 M370X (not listed as supported)

I'm a Houdini newb… Houdini 15 seems fine so far on laptop (had to adjust UI scale as icons and text were microscopic)

On an external monitor (old Dell 2407WFP) the UI is totally garbled.