At this time, Impact is solely a Windows-based 32-bit application and therefore cannot run natively within any Apple Macintosh Operating System (macOS). However, by employing one of the methods outlined below, Windows can quite happily run on a Mac workstation, providing Impact with the platform it needs run.
Apple Intel-based vs ARM-based Processors (CPU)
The type of processor, aka CPU or "Chip", will determine which of the following options are available to you.
Boot Camp
Boot Camp is a multi boot utility available only for Intel-based Macs that assists users in installing Microsoft Windows operating systems on directly, allowing you to boot into either Windows or macOS.
By boot into Windows at startup, this dedicates 100% of the processing power to Windows and Windows applications. You can't use macOS again until you restart.
Virtualisation Software
For Apple's ARM-based Macs aka, M-Series, (e.g. M1/M2/M3), it's only possible to run Windows within a virtualised environment.
Virtualisation uses software to emulate PC hardware and create a "virtual machine" (VM) running alongside the Mac operating system, giving instant access to any desired Windows applications. Uses can then switch between native Mac and Windows applications at any time, without the need to reboot.
The most common virtualisation solutions for macOS are:
- Parallels Desktop
- VMware Fusion
Remember. As well as purchasing virtualisation software, you'll need to acquire a licensed copy of Windows OS.
How well will Impact run on a Mac?
How well it runs depends on the nature of the Windows environment available. This will be based upon a combination of the performance of your workstation and the configuration you choose to employ, as outlined.
Boot Camp has historically offered higher performance, as Windows is running directly on the underlying hardware, where running Windows via virtualisation adds a performance overhead. However, on high-powered Mac hardware, even with virtualisation, it is possible to achieve the same performance as a native Windows PC.
It's not uncommon for Mac users to encounter issues with GPUs, and specifically, finding compatible drivers and configuration. The 3D TruView and 3DX features require a level of OpenGL support which is typically beyond that which is offered by VM environments. To use the 3D TruView features, a native Windows environment is therefore recommended.
Is Impact supported then if I run it on a Mac?
Yes, we are happy to deal with day-to-day problems and the installation and maintenance of Impact, provided you have a valid software maintenance contract (SMC), or are willing to pay on a per-incident basis for non-SMC customers. However, we cannot be held responsible for issues pertaining to unexpected behaviour that WE deem to be caused from running what is essentially an unofficially supported system configuration.
Note. Arden support are not responsible for any aspect of the installation and configuration of your Windows-on-Mac setup. Such requests should be directed to your own system administrators / IT personnel.
Licensing Considerations
From Impact 2016 R4 onwards, we have offered two licensing options. Nalpeiron software-based licensing tied to a specific workstation, and Arden Licence Server, which offers a floating, network-based option allowing licences to be shared between multiple workstations.
Where Windows is being ran under within a virtualised environment, the Nalpeiron software-based licensing mechanism will require that the Impact licence is reactivated with every use of software, which means it can only be used when "online", i.e. connected to the internet.