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dcmaia
Known Participant
August 23, 2023
Question

Illustrator switching to CPU Preview Mode and greys out "view using GPU"

  • August 23, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 254 views

Just as the title says. I've had this issue for a few years now (just one of those many bugs we all learn to live with). But I'm making a post about it because it's gotten a bit egregious lately. The only (partial) solution is to save, close the file, and re-open it. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

 

I know others have posted about this, but none provide solutions.

 

Currently running a 2023 16" MBP with an M2 Max and 32GB. But I've had this happen on other Macs, both running Intel and Apple Silicon.

 

Thanks!

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Monika GauseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 1, 2023

Does Preferences > Performance show that your GPU is compatible?

 

What kind of files are those?

You reboot the computer regularly, do you?

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dcmaiaAuthor
Known Participant
September 1, 2023

Preference > Performance does show a compatible GPU.

What do you mean by what kind of files? They are Illustrator files. The only common thread between files auto switching to CPU Preview is they tend to be on the larger side (>500MB), so my best guess is a RAM issue.

 

Rebooting was a coworker's suggestion as well. I don't power cycle the computer every day — usually once a week on Fridays — but the problem still happens a fresh reboot.

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Monika GauseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 1, 2023

Any complexity in those files? Effects, 3D, transparency, placed images?

 

There are things that the GPU cannot render too well. So maybe it's just giving up.

 

I have a MBP M1, but haven't seen that behaviour yet.

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dcmaiaAuthor
Known Participant
September 1, 2023

Forgot to mention, I'm running Illustrator 27.8.1.

B
Community Expert
Bobby HendersonCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 1, 2023

The first, obvious thing to check is any updates for the graphics card/board installed in the computer. If there is some issue between the graphics card driver and Adobe Illustrator it can result the the application running only via the CPU. The nice GPU-accelerated features such as animated zoom get disabled.

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dcmaiaAuthor
Known Participant
September 1, 2023

Does Apple provide standalone GPU drivers for Apple Silicon? The only way I'd know how to ensure up-to-date drivers is to update the OS itself. I'm running 13.5.1.

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