Need Advise on Computer for 3D Rendering

#1

Hi, I would like some advice on which computer to buy to render 3D Images. I currently use a Mac laptop and a Cintiq as my monitor.

I am using a Mac Pro (see specs below) to render blender files and the rendering is unbearably slow. 4 hours for a 1000 x 2000 pixel image. I want a fast machine that can render large files quickly.

I will be using: Photoshop, Blender and Unreal.

I am looking to upgrade to a Windows machine and need some advice as to what to buy that will allow for fast rendering. I have done some research and have a couple of questions. Please offer any advice as I am not really experienced in what to bu and want to get a PC that will not disappoint or deliver slow rendering.

  1. I am wondering if I should go for a Windows desktop or a Windows Laptop machine. I would prefer a laptop for allowing me to work in different locations but am worried it might not be powerful enough to render large files or is this a non-issue. Will a good laptop be just as fast as a desktop. Do the benefits of portability out weigh the extra speed of a desktop or are the differences minimal. What are your experiences.

  2. How does this laptop stack up for rendering?
    MSI NVIDIA RTX 2070 8G, 144Hz 7ms, Intel i7-8750H, 32GB, 512GB SSD Razor Thin Bezel Gaming Laptop, 15.6", Matte Black with Gold Diamond Cut (GS65 Stealth-002)


(My Current Computer)
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014)
Processor: 2.5 GHz Intel Core i7
Memory: 16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M 2048 MB
Intel Iris Pro 1536 MB

#2

A laptop for rendering is not the way to go. For the same amount of money you’ll always get a much slower laptop compared to a pc. Furthermore, laptops aren’t made for these tasks. They get really hot under heavy loads, especially if the loads are applied for long periods of time, like when you’re rendering. So, it’s a no from any point of view.

As for the best windows pc for your work (basically Blender+Cycles), it depends on the budget. You’re aiming at a fast processor in STP tasks, and you’ll need the best gpu you can buy, for Cycles gpu rendering.

So, mention your budget and if you’ll also need a monitor and other peripherals too.

#3

FatherN, thank you. Ok, so no laptop. That makes sense.

As for the best window pc for your work (basically Blender+Cycles), it depends on the budget. You’re aiming at a fast processor in STP tasks, and you’ll need the best gpu you can buy, for Cycles gpu rendering.

My budget is about $ 3K $3000.00. I think I’ll just use my Cintiq as my monitor.
I’m not sure which processor would be best (Nvidia, Intel or AMD RX) so if you could advise I would appreciate it.

#4

Sure. The budget is more than enough for a very powerful workstation.
Where are you located?
I just want to see local prices.

Edit: This is an idea of what you can get for the budget in US prices
PCPartPicker Part List

#5

Thanks, I’m in Canada. Do you know which which processor would be best (Nvidia, Intel or AMD RX)

#6

Ok, so I’ve made some changes accordingly. PCPartPicker Part List

Processor manufacturers are Intel and AMD. Nvidia manufactures only gpus.

In my opinion, the best parts right now are AMD cpus and Nvidia gpus, as seen in the list above.

#7

Why not to go with gtx 1080ti 11 gb? It’s much cheaper.

#8

Because it’s of a previous generation, and it’s only worth it if you buy it used.
Especially for Cycles gpu rendering, the 1080ti is equivalent with the 2060 Super, which costs half its price (~550 $CAD vs 1100$CAD)

Besides that, the technologies implemented in RTX gpus are gradually absorbed in various rendering platforms. It’s a pity to buy a gpu now, and not having these features.

The best gpu solution for this budget would be 2x2070 Super. They would cost the same (~700$CAD each) with one 2080ti, and should be quite faster in rendering, but the 2080ti has the 11gb Vram, so that’s why I suggested TS started with it.

#9

I see your point. Anyway, 1080ti makes sense only for about 200-300$ for a used one, and yet it’s a gamble, considering mining background verisimilar.
We might expect a good deal next summer, when the 3000 series will be released. I suspect it will have 16 gb of video memory for top-tier gaming series, whereas basic ones will go with 12 gb.
But then again, the wait is long.

#10

The wait is long, and AMD doesn’t seem to have a solid answer on the way. Nvidia is ages ahead, especially in 3d apps (in gaming too, but it’s a different story), with various new technologies bringing great improvements in 3d production and AI (Optix denoiser, tensor cores etc). This means, that Nvidia plays alone in this field right now. And that’s confirmed by the fact that 2080ti Super was just announced (they’re simply rebranding a chopped off version of RTX Titan and serve it as 2080ti Super, because they don’t need to hurry up for 3000 series).

As you agreed, a 1080ti would be a decent gpu for this use, but for less than 400$US (that’s the prices of a new 2060 Super, 8gb). The 11gb of Vram do have a meaning in large project, but most Blender users (like myself) use hybrid cpu+gpu rendering, with which out of core memory can be used for rendering of larger scenes, without a large penalty.

#11

I comprehend your standpoint. I would use 1080ti for texturing in Mari, as it utilizes video RAM fast enough. Granted it has caching, but to store lots of textures in a project still requires as much video RAM as possible. That’s why I’d go with 11 gb version if possible, but I think the price for flagship game models is too steep. I mean 1k for a videocard is a lot. I’d pay 1k if a model has 16 gb of RAM, as it would suffice for a long time. I hope next 3000 lineup will have 16 gb, but we will see in the upcoming months.
It;s ironical that in our country you can buy two 2070 super for the price of one 2080ti.

#12

Thanks to both of you, especially FatherN for all the work you’ve done to help me. I will look into this and make a decision! :slight_smile:

#13

I’ll leave this here because it’s relative and shows how important RTX technology is becoming for gpu rendering, in Cycles particularly.
https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=blender-281-optix&num=1

#14

Using a laptop for rendering is not a good idea, even though the configuration is high, laptops don’t perform well. I would like to suggest you switch to windows as it has more cost-effective hardware options.
If you need a machine in budget then, you can go for the i75th generation processor, 16GB of RAM, and 1 TB HDD with 3GB Graphics. with this basic config, you can easily use your software and get the output in lesser time. I am not claiming that this config is the best one but for sure this is the cost-effective and better option to go with.