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Blender System Requirements and Benchmarks
Quickly Jump To: Processor (CPU)•Video Card (GPU)•Memory (RAM)•Storage (Drives)
Like most software developers, the Blender Foundation maintains a list of system requirements for Blender that can be used to help ensure the hardware in your computer system will work with their software. However, most “system requirements” lists tend to cover only the very basics of what hardware is needed to run the software, not what hardware will give the best performance. In addition, sometimes these lists can be outdated, show old hardware revisions, or simply contain sub-optimal hardware.
Because of how inconsistent these lists can be, here at Puget Systems we run benchmark tests on a wide range of hardware and publish our results to ensure that the systems we sell are perfectly tailored for your workload. Based on all our testing, here isour list of recommended hardware for a Blender PC.
Processor (CPU)
How does Blender utilize the CPU?
The processor, or CPU, is one of the most important pieces of a Blender workstation. The CPU handles tasks such as modeling, animation, physics simulations, and rendering. While GPU rendering is significantly faster in Blender, the CPU can still provide increased performance.
What CPU is best for Blender?
Currently, the overall fastest CPU for Blender depends on your specific workflow. Modeling and animation tasks are better on a single, fast core. While rendering is better with large numbers of cores. Simulations are somewhat split. Cloth and rigid body simulations only use a few fast cores, while fluid simulations will use lots of cores.
If you will be doing a lot of fluid simulations, or relying on CPU rendering, then the current fastest CPU is AMD’s Threadripper 5995WX. It offers 64-cores, and support for up to 512GB of RAM.
If you are focused on modeling and animation then Intel’s Core i9 processor paired with the new DDR5 RAM is the best option, with the Core i7 not far behind.
Does CPU clock speed improve Blender workflows?
High clock speeds have the greatest impact on modeling and animation, especially as projects become more complex.
Do more CPU cores make Blender faster?
More cores will speed up some actions such as rendering and fluid simulations, so if those tasks take up a lot of your time then maxing out the number of cores you can afford would be ideal. Additional cores will not speed up modeling and animation, though, as those are single- or lightly-threaded.
Does Blender work better with Intel or AMD CPUs?
At the moment, AMD has a lead in rendering and other well-threaded workloads due to their high CPU core counts. However, Intel’s processors tend to offer higher per-core clock speeds – making them better for modeling tasks.
Recent Blender CPU Articles:
- AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7995WX Content Creation Preview
- AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7000: Performance vs Previous Generations
- AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7000 Content Creation Review
- Blender: AMD Threadripper 7000 vs Intel Xeon W-3400
Video Card (GPU)
How does Blender utilize video cards (GPUs)?
The video card, or GPU, is responsible for how many models, textures, and effects can be displayed on the screen as well as how many frames per second can be displayed. Blender also utilizes the GPU for its built-in rendering engine.
What GPU (video card) is best for Blender?
Currently, the fastest GPU for Blender is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090. The other RTX 40-Series cards also perform quite well, though!
How much VRAM (video memory) does Blender need?
The amount of VRAM needed will depend on the complexity of the project and the final resolution. Running out of VRAM results in a significant performance decrease as it will need to use system memory to make up the difference, so it is safest to err on the high side and get a video card with more onboard memory than you need if you are unsure. Thisarticle from CGDirectormay also help.
Will multiple GPUs improve performance in Blender?
Only one video card is used for displaying content on-screen in Blender, but the built-in rendering engineisable to utilize multiple GPUs while rendering.
Does Blender work better with NVIDIA or AMD graphics cards?
NVIDIA cards have a significant performance lead over AMD when it comes to rendering due to the OptiX and CUDA APIs.
Does Blender need a professional video card, like a Quadro?
There is no specific need for a professional grade GPU, but it is worth noting that such cards often come equipped with more onboard memory (VRAM) than consumer class GPUs. If your workload needs a particularly high amount of VRAM, then it may be worth considering a pro card.
Recent Blender GPU Articles:
- Blender 3.6: AMD Ray Tracing Performance
- Intel Arc A770 and A750 Content Creation Review (Sept. 2023 Update)
- Impact of GPU PCI-e Bandwidth on Content Creation Performance
- AMD Radeon PRO W7600 and W7500 Content Creation Review
Memory (RAM)
RAM is used to store any running applications, as well as any simulation or rendering caches. If a system needs more RAM than is available, it begins using the hard drive to store and read this information. A hard drive is much slower at this than RAM is, and results in slower load times and frame rates.
How much RAM does Blender need?
The amount of RAM needed depends on the specific workflow. Blender itself can function in a system with 16GB of RAM, as long as the projects are small. Larger projects will require 32GB. Another factor to consider is what other apps are being used alongside Blender. Many artists will have several high-end applications open at the same time and would need 64GB of RAM or more. In our experience, 64 to 128GB is generally the range for most high-end users.
Storage (Drives)
Storage needs for Blender are often overlooked. Blender projects can range from small to very large as scene complexity increases. Those that are rendering high-resolution animations will also need large and fast storage. Many users also have large libraries of projects or reference files, so it is important to get the right drive for the task.
What storage configuration works best for Blender?
Having both large and fast storage is highly advisable. We recommend having one 500GB+ NVMe solid-state drive for the OS and applications, and another 1 or 2TB NVMe SSD for your project files. This should be enough for most users, but many artists will also want another large drive for their material and reference libraries. This can be a slower SATA SSD or even platter drive, depending on your budget and capacity needs. If you want additional mass storage, backup, or archival, an internal or external hard drive works well for that and is less expensive than a high capacity SSD.
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Blender Workstations and Hardware Recommendations
The article discusses hardware recommendations for Blender workstations. Puget Systems, a company that benchmarks hardware, provides tailored systems based on their testing results. They aim to ensure that the systems they sell are perfectly suited for Blender workloads.
Processor (CPU) for Blender
The CPU is an essential component for a Blender workstation. It handles tasks such as modeling, animation, physics simulations, and rendering. While GPU rendering is faster in Blender, the CPU still plays a significant role in performance.
- Best CPU for Blender: The choice of the best CPU depends on the specific workflow. For modeling and animation tasks, a single, fast core is preferable. For rendering and fluid simulations, CPUs with a large number of cores are better.
- Recommended CPUs: Currently, the AMD Threadripper 5995WX with 64 cores and support for up to 512GB of RAM is the fastest CPU for fluid simulations and CPU rendering. For modeling and animation, Intel's Core i9 processor paired with DDR5 RAM is a good option, with the Core i7 also performing well.
Video Card (GPU) for Blender
The GPU is responsible for displaying models, textures, and effects in Blender, as well as assisting in rendering using the built-in rendering engine.
- Best GPU for Blender: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is currently the fastest GPU for Blender. Other RTX 40-Series cards also perform well.
- VRAM (video memory) requirements: The amount of VRAM needed depends on the project's complexity and final resolution. Running out of VRAM can significantly decrease performance. It is recommended to have more VRAM than needed to avoid performance issues.
Memory (RAM) for Blender
RAM is used to store running applications, simulation or rendering caches, and other data. The amount of RAM required depends on the specific workflow and project size.
- Recommended RAM: Blender can function with 16GB of RAM for small projects, but larger projects may require 32GB or more. Artists who use multiple high-end applications simultaneously may need 64GB or more.
Storage (Drives) for Blender
Storage configuration is often overlooked but important for Blender workstations. The article suggests having both large and fast storage options.
- Recommended storage configuration: It is advisable to have a 500GB+ NVMe solid-state drive (SSD) for the operating system and applications, and a 1 or 2TB NVMe SSD for project files. Additional storage may be needed for material and reference libraries, which can be a slower SATA SSD or platter drive. For mass storage, backup, or archival purposes, an internal or external hard drive is a cost-effective option.
These are the key concepts discussed in the article regarding hardware recommendations for Blender workstations. If you have any further questions or need more information, feel free to ask!