As 3D artists, we understand that software is only as powerful as the hardware that supports it. Lumion is one of the go-to real-time rendering tools for architects and visualization professionals and has consistently pushed the boundaries of real-time rendering quality. With its newest version, the system requirements reflect that ambition.

Whether you’re new to Lumion or upgrading from an older version, understanding the updated system requirements is essential to make the most of its new features without sacrificing performance. In this article, we break down the latest system requirements, give you some context from a 3D artist’s perspective, and help you figure out what kind of hardware investment makes sense for your workflow. Let’s explore this blog with iRender!

Unlike traditional render engines that rely heavily on CPU rendering (like V-Ray or Arnold in default CPU mode), Lumion is a real-time renderer that utilizes your GPU as its primary engine. That means the more powerful your graphics card, the smoother your experience in both the editor and final output.

The newest version of Lumion has introduced features like improved ray tracing (v2.0), enhanced lighting accuracy, and a denser asset library—all of which require faster processing and more VRAM.

For basic projects, such as small residential designs or simple landscapes, the following specifications are the bare minimum:

• Operating System: Windows 10 (version 2004) or newer 
• CPU: Intel/AMD processor with a single-thread CPUMark score of 2,200 or higher 
• GPU: Graphics card with a G3DMark score of 5,500 or higher (e.g., NVIDIA GTX 1060, AMD RX 580) 
• VRAM: 6 GB or more 
• RAM: 16 GB 
• Storage:  300mb disk space 
• Internet Connection: Required for installation and updates

Note: This configuration is suitable only for simple projects and may not support Lumion’s advanced features effectively.

For more complex projects involving detailed interiors, extensive landscapes, or high-resolution textures, consider the following setup:

• Operating System: Windows 10 (version 2004) or newer 
• CPU: Intel/AMD processor with a single-thread CPUMark score of 2,600 or higher 
• GPU: Ray tracing-capable graphics card with a PassMark score of 10,000 or higher (e.g., NVIDIA RTX 3060 or better) 
• VRAM: 10 GB or more 
• RAM: 16GB 
• Storage:  300mb disk space 
• Internet Connection: Required for installation and updates 

Note: This configuration supports most of Lumion’s features, including moderate ray tracing and AI upscaling.

For ultra-complex projects, such as detailed cityscapes or large-scale architectural visualizations, a high-end setup is essential:

• Operating System: Windows 10 (version 2004) or newer 
• CPU: Intel/AMD processor with a single-thread CPUMark score well above 3,000 
• GPU: Professional-grade graphics card with a PassMark score of 14,000 or higher (e.g., NVIDIA RTX 4090) 
• VRAM: 16 GB or more 
• RAM: 32GB 
• Storage: 300mb disk space 
• Internet Connection: Required for installation and updates

Note: This configuration ensures optimal performance for all of Lumion’s advanced features, including full ray tracing and high-resolution rendering.

Lumion 2025 leverages ray tracing technology for enhanced realism. Therefore, a graphics card that supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing is crucial. Compatible GPUs include:

• NVIDIA: RTX 20 series and newer 
• AMD: Radeon RX 6000 series and newer 
• Intel: ARC A series and newer

Ensure your GPU drivers are up to date to maintain compatibility and performance.

While Lumion is GPU-intensive, a capable CPU ensures smooth operation, especially when handling complex scenes. Aim for a processor with a high single-thread performance. Additionally, sufficient RAM (32 GB or more) is vital to prevent bottlenecks during rendering and editing.

• Storage: An SSD is recommended for faster loading times and overall responsiveness.
  
• Power Supply: A minimum of an 80+ Gold-rated PSU with adequate wattage is advised to support high-performance components.

As we’ve explored, Lumion 2025 brings powerful features like real-time ray tracing and AI-driven enhancements, but with those innovations come significant hardware demands. Not every artist or studio has immediate access to top-tier GPUs like the RTX 4090 or the RAM-heavy builds needed for complex scenes.

That’s where iRender becomes a game-changer. iRender is proud to be one of the best GPU service providers on the market. We provide you with high-configuration models with advanced specifications such as AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ PRO 3955WX @ 3.9 – 4.2GHz or AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ PRO 5975WX @ 3.6 – 4, 5GHz, 256GB RAM, 2TB NVMe SSD storage. Most importantly, we always update to the latest GPU technology, with 1/2/4/6/8 x RTX3090/RTX4090.

With the benefits that iRender brings to you as well as the configuration that is very suitable for all versions of Lumion, do not hesitate to use the service at iRender to have a great experience with your rendering time. Under the IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) model, you will have full control over the entire rendering process and use it as your personal machine. Therefore, you can install any software and plug-ins you want, add your license, and render or modify your project yourself.

Below is information about our 3S package, which is the most suitable for Lumion:

Not only does it have powerful configurations, but iRender also provides you with many more services. Free and convenient transfer tool, iRender drive for macOS and Linux users. For Windows users, we recommend the iRender GPU application, you will not need to access our website anymore. The price at iRender is also very flexible with hourly rental (pay as you use), and daily/weekly/monthly rental with a 10-20% discount. 

We’re always happy to help you with any questions. If you have any problems or questions, don’t hesitate to contact our 24/7 support team. Or via Whatsapp: 0912 785 500 for free advice and support.

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Source and image:proxpc.com, lumion.com, support.lumion.com

Unreal Engine is a leading software in the game development industry. If you’re planning to build a PC for Unreal Engine 5, this article will be a helpful reference.

To begin building a PC for Unreal Engine 5, it’s important to understand the requirements outlined by Epic Games. Let’s see what we have here!

Unreal Engine 5 requires Windows 10 version 1703 and the DirectX End-User Runtimes (June 2010) to function.

However, these minimum specs won’t provide the best experience. For a smooth and efficient workflow, it’s favourable to build your PC for Unreal Engine 5 based on the recommended hardware below.

• Operating System: Windows 10 64-bit, version 1909 or later

Note: Windows 10 will no longer be supported after October 14, 2025. To ensure continued updates and support, I recommend upgrading to Windows 11.

• Processor: Intel or AMD quad-core CPU, 2.5 GHz or faster
• Memory: 32 GB RAM
• VRAM: 8 GB or more
• Graphics Card: A DirectX 11 or 12 compatible GPU with up-to-date drivers

Note: DirectX 11 is more suitable for older PCs, while DirectX 12 offers better performance through higher frame rates, improved multi-core processing, and support for parallel and asynchronous tasks.

Curious about the kind of PC for Unreal Engine 5 used by Epic Games themselves? Here’s a breakdown of their standard development workstation:

• Operating System: Windows 10 22H2
• Power Supply: 1000W PSU
• RAM: 128GB DDR4-3200
• Processor: AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 3975WX — 32 cores / 64 threads, 128MB cache, 3.5 GHz base / 4.2 GHz boost, 280W TDP
• OS Drive: 1TB M.2 NVMe3 x4 PCIe SSD
• Data Drive: 4TB RAID 0 using 2x 2TB NVMe3 x4 PCIe SSDs
• GPU: Nvidia RTX 3080 with 10GB of VRAM
• Networking: Onboard 1Gbps NIC + Intel X550-T1 10G PCIe Ethernet card

When assembling a PC for Unreal Engine 5, there are four key components you need to focus on:

• CPU – the most critical part
• GPU
• RAM
• Storage Drives

Let’s break each of them down.

The CPU plays a central role in any Unreal Engine development setup. Most tasks in the engine—like shader compilation, light baking, and code compiling—depend heavily on CPU performance.

When selecting a processor, it’s important to consider both clock speed and the number of cores. Higher clock speeds are ideal for single-threaded tasks, while more cores significantly improve performance during rendering and compiling processes.

Recommended choices:

• For most users: Intel Core™ Ultra or AMD Ryzen 9000 Series
• For highly parallel workloads: AMD Threadripper™ (offers more cores)
• For the fastest compile times: AMD Threadripper PRO (provides even more cores)

If you’re working with a limited budget, prioritize investing in a powerful CPU. For rendering tasks, services like iRender farm can support you with high-end GPUs. 

Even though our systems are equipped with AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ PRO 3955WX @ 3.9–4.2 GHz, which are well-suited for Unreal Engine editing, it’s still best to handle project editing on your own workstation and rely on external services like iRender for GPU-intensive rendering, as our hardware is optimized for that purpose.

In Unreal Engine, the GPU is responsible for viewport rendering, real-time lighting, and tasks that benefit from GPU acceleration. A more powerful graphics card ensures smoother performance, especially when dealing with complex environments, ray tracing, or virtual production pipelines.

Key Factors to Consider When Selecting a GPU:

• VRAM (Video Memory): If you’re working on complex scenes, especially large-scale open-world projects, having a high VRAM capacity is crucial. While 8GB is the bare minimum, 16GB or more is strongly recommended for demanding workloads.
• Clock Speed: A higher clock speed (measured in MHz) typically results in better overall GPU performance.
• Ray Tracing Support: If you plan to use ray tracing in Unreal Engine, make sure the GPU supports the latest ray tracing technology.

Recommended choices: High-end GeForce RTX or RTX professional graphics cards

• GeForce RTX 3060 or higher: Opt for ray tracing and real-time rendering
• Quadro RTX series cards: The professional choice, but at a higher price than the GeForce RTX with the same VRAM.

Why choose one powerful GPU instead of multiple mid-range GPUs?

Unreal Engine technically supports multi-GPU setups (which require NVLink or SLI) to boost ray tracing performance. Despite its potential, this feature does come with some limitations in practice. 

First, GPU compatibility is limited. While both SLI and NVLink allow multiple identical NVIDIA GPUs to work in tandem, with NVLink even enabling shared VRAM to boost total memory capacity, these technologies are only supported on select older GPU models. Unfortunately, newer cards like the RTX 4090 and RTX 5090 do not support NVLink or SLI, making multi-GPU setups less viable with the latest hardware.

Second, real-world usage reveals reliability issues. Feedback from iRender users indicates that dual RTX 3090 setups using NVLink can occasionally underperform or even crash, whereas a single RTX 4090 tends to deliver more stable and consistent results. It’s recommended to use dual RTX 3090 setups using NVLink in case you need larger VRAM, trading off the performance.

Lastly, some Unreal Engine users have reported that the “Multi-GPU for Path Tracing” option is no longer consistently available, although Epic Games has yet to officially address this change.

Therefore, for building a PC for Unreal Engine 5, it’s generally better to invest in a powerful single GPU rather than using two medium-range cards.

If you’re planning a large project with ray tracing in Unreal Engine and need powerful hardware like dual RTX 3090s (48GB VRAM combined via NVLink) or a single RTX 4090 (24GB VRAM), you can sign up for a free trial with iRender’s GPU cloud rendering service.

If not all GPU cards work in Multi-GPU rendering, check this article.

The amount of RAM needed for your PC for Unreal Engine 5 depends on the scale of your project and how memory-intensive your tasks are.

Recommended choices:

• 32GB: Suitable for most developers working on typical game projects
• 64GB or more: Ideal for handling large assets, complex scenes, and running multiple demanding programs at once
• 128GB: Best for professionals involved in high-end virtual production or expansive open-world environments
• DDR5 RAM: Offers improved bandwidth and energy efficiency, which enhances overall system responsiveness and performance

At iRender, each machine is equipped with 256GB of RAM—more than enough for demanding Unreal Engine workflows.

When configuring storage for a PC for Unreal Engine 5, consider using a combination of different drive types to balance speed, capacity, and cost.

Types of Storage Drives:

• Solid-State Drive (SSD): Much faster than traditional HDDs for booting the OS and loading applications
• PCIe M.2 NVMe SSD: More expensive, but delivers significantly higher speed compared to standard SSDs
• Hard Disk Drive (HDD): Slower but cost-effective and suitable for bulk data storage

Suggested Drive Setup:

• Primary Drive (OS and software): SSD or NVMe for fast system performance
• Secondary Drive (project files): SSD or NVMe to ensure smooth loading and saving of assets
• Optional Backup Drive (archiving): HDD for long-term storage and backup of less frequently accessed data
  

iRender provides 2TB of NVMe SSD storage per machine, enough capacity and speed for even large-scale Unreal Engine projects.

iRender offers high-performance machines equipped with premium specs for Unreal Engine such as the AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ PRO 3955WX (3.9–4.2GHz), along with options for 1 RTX 4090 or 2x RTX 3090 GPUs, 256GB of RAM, and 2TB NVMe SSD storage.

Why can iRender be a great render farm for you?

In addition to high-configuration servers, iRender provides many other utilities to provide the best user experience.

• Dedicated server for individuals: You have full control and access to the server you rent. The working environment (installed apps, files) will be stored for the next use.
• Easy and free file transfer between your computer and iRender’s server: The transferring task can be done via iRender GPU application for Windows and the iRender Drive application for MacOS.
• 24/7 assistance: iRender’s attentive agents are always ready to support all your queries.
• All software compatibility: iRender’s PCs are built to meet the configuration needs of all 3D software and rendering tools at a variety of cost levels for users to choose from.

Let’s see how fast Unreal Engine renders on iRender’s nodes!

New users will get a 100% bonus for the first transaction within 24 hours of their registration. No minimum amount!! If you top up 50$, you will get 100 points in total to hire our machines.

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If you have any questions, please get in touch with me through email duongdt@irender.vn or our 24/7 support team for a quick response.

Thank you for reading

Source: Epic Games, Unreal Engine forum, Puget Systems, Film Maker tools, Workstation specialist

NVIDIA Iray is a powerful, unbiased GPU-based render engine available in Daz Studio, alongside the original 3Delight renderer. In this guide, we’ll explore the best settings for iRay in Daz3D to help you achieve high-quality renders efficiently.

Before fine-tuning render settings, it’s important to configure your General settings properly. Set a clear save location and make sure your output resolution is correct.

You can choose from several built-in resolution presets like VGA or Panorama. For custom sizes, select Custom and enter your preferred pixel dimensions and aspect ratio.

Recommendation: Use double your desired resolution for rendering, then downscale in an image editor (e.g., Photoshop) for better results.

There are 3 options:

• Still Image (Current Frame) – for a single render
• Image Series – for animations, one frame at a time
• Movie – exports a full animation in one file

Recommendation: It’s safer to use Image Series for animations. That way, if rendering gets interrupted, you can resume from the last saved frame instead of starting over.

Decide whether your render opens in a new window or saves directly to the file.

Specify a file name and choose where it should be saved.

Recommendation: If you’re using iRender’s servers, save to any folder on the Desktop to avoid potential errors or crashes.

The headlamp is useful during scene setup for visibility if no lights are present. 

Recommendation: For final rendering, it’s usually best to turn it off to avoid unwanted lighting.

Here, you’ll choose between:

• Photoreal – the highest quality option, ideal for realism
• Interactive – faster previews with lower accuracy

Since Iray is known for its physically accurate results, we’ll focus on the best settings for iRay in Daz3D using the Photoreal mode.

Note: Some render settings may differ slightly depending on the mode selected.

To get the best balance between speed and quality in Iray rendering, it’s essential to understand how progressive rendering works. These settings affect how the image updates while rendering and when rendering stops.

These settings determine how frequently the image updates during the rendering process:

• Min Update Samples: Sets the minimum number of samples per pixel required before the image refreshes on screen. A higher value means less frequent updates, but potentially cleaner previews.
• Update Interval: Defines the time (in seconds) between updates, regardless of how many samples have been calculated.

Recommendation: Most Daz3D users leave Min Update Samples at 1 and keep the Update Interval at its default value for smoother visual feedback during rendering.

Min Samples and Max Samples determine the range of samples per pixel that Iray needs to calculate before finishing the render. Max Time limits how long Iray will spend rendering. All three settings can work together, which means the rendering whill stop when any one of them is reached.

Recommendations:

• Min Samples: Often left at 0
• Max Samples: Increased for higher detail — portraits may go up to 15,000–40,000
• Max Time: Can be left at 0 (no time limit), or set based on how long you’re willing to wait
• Leave Min Samples at 0 and raise the Max Samples and Max Time values to improve image quality, accepting longer render times as a trade-off.

• Rendering Quality (default = 1): Controls final image accuracy. Doubling this value roughly doubles the render time.
• Converged Ratio (default = 95%): Specifies when Iray considers the image “complete.” Raising this may improve quality, but also significantly increases render time.

Recommendation: Keep the default unless you absolutely need cleaner results. Adjust with care.

The Alpha settings affect how transparency is handled in renders. The only adjustable option here is Default Alpha LPE (Light Path Expressions).

Recommendation: Unless you’re having issues with transparency or rendering alpha maps, it’s best to leave this setting at “specular transmission objects.”

Focus on these two key options for optimization:

Caustics are the light patterns formed when light is refracted (through glass) or reflected (off shiny surfaces). These effects can add realism but significantly increase render time.

Recommendation: Enable Caustic Sampler only if you’re rendering glass, water, or reflective materials and want physically accurate lighting.

Guided Sampling helps speed up Iray rendering and reduce noise, especially when used alongside the Firefly Filter. It may increase the memory usage, but the visual payoff is worth it for complex lighting.

Recommendation: Turn on Guided Sampling if your scene includes:

• Large soft shadows (from big area lights)
• Volumetric effects (e.g., fog)
• Occluded or indirect light sources
• Moderate caustics (but not full caustic rendering)

In the latest version of Daz Studio, the Filtering tab becomes visible once you click the Render button. 

During rendering, it’s common to encounter small, overly bright white pixels scattered throughout your image, often referred to as “fireflies.” These occur in areas where lighting is difficult to calculate accurately. The Firefly Filter is designed to automatically eliminate these spots and improve image quality. 

Recommendation: It’s highly recommended to keep this filter enabled in all your renders. For better results, especially in challenging scenes, it’s also advised to use it in combination with Guided Sampling.

This filter helps reduce overall noise in your image without sacrificing too much detail. You can adjust this filter on a scale from 1 to 5. Lower values like 1 to 3 offer a more conservative approach, focusing on reducing noise in difficult parts of the scene while maintaining sharpness. 

Note: Firefly Filter and Noise Degraining Filter are not supported in Interactive rendering mode.

It is especially useful in scenes with complex lighting and shadows. This tool enhances the image after rendering has reached a certain stage, helping to clean up remaining visual imperfections. However, because it uses additional memory and can affect performance, it’s important to use it wisely. Make sure both the “Available” and “Enabled” options are active if you decide to use it. 

Post Denoiser Start Iteration determines how soon in the render process the denoiser begins its work. If it starts too early—like at the default setting of 8 iterations—it can result in longer render times and a blurrier image. A better approach is to delay the denoiser until the final few hundred iterations. For example, if you’re rendering 500 total iterations, starting the denoiser around iteration 250 to 350 will save memory and produce a sharper, cleaner result.

Post Denoiser Denoise Alpha is useful if your render includes transparent elements and you want to reduce noise in the alpha channel. Just be aware that enabling this option can potentially double denoising time. Still, it’s worth using if you notice transparency-related noise in your final image.

Spectral Rendering is a specialized feature that simulates light and color based on real-world wavelengths rather than relying solely on the RGB color model. This method provides more physically accurate color interactions, which can make a noticeable difference when rendering materials like glass, liquids, or skin. 

In most cases, especially for casual or intermediate users, it’s recommended to leave Spectral Rendering disabled unless you’re aiming for highly realistic lighting effects and are comfortable adjusting your workflow to match. While the feature can produce stunning results, it also increases render time and can complicate color management if you’re not familiar with the underlying color theory.

When White Mode is enabled, Iray Interactive applies a plain white diffuse material to all objects in the scene. This mode helps evaluate lighting and shadows without the distraction of surface textures or colors.

Section Objects allow you to visually “cut” through a 3D model or scene, exposing the interior without altering the geometry. You can add an Iray Section Plane via the Create dropdown in Daz Studio. 

Enabling Section Caps fills in the cut surfaces with a solid material or color, instead of leaving the openings hollow or transparent.

In newer versions of Daz3D, the Tone Mapping tab will appear after clicking the Render button.

This feature controls how lighting and color are balanced in the final image (similar to camera exposure settings). Adjusting tone mapping can help fine-tune brightness, contrast, and overall mood of your renders. 

Most users are fine with the default settings, but if you’re curious, I recommend a tutorial video like “Daz Studio: Using Tone Mapping – NotFromThisWorld”.

Found under the Environment tab (after hitting Render), this section lets you define the lighting and ambiance of your scene. The core setting here is the Dome, which controls lighting direction, reflections, and general atmosphere. For example, a dome with a sunny forest scene will reflect that environment’s light and mood.

You can choose from several Environment Modes:

• Dome and Scene: Combines dome lighting with your scene’s lights (e.g., spotlights) 
• Dome Only: Ignores any lights in your scene and uses only the dome.
• Sun-Sky Only: Uses only the simulated sun and sky from the dome.
• Scene Only: Uses just the lights you’ve placed in the scene, ignoring the dome.

Recommendation: Stick with “Dome and Scene” if you want flexibility and better lighting control for most renders.

Finally, when discussing the best settings for iRay in Daz3D, it’s essential to consider the Hardware section. Here, you can select whether to use one or more GPUs, the CPU, or a combination of both for rendering. GPUs offer a significant performance advantage, especially for complex scenes, and can dramatically reduce your Iray render times. While combining CPU and GPU is an option, it doesn’t always lead to better results and may actually slow things down in some cases.

For the most efficient rendering, it’s generally recommended to rely on GPU-only rendering, particularly if you have access to multiple GPUs, as this can greatly boost both speed and quality.

iRender provides private high-configuration machines with upmarket specifications that excel in rendering, like AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ PRO 3955WX @ 3.9 – 4.2GHz or AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ PRO 5975WX @ 3.6 – 4.5GHz, 1/2/4/6/8 x RTX4090 or RTX3090,  RAM 256GB, Storage NVMe SSD 2TB.

Why can iRender be a great render farm for you?

In addition to high-configuration servers, iRender provides many other utilities to provide the best user experience.

• Dedicated server for individuals: You have full control and access to the server you rent. The working environment (installed apps, files) will be stored for the next use.
• Easy and free file transfer between your computer and iRender’s server: The transferring task can be done via iRender GPU application for Windows and the iRender Drive application for MacOS.
• 24/7 assistance: iRender’s attentive agents are always ready to support all your queries.
• All software compatibility: iRender’s PCs are built to meet the configuration needs of all 3D software and rendering tools at a variety of cost levels for users to choose from.

Take a look at the videos below to see how Iray renders on our nodes.

New users will get a 100% bonus for the first transaction within 24 hours of their registration. No minimum amount!! If you top up 50$, you will get 100 points in total to hire our machines.

REGISTER NOW

If you have any questions, please get in touch with me through email duongdt@irender.vn or our 24/7 support team for a quick response.

Thank you for reading

Source: Daz3D, Render Guide

In the world of 3D creation—whether you’re rendering photorealistic scenes in Blender, animating in Cinema 4D, or sculpting in ZBrush—your hardware plays a critical role in the speed and quality of your work. One of the most important aspects is GPU memory—specifically, the difference between dedicated and shared GPU memory. This article will break down these two types of GPU memory, how they affect 3D workflows, and what you should look for when choosing or optimizing your setup. Let’s explore with iRender.

GPU memory—often referred to as VRAM (Video Random Access Memory)—is used to store graphics data such as textures, geometry, shaders, frame buffers, and more. It’s essential for real-time rendering, viewport interaction, and GPU-accelerated tasks like ray tracing or simulation.

There are two main types:

• Dedicated GPU memory: Physical VRAM built into a discrete graphics card.
• Shared GPU memory: System RAM borrowed for graphics tasks, mainly in integrated or lower-tier GPUs.

Dedicated GPU memory refers to the memory that’s physically built into a discrete (dedicated) graphics card. Think NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 or AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX. This memory, typically labeled as VRAM (Video RAM), is reserved exclusively for GPU tasks, like rendering, shading, or real-time viewport preview.

Key Characteristics:

• Faster bandwidth: VRAM is designed for high-speed parallel processing.
  
• Independent from system RAM: It doesn’t borrow memory from your main system.
  
• Better performance: Ideal for handling large textures, complex meshes, and high-resolution viewport rendering.
  

Why It Matters for 3D Artists:

• High performance: VRAM offers high bandwidth and low latency, critical for rendering large scenes and working with high-resolution assets.
• Stability: Large 3D scenes often exceed 8 GB or even 16 GB of memory. When rendering high-poly scenes or using GPU-accelerated engines like Cycles, OctaneRender, or Redshift, the GPU relies heavily on VRAM. If your scene exceeds the available VRAM, it can cause crashes or force your system to fall back on slower system memory, dramatically affecting performance.
• Viewport interaction: Tasks like sculpting, physics simulation, or shading nodes rely heavily on quick memory access.

Example: A detailed scene with 8K textures, volumetrics, and multiple light sources might easily consume 12–16 GB of VRAM.

Shared GPU memory is a portion of your system’s RAM that the GPU can access if it runs out of dedicated VRAM. This is common in integrated graphics (like Intel Iris Xe or AMD Radeon Vega), where the GPU is part of the CPU and doesn’t have its own dedicated VRAM.

Shared GPU memory is useful for basic tasks like modeling, sculpting low-poly assets, or working on simpler scenes. But if you’re rendering or doing heavy viewport work, performance will suffer.

Key Characteristics:

• Slower than VRAM: Because it’s standard system memory, not optimized for graphical workloads.
  
• Dynamic allocation: The system decides how much RAM can be used as shared memory.
  
• Can help—but not replace—dedicated VRAM: It’s a fallback, not a replacement.
  

Limitations in 3D Workflows

• Lower bandwidth: System RAM is slower than VRAM, causing bottlenecks during intensive tasks.
  
• Less memory available overall: If 4 GB of your 16 GB RAM is being used as GPU memory, that’s less for your OS and other apps.
  
• Poor scalability: Great for light modeling or UI-based design work, but not for high-end rendering or VFX.

Example: A laptop with 16 GB of RAM might allocate 4–6 GB as shared memory. However, the bandwidth and latency differences mean it’s not suitable for serious GPU rendering.

As a 3D artist, the type of GPU memory your system uses can make or break your creative workflow. Here’s how to decide what works best for your needs:

Choose a Dedicated GPU If:

Dedicated GPU memory is a must-have for any artist working with complex 3D pipelines. Choose a discrete GPU if:

• You regularly render scenes or animations: Whether you’re using Cycles in Blender, Arnold in Maya, or Redshift in Cinema 4D, these engines heavily rely on VRAM to handle geometry, shaders, and high-resolution outputs efficiently.

• You work with simulations: Fluid dynamics, smoke, fire, cloth, and particle simulations can be VRAM-intensive, especially during baking or real-time previews.

• Your scenes use 4K or 8K textures: Textures are among the biggest VRAM consumers. A few 8K textures can easily consume multiple gigabytes of memory.

• You need real-time performance: Applications like Unreal Engine, Unity, and NVIDIA Omniverse require real-time rendering capabilities that only dedicated GPUs can offer. Shared memory simply can’t keep up with the performance demand.

Note: Minimum VRAM recommended for modern workflows in 2025: 12–16 GB
High-end scenes, especially those with volumetrics or ray tracing, may require 24 GB or more.

Use Shared GPU Memory Only If:

Shared memory can be a temporary or entry-level solution, but it comes with limitations. It’s only suitable if:

• You’re a student or hobbyist: If you’re just learning the basics or practicing low-poly modeling, integrated graphics can suffice.

• You mainly model or texture low-poly assets: Tasks that don’t involve real-time rendering or GPU-accelerated rendering can run on minimal hardware.

• You don’t render using GPU acceleration: If you’re using CPU rendering engines or just exporting assets, GPU memory becomes less critical.

For any 3D artist aiming to work efficiently and professionally, dedicated GPU memory is a necessity. It provides the raw speed, stability, and memory bandwidth required to handle complex scenes, render high-res outputs, and work efficiently in real-time environments.

However, high-end GPUs with large VRAM (like 24 GB or more) come at a steep cost and may not be accessible for every artist, especially freelancers or small studios.

That’s where iRender comes in. iRender is proud to be one of the best GPU service providers on the market. We provide you with high-configuration models with advanced specifications such as AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ PRO 3955WX @ 3.9 – 4.2GHz or AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ PRO 5975WX @ 3.6 – 4, 5GHz, 256GB RAM, 2TB NVMe SSD storage. Most importantly, we always update to the latest GPU technology, with 1/2/4/6/8 x RTX3090/RTX4090.

Under the IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) model you will have full control over the machine via a remote desktop app, similar to TeamViewer but more stable. You will be able to proactively install the software and use it on the server just like using a personal computer. You can find many server packages with high-end configurations that are extremely suitable for complex projects.

We’re always happy to help you with any questions. If you have any problems or questions, don’t hesitate to contact our 24/7 support team. Or via Whatsapp: 0912 785 500 for free advice and support.

Right now iRender has a SPECIAL PROMOTION program with a 100% bonus for the first transaction within 24 hours of your registration. It means that you can get an extra 100% of the money you recharged the first time. And points never expire, so you can use them at any time.

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Thank you & Happy Rendering!

Source and image:Intel, Reddit, pugetsystems, cgdirector

Redshift is a robust 3D rendering software that helps bring designs, models, animations, and entire scenes to life. In this article, we’ll cover everything from the minimum system requirements to detailed hardware recommendations for building the Best PCs for Redshift Rendering.

Before putting together the best PCs for Redshift rendering, it’s essential to understand the minimum system requirements. Below, you’ll find both the minimum and recommended specs as outlined by Maxon.

Redshift supports three rendering modes, including options for GPU and/or CPU rendering. However, it has been observed that CPU rendering is significantly slower than GPU rendering, even though the output quality is quite comparable. For those working within a tighter budget, it’s advisable to prioritize investing in a high-performance GPU.

While the CPU doesn’t directly influence Redshift’s GPU rendering speed, a more powerful CPU can accelerate tasks like mesh extraction, texture loading, and scene data preparation. Additionally, if your workstation will also handle modeling or animation tasks using tools like Cinema 4D, Maya, or 3ds Max, the CPU becomes an important component.

When selecting a CPU to build the Best PCs for Redshift Rendering, three main factors should be kept in mind:

• Core Count

A higher number of cores improves multitasking capabilities and enhances performance in multi-threaded software. If you opt for Redshift’s CPU rendering, having more cores will also be advantageous.

• Clock Speed

CPUs with higher clock speeds can process instructions more rapidly, leading to faster computation. This boosts responsiveness during editing tasks and speeds up real-time previews, benefiting modeling and animation workflows.

• PCIe Lanes

The total number of PCIe lanes supported by the CPU directly impacts how many GPUs can be installed in your system. This is especially crucial for Redshift GPU rendering, as adding more GPUs will noticeably reduce rendering times.

Recommended CPUs:

• AMD Ryzen™ 7 9700X – 8 cores, 3.8 to 5.5 GHz, 28 PCIe lanes
• AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ PRO 3955WX – 16 cores, 3.9 to 4.2 GHz, 128 PCIe lanes
• AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ PRO 5975WX – 32 cores, 3.6 to 4.5 GHz, 128 PCIe 4.0 lanes
• AMD Threadripper™ PRO 7965WX – 24 cores, 4.2 to 5.3 GHz, 148 PCIe lanes

Since Redshift is primarily a GPU-based renderer, the graphics card becomes the most critical component when building the Best PCs for Redshift Rendering. Two main factors of the GPU affect rendering performance in Redshift: the GPU’s raw speed and its available memory (VRAM).

• Raw Speed

The raw speed of a GPU doesn’t have a standardized measurement. Users often compare rendering times across various GPU models to assess their relative performance. Naturally, a faster GPU will deliver better rendering speeds.

• VRAM (Video Memory)

VRAM determines the size and complexity of scenes that can be handled efficiently. Although Redshift can use the system RAM when GPU memory runs out, this approach significantly slows down the rendering process. For optimal performance, it’s advisable to choose GPUs with sufficient onboard VRAM to match your project demands.

• Multi-GPU Setup

Redshift can take advantage of multiple GPUs to enhance rendering speed. It is best practice to use GPUs of the same architecture and model to minimize instability risks. Additionally, when mixing GPUs with different VRAM capacities, the system will default to the smallest available VRAM across all cards, which can lead to inefficiencies.

While Redshift is compatible with both AMD and NVIDIA graphics cards, we recommend opting for NVIDIA GPUs for the best compatibility and performance. NVIDIA GeForce GPUs are popular for offering excellent raw performance and solid VRAM at an accessible price point. Moreover, NVIDIA GeForce GPUs offer advantages like CUDA cores, OptiX, and advanced ray tracing capabilities that significantly boost Redshift rendering performance. In contrast, NVIDIA Quadro cards deliver higher VRAM capacities—often double that of GeForce cards—and are engineered for demanding, continuous workloads, though they come at a higher cost relative to performance. 

Ultimately, the decision between these options depends on your specific workload and budget.

Recommended GPUs:

• GeForce RTX™ 5080 16GB
• GeForce RTX™ 5090 32GB
• GeForce RTX™ 4090 24GB
• GeForce RTX™ 3090 24GB

In Redshift rendering, RAM (Random Access Memory) is primarily used to store the scene data and prepare it for rendering on the GPU. Specifically, it holds texture data before it’s transferred to the GPU’s VRAM. 

The recommended minimum RAM for Redshift rendering and GPU-based workflows is 32GB. However, if you frequently multitask or work with multiple large applications simultaneously, upgrading to 64GB or more is recommended.

Hard drives are used as long-term storage devices for computers. They store digital data such as operating systems, programs, files, and other user data.

NVMe M.2 SSDs as your primary drive is highly recommended, especially for the operating system, Redshift installation, and other key software. These SSDs provide much faster boot and load times, lower energy consumption, increased durability, and less heat compared to traditional HDDs, yet at a higher cost.

It’s also advisable to opt for at least a 500GB SSD to avoid the hassle of early upgrades to your primary drive.

Click here to learn how to optimize Redshift render settings.

iRender offers high-performance machines equipped with premium specs such as the AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ PRO 3955WX (3.9–4.2GHz), along with options for 1, 2, 4, 6, or 8 RTX 4090 or RTX 3090 GPUs, 256GB of RAM, and 2TB NVMe SSD storage.

Additionally, iRender provides each user with a free Cinema 4D – Redshift license, eliminating the need to transfer your own license to our render nodes.

Why can iRender be a great render farm for you?

In addition to high-configuration servers, iRender provides many other utilities to provide the best user experience.

• Dedicated server for individuals: You have full control and access to the server you rent. The working environment (installed apps, files) will be stored for the next use.
• Easy and free file transfer between your computer and iRender’s server: The transferring task can be done via iRender GPU application for Windows and the iRender Drive application for MacOS.
• 24/7 assistance: iRender’s attentive agents are always ready to support all your queries.
• All software compatibility: iRender’s PCs are built to meet the configuration needs of all 3D software and rendering tools at a variety of cost levels for users to choose from.

Let’s see how fast Redshift renders on iRender’s nodes!

New users will get a 100% bonus for the first transaction within 24 hours of their registration. No minimum amount!! If you top up 50$, you will get 100 points in total to hire our machines.

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If you have any questions, please get in touch with me through email duongdt@irender.vn or our 24/7 support team for a quick response.

Thank you for reading

Source: Maxon, Uli-ludwig, Pugetsystems, Exxactcorp