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.

Sign up for an account today to experience and enjoy our services.

Thank you & Happy Rendering!

Source and image:Intel, Reddit, pugetsystems, cgdirector

D5 Render is a real-time renderer based on real-time ray tracing technology, often used in interior or exterior rendering. First release in January 2020 by Chinese developers Dimension 5, it is introduced to combine both ray tracing and rasterization to get real-time interactivity and photo-realistic images simultaneously.

In February 2025, Dimension 5 has released D5 Render version 2.10 with many updates. Some important ones are adding support for real-time path tracing, new automated 3D city generator, and updates to the night sky system and weather effects.

The biggest change in D5 Render 2.10 is the new real-time path tracing system. It’s based on NVIDIA’s ReSTIR algorithm, a modified version of which is used in existing real-time GI solution. Dimension 5 introduced it in D5 Render 2.4.

The new method will get closer to ground truth, improve diffuse indirect lighting and indirect lighting in reflections.

You can enable Real-time Path Tracing option from Preference > Rendering. It will then apply the real-time path tracing GI to the viewport, image, and video rendering. Disabling this option will revert the GI solution to the one used in version 2.9.

One of the major new features in this version of D5 Render is City Generator. You now can integrate open source data from  real-world OpenStreetMap or import Shapefile (.shp format), the system will automatically generate low-detail city models for you to adjust the heights and materials of the buildings.

D5 Render 2.10 also has some updates for nightskies generated by Geo Sky. You can adjust day-night cycle by customizing sun/moon disk radius, the intensity, altitude and phases of the moon, and sun/moon/star light intensity. Moreover, Milky Way is added and can be enabled via Environment > Weather.

The update also improves the realism of D5 Render’s weather effects, with a new Water Mist effect to add atmosphere to rainy scenes, and more detailed raindrop and snowflake particles.

We see new features like generative AI added to D5 Render in recents updates, and in version 2.10, there are two new AI features. One is AI inpainting, one is AI motion blur.

AI inpainting automatically fills in missing elements in renders, such as the sky, water or vegetation, and is intended to reduce the need to place assets manually to fill those parts of a scene.

AI motion blur adds motion blur to moving objects in images, but as a post effect, without the need to render it directly.

In this version D5 Render 2.10, the workflow and performance have been improved by enabling users to better control over the scale units used for assets, to delete batch scene, and to switch to new French and Japanese language.

The software also supports DLSS 4 Frame Generation to enhance FPS by utilizing AI to generate extra frames.

You now can experience new object scattering templates, and over 240 new assets themed around hotels and holiday resorts, including characters and lobby decor in the asset library.

D5 Render is available for Windows 10 or later. GPU recommendation should be a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060+, AMD Radeon RX 6400 XT+ or Intel Arc A3+.

You can use this plugin D5 Render 2.10 with 3ds Max 2014-2016 and 2018+, ArchiCAD 21+, Blender 2.93+, Cinema 4D R20+, Revit 2018.3+, Rhino 6.1+, SketchUp 2017+ and Vectorworks 2024+.

The Community edition is free; the Pro edition, which includes AI features, frame sequence rendering, and access to the full asset library, costs $38/month or $360/year. Teams subscriptions, which add further features including simultaneous editing and support for 3D Gaussian Splatting, cost $75/month or $708/year.

If you want to use an extra rendering service with powerful RTX4090, iRender is the choice. iRender provide to you high performance and configurable server system for 3D rendering, AI Training, VR & AR, simulation, etc. We believe that design and creative activities are private and personal that only you artists will know what you want with your animation. That’s the reason why we provide remote server so that you can install any software you need, and do whatever you like with your project.

You will only need to install your software D5 Render for the first time, add your license to render/modify your project as you want. Next time you connect to the computer everything is ready for use.

Our famous single RTX4090 package is one of the most powerful and reasonable packages for D5 Render.

We are not only providing you the most powerful graphics card, but also the same level of hardware, such as AMD Ryzen Threadripper processor, 256 GB RAM, 2 TB of storage (NVMe SSD). A powerful processor is for low loading time, snappy viewport, 256GB of RAM is for huge projects, and 2TB of storage is for storing your renders.

Not only those powerful configuration, iRender also provides you more services. Free transferring tool named iRender drive for macOS or Linux users. For Windows users, we recommend using our all-in-one application iRender GPU to work, and you don’t need to come to our website. Our price is flexible with hourly rental which has pay-as-you-go basis, daily/ weekly/ monthly subscription with discount from 10-20%. Plus, you have 24/7 support service with real human who will support you whenever you encounter an issue.

With the price of $23.124 for 3S package (3 hours rental), now you can experience the newest card and enjoy working smoothly in a customized pipeline like you have always done with your own PC.

Don’t hesitate to register right now to render on our new server 1x RTX4090. You just need to update the latest NVIDIA studio driver to get the best out of it.

We are offering the promotion for new users.  For your first transaction within 24 hours since your registration, you will receive a 100% bonus. Contact us via Whatsapp (+84) 916806116 for more support.

Thank you & Happy Rendering!

Source: cgchannel.com, d5render.com

The complexity of the VFX pipeline is determined by the scale of the project. Now, let’s take a look at the standard workflow of VFX production.

The initial major phase in the VFX pipeline is VFX pre-production. This stage involves various preparations for the project, such as developing concepts, selecting software, tools, presets, and creating preliminary assets.

The first step in the VFX pipeline is determining the preferred software and techniques for the film. For projects with extensive VFX requirements, external expertise from scientists, engineers, or mathematicians may be necessary. In fact, this stage is not limited to the beginning of the VFX pipeline but continues to evolve throughout the filmmaking process.

At this stage, concept artists transform abstract ideas from the previous step into tangible visuals. They create designs for characters, environments, and key moments, helping to establish the tone of the storyline. These visuals serve as the foundation for the next stages of the process.

Pre-Visualization (Pre-Vis) is the stage where 3D modeling artists convert the previously created 2D artwork into low-poly 3D models, including characters, wireframes, and scene representations. At the same time, camera angles, shooting locations, and scene composition are carefully planned.

Around the midpoint of the VFX pipeline, several key processes take place, including the start of animation, FX creation, and the beginning of lighting and rendering.

3D modeling is carried out across all three stages of production and is one of the most demanding and effortful parts of the VFX pipeline. 3D artists transform concept art into digital assets, creating a wide range of models, including props, environments, buildings, weapons, vehicles, and any other objects required by the director. This process often relies heavily on reference photos captured during production.

While characters and objects are created using 3D modeling software, backgrounds that don’t exist in real life or aren’t part of the filmed shots are generated through matte painting. This is one of the oldest techniques in the VFX pipeline, traditionally done with photographs and painted glass panels. Today, digital technology has revolutionized the process, utilizing LED panels, game engines for full 3D virtual sets, or chroma keying with green or blue screens to create realistic visual backgrounds.

Rigging artists function like puppet makers, setting up the framework, while animators act as puppeteers, bringing characters to life. In the VFX pipeline, rigging artists construct a digital skeleton or a system of controls around the model that animators use to create movement. To achieve realistic motion, they may calculate skin weights, integrate digital muscles, and refine skeletal structures within 3D characters. This process often involves reference photographs.

FX and Simulation involve creating visual elements such as explosions, fire, smoke, destruction, and particle simulations which will be added to a 3D scene to enhance realism and create impactful imagery. The FX team collaborates closely with animators to ensure these elements move naturally and integrate seamlessly into the scene.

Motion tracking captures an object’s position, orientation, scale, and movement within a shot using virtual cameras in motion tracking software. This data is essential for seamlessly integrating CGI elements into live-action footage, ensuring they align naturally within the scene during the compositing stage.

Texturing is the process of applying surface details to 3D models to enhance realism. It involves adding visual attributes such as colors, patterns, and material properties. These textures can range from reptilian scales and metallic reflections to water ripples and scratches on a surface, making digital assets appear more lifelike.

In this stage, VFX artists manually outline objects or characters to separate them from the original footage. These cutout elements can then be placed in a different background or context. While chroma keying (filming subjects against a green or blue screen) can often replace the need for rotoscoping, it is still frequently required to achieve precise cutouts for seamless integration.

Lighting plays a crucial role in making CGI scenes appear realistic. Poor lighting can make digital elements look artificial, breaking immersion. Virtual lights in the software are strategically positioned to mimic real-world lighting conditions. Once the lighting setup is finalized, the entire scene is sent to compositing for final adjustments.

VFX post-production primarily focuses on finalizing the composition of all elements, refining shots, and ensuring proper color grading, timing, and sequencing for a cohesive final product.

Compositing is a crucial stage in the VFX pipeline where all visual elements are seamlessly integrated with real-life footage to create the final shot or scene. The team combines live-action footage, CGI, VFX plates, and matte paintings, layering them to achieve a cohesive and realistic result. For instance, CGI characters may be placed into a live-action scene, or an explosion effect might be added to a building.

Grading artists adjust color balance, contrast, brightness, and saturation to enhance the visual style and narrative impact of the film. In this final stage of the VFX pipeline, the overall tone is refined, ensuring a consistent aesthetic and emotional depth across all scenes before the final output is delivered.

iRender render farm supports all software, including the most popular ones in the VFX pipeline, such as V-Ray and Arnold. 

We provide high configurations of machines with upmarket specifications 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.

Let’s see how our service works!

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 contact me through email duongdt@irender.vn or our 24/7 support team for a quick response.

Thank you for reading & Happy Rendering!

source: academyofanimatedart, MASV, vfxaddart, Marcus Dempwolf Holm, therookies

Visual effects are the result of an artist’s creativity with advanced technical skills to turn imaginary images into reality. Curious about the most popular VFX software of 2025? Keep scrolling!

Here are some common software programs used in VFX studios. Keep in mind that each studio integrates these tools into its own workflow and may also develop proprietary software. Additionally, as technology evolves, software continues to change, so continuous learning and adaptability are essential.

Maya is a 3D software widely used by artists, modelers, and animators in the film, television, and gaming industries. While some users find it challenging to learn, it encompasses various aspects of the VFX pipeline, including dynamic simulations, texturing, and animation. As the industry standard for animation and a leading tool in shading, Maya is present in nearly every VFX studio, and at least one major VFX-heavy film has utilized it. The software has earned multiple Academy Awards, including one for Scientific and Technical Achievement in 2003 and another for Technical Achievement in 2008.

Nuke is a professional-grade software recognized as an industry standard for digital compositing and visual effects in film and television post-production. Known for its powerful node-based workflow, it enables artists to create intricate visual effects. Major studios such as Walt Disney Animation Studios and DreamWorks Animation have incorporated Nuke into their production pipelines.

Modo is a professional 3D software developed by The Foundry, used in the film, gaming, and design industries for modeling, animation, texturing, and rendering. It provides a comprehensive toolset for sculpting, lighting, and rendering, enabling users to design, model, animate, and render within a single environment. With support for multiple file formats, Modo seamlessly integrates into various production pipelines.

Mudbox is a 3D digital sculpting and painting software developed by Autodesk, widely used in film, game development, and visual effects. Known for its intuitive interface and layer-based workflow, it allows artists to add fine details and textures to their models with ease. Originally developed as an internal tool at Weta Digital, Mudbox later became a commercial product and is now maintained by Autodesk.

Adobe After Effects is a powerful software primarily used for motion graphics, compositing, and animation. It is commonly utilized in commercial production and integrates seamlessly with Adobe Premiere Pro for video editing, as well as collaboration tools like Frame.io.

Houdini is a 3D animation software widely used in various aspects of visual effects (VFX), including simulation, lighting, modeling, animation, shading, and texturing. Known for its advanced procedural workflow, it excels in creating complex simulations such as smoke, fire, water, destruction, and intricate particle effects. In 2018, Houdini contributed to SideFX winning the Academy Award of Merit. With over two decades of continuous innovation, it has become the industry standard for generating realistic natural phenomena, destruction effects, and other digital simulations in VFX.

ZBrush is a professional 3D sculpting software that enables artists to create highly detailed models with intricate shapes and textures. Recognized as an industry standard for digital sculpting, it is known for its advanced brush system and real-time sculpting capabilities. In 2014, Pixologic co-founder Ofer ‘Pixolotor’ Alon received an Academy award for his contributions to ZBrush. The software is widely used in VFX-heavy films, playing a crucial role in productions such as Avatar, The Avengers, The Lord of the Rings, and The Hobbit.

3ds Max is a professional 3D graphics software used for creating detailed models, animations, and visual content. Commonly utilized in video game development and film production, it is widely used in VFX for modeling and shading, as well as texturing, rigging, animation, lighting, and simulation. It is a staple in nearly every VFX studio.

Cinema 4D, developed by Maxon, is a professional 3D software for animation, modeling, simulation, and rendering. While it is primarily used in motion graphics for commercials, it is gaining popularity in traditional VFX. Within the effects pipeline, it serves various functions, including modeling, texturing, rigging, animation, shading, lighting, and simulation.

3DEqualizer is one of the most widely used 3D tracking software solutions for integrating live-action footage with digital effects. Since its introduction in 1997, it has become a key tool for matchmoving in the visual effects industry. Its technological advancements earned it a Technical Achievement Award in 2001.

Mocha Pro is a high-end visual effects software best known for its advanced planar tracking capabilities. Widely regarded as a leading tool for motion tracking and rotoscoping, it has played a significant role in VFX production. Mocha Pro’s contributions to the film industry earned it an Academy Award for technical achievement.

Photoshop is an image editing, graphic design, and digital painting software developed by Adobe. In the VFX industry, it is commonly used for texturing, matte painting, compositing, digital painting, and concept art.

Substance Painter is a 3D painting software designed for texturing and creating realistic materials on 3D models. With real-time painting capabilities and a focus on physically based rendering (PBR) workflows, it is widely used by game developers, animation studios, and VFX artists to enhance their digital assets.

⚙️ Matchmoving
For tracking camera movement, the three main tools are 3D Equalizer, SynthEyes, and PFTrack, with 3D Equalizer being the most widely used and powerful option.

⚙️ Modeling
The most commonly used software for 3D modeling includes Maya, 3ds Max, ZBrush, Mudbox, and Modo. Maya is the most widely adopted, while ZBrush is the industry standard for 3D sculpting, particularly in character creation.

⚙️ Texturing
The most widely used software for texturing includes Foundry Mari, Substance Painter, and Adobe Photoshop.

⚙️ Shading
For shading, Maya and 3ds Max are the most commonly used, featuring a node-based shading system for efficient material creation.

⚙️ Animation
Autodesk Maya has become the industry standard for animation. First released in 1998, its dominance in the film industry grew significantly after its development was used in Disney’s Dinosaur (2000).

⚙️ FX
High-quality visual effects such as smoke, fire, water, explosions, and other dynamic elements are primarily created using Houdini and Maya. Houdini, in particular, is the industry standard for procedural simulations.

⚙️ Rotoscoping
For integrating traced elements with live-action footage, Silhouette and Mocha Pro are considered industry-standard rotoscope software.

⚙️ Compositing
The leading compositing software used in VFX studios is Foundry Nuke. Natron, an open-source alternative, allows artists to familiarize themselves with a portion of Nuke’s tools before investing in the full application. Another option is Blackmagic Design Fusion. While Nuke is the top choice for film compositing, After Effects remains popular in the commercial sector.

⚙️ Rendering
For the final stage of visual effects production, studios commonly use Arnold, V-Ray, and RenderMan to achieve the most realistic results.

iRender provides high configurations of machines with upmarket specifications 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. Most importantly, our machines support all software including V-Ray, Arnold, and Houdini.

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 our service works!

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 contact me through email duongdt@irender.vn or our 24/7 support team for a quick response.

Thank you for reading & Happy Rendering!

Image source: the Rookies, Autodesk, Foundry, tech radar, SideFX, softonic, 3DVF, architosh, borisfx, adobe, fxphd, studiodaily
Information source: MASV, fxguide, studiobinder, Quora, VFX Geek

Have you ever wondered what dedicated and shared GPU memory in the Task Manager mean and what their purposes are? This article will explain everything.

In a computer, the CPU and GPU are two essential components that work together to keep the system running efficiently. The graphics processing unit (GPU) handles graphics-related tasks, while the central processing unit (CPU) manages all other non-graphics operations.

There are two types of GPUs: integrated and discrete. Integrated GPUs are built directly into the CPU chip and rely on the shared memory from the CPU. These are typically used for basic tasks like web browsing and document editing, consuming less power and generating less heat. On the other hand, discrete GPUs are separate processing chips with their own dedicated memory, known as VRAM, along with shared memory allocated from the CPU’s RAM.

RAM, or Random Access Memory, is located on the motherboard and serves as a computer’s short-term memory. It is actively used when systems are running, browsers are open, and applications are in use. RAM allows for quick access to frequently used data, ensuring the system remains fast and responsive, especially during multitasking. In modern systems, RAM typically ranges from 8 GB to 64 GB and can be much more, but tasks like 3D CPU rendering may require significantly more, depending on the scene’s complexity.

VRAM, or Video RAM, is located on the graphics card and is specifically designed for faster read and write speeds to handle graphical data such as textures, meshes, and shaders in gaming, design software, video editing, and 3D rendering. Unlike RAM, VRAM has a modest capacity range, usually between 4 GB and 24 GB. Additionally, expanding VRAM is costly because it is fixed to the graphics card, meaning an upgrade requires replacing the entire graphics card.

For integrated GPUs, the dedicated GPU memory displayed in the Task Manager is typically much smaller than the system’s RAM. For example, as shown in the image above, the Intel(R) HD Graphics 4400 has only 128 MB of dedicated GPU memory, whereas the Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-4150 CPU comes with 16 GB of RAM. Although the dedicated GPU memory’s capacity is small, for everyday tasks, GPU memory is rarely utilized since 8–16 GB of RAM is usually sufficient.

In the case of discrete graphics cards, the dedicated GPU memory refers to VRAM. For the GPU to efficiently handle tasks such as processing multiple lighting elements, shading, and enhancing textures in AAA games or 3D rendering, it requires a larger amount of VRAM. For example, it needs 8GB+ VRAM for 1440p/4K gaming, 16GB+ VRAM for complex modeling and rendering. The capacity of VRAM typically ranges from 4 GB to 24 GB. Currently, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is considered a high-end graphics card, equipped with 24 GB of VRAM.

To prevent system crashes when dedicated GPU memory is fully utilized, a portion of RAM is allocated as shared GPU memory. This shared memory not only acts as a backup for VRAM but is also used during data exchange between the GPU and CPU.

However, relying on shared GPU memory can slow down processing speed, potentially leading to screen lag and FPS drops. There are two primary reasons for this: first, the GPU must transfer data to shared memory via PCIe connectors, which requires additional time and effort. Second, shared GPU memory is essentially system RAM, which doesn’t function as efficiently as VRAM when handling graphical tasks. Additionally, this process can increase power consumption and the likelihood of thermal throttling, as the system works harder to manage the excess graphical workload.

Despite these drawbacks, shared GPU memory remains a crucial component for maintaining system functionality. The more the better. As shown in the screenshot above,  iRender’s 2xRTX 3090 machine includes 95.9 GB of shared GPU memory, 24 GB of dedicated GPU memory, and 256 GB of RAM, no need to worry about running out of Dedicated GPU memory or lacking of Shared GPU memory anymore.

No more worry about running out of dedicated GPU memory, iRender provides high-configuration machines with upmarket specifications: high-end GPUs including 1/2/4/6/8 x RTX4090 or RTX3090 24 GB with strong CPUs such as AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ PRO 3955WX @ 3.9 – 4.2GHz or AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ PRO 5975WX @ 3.6 – 4.5GHz, RAM 256GB, and Storage NVMe SSD 2TB, which can dramatically enhance the speed of rendering.  Most importantly, we always update to the latest GPU technology.

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 various cost levels for users to choose from.

Let’s see how our servers work!

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 contact me through email duongdt@irender.vn or our 24/7 support team for a quick response.

Thank you for reading & Happy Rendering!

Source: Intel, Reddit, Supoeruser, EasyPC, Electronics Hub
Cover image source: cgdirector

In the previous article series, we introduced some lighting plugins and animation plugins to you, hoping you have a faster workflow in Cinema 4D. In this article, let’s take a look at some Cinema 4D creation plugins from Greyscalegorilla, to help you visualize various aspect ratios or create complex reflectance materials.

Let’s explore 3 Cinema 4D Creation plugins to visualize various aspect ratios or create complex reflectance materials easily.

This plugin allows you to align and distribute your objects in Cinema 4D with ease. You now don’t need to manually type in coordinates, just use this tool to align and distribute based on your object’s bounding boxes.

Some of Align’s prominent features:

• • • • Align objects just like in popular 2D image programs
      • Work in orthographic or perspective mode
      • Line things up via the pivot point or bounding box
      • Align will use the bounding box of your shape for easy alignment.
      • Distribute objects along any axis
      • Distribute objects using your pivot point
      • Use world or local space for your distribution

This plugin helps you visualize better all the aspects ratios for a single render in Cinema 4D viewport. If your clients want to have different cropping for their social posts, and you don’t want or don’t have time to render each one of them seperately, this tool is the one for you.

Some of Social Frame’s prominent features:

• • • • Drag-and-drop tag workflow
      • Visualize multiple modern social media crops, from Instagram, Dribbles, X to Facebook, etc.
      • Masking to show crops clearly: use masks to get a better sense of how various crops will look on your main image
      • Automatically adjusts FOV and you will not lose your perfect framing when you change aspect ratio.
      • Output to takes: render multiple cropped images out of C4D directly.
      • Square mode

Topcoat is a powerful material plugin for Cinema 4D that allows users to create realistic textures with ease. The variety of presets, up to 60 textures, which can be applied with one click is making it one of the best choice for Cinema 4D users. You can also create your own custom textures, helping you to achieve true-to-life renders in Cinema 4D.

Some of Topcoat’s prominent features:

• • • • 8 Reflection Types
      • Modifiers tab for easy texture customization
      • Instant Material preview
      • 12 Mask and Alpha types
      • Horizontal and vertical layout modes
      • 14 render presets
      • Over 25 Procedural Bump presets
      • Over 15 Procedural Blur presets
      • 11 metal material presets
      • Simple Reflectance layering

You can definitely use these Cinema 4D animation plugins on iRender’s remote computers. iRender provides you a high-performance and configurable server system for 3D rendering, AI Training, VR & AR, simulation, etc. We believe that design and creative activities are private and personal that only you artists will know what you want with your animation.

You can create a machine with pre-installed Cinema 4D, then install these plugins on our remote machine (first time access only), add license, and modify, adjust and render by yourself there.

Let’s see some of Cinema 4D benchmark with Redshift, V-ray and Octane on our package RT4090s:

Not only those powerful configuration, iRender also provides you more services. NVLink for large scene on our server 4N – dual RTX 3090s. Free transferring tool named iRender drive for macOS or Linux users. For Windows users, we recommend using our all-in-one application iRender GPU to work, and you don’t need to come to our website. Our price is flexible with hourly rental which has pay-as-you-go basis, daily/ weekly/ monthly subscription with discount from 10-20%. Plus, you have 24/7 support service with real human who will support you whenever you encounter an issue.

Especially, if you use Cinema 4D and Redshift, now you can access our remote servers without having to install the software and renderer. We have an option to choose pre-installed Cinema 4D and Redshift, and now provide you one license free.

Register an account today to experience our service and enjoy a very big promotion 100% bonus for new user first top up. Or contact us via WhatsApp: (+84) 916806116 for advice and support.

Thank you & Happy Rendering!

Source and images: greyscalegorilla.com

In the previous article series, we introduced some lighting plugins to you to help speed up your workflow in Cinema 4D. In this article, let’s take a look at some Cinema 4D animation plugins from Greyscalegorilla, to create natural and complex animations without the need for tedious keyframes.

Find out 3 plugins to create natural and complex animations without the need for tedious keyframes.

This plugin helps you create loops, stop-motion effects, or time your animation to music. You can use drag-and-drop procedural workflow easily with Signal, and don’t need to animate with keyframes.

Some of Signal 3.0’s prominent features:

• • • • Instagram-worthy loops, helping you create looping animations in minutes with just a few clicks.
      • Integrated with Cinema 4D fieldsto trigger Signal and get even tighter control over your animations.
      • Drop Zone helps you add a Signal tag easier. You just need to drag the parameter of your choice onto Drop Zone, and it automatically sets up a Signal tag for you.
      • Looper Modifier adds variation to multiple parameters inside one Signal tag.
      • Updated Noise modifier helps you use all of Cinema 4D’s noises to add variation to your Signal animation.
      • 10 animation modifiers make it easy to use elements like noise to generate animations.
      • Powerful Scripts – Greyscalegorilla add fourteen scripts that let you quickly randomize seeds or offset all your Signal tags at once.
      • 7 Animation Presets automatically generate popular moves like flicker, bounce, vibration, and spin for you.
      • And many other features such as custom animation curves, preset ease curve menu, noise generated animations using Cinema 4D noises, Time Re-mapping, Beats Per Minute modifier, etc.

This plugin is single-user license.

This plugin helps you create cinematic camera moves and add subtle human imperfections to your scene, making it true to life and realistic.

Some of Gorillacam’s prominent features:

• • • • Camera Smoothing helps you get a classic stabilizer look and Overshoot will simulate a large camera rig.
      • Shake System helps you achieve natural camera shake with three different speeds in both position and rotation. Jolt will help you time a specific shake.
      • Target and Zoom helps you follow objects around your scene. To achieve a realistic scene that feels less CG, you can combine with overshoot and shake features.
      • Focal Drift works like a camera operator searching for proper focus. It will add an imperfect focal distance and tweak to get the look of changing focus in your scene.
      • Greyscalegorilla add 60 Camera Presets for you, all of them are popular camera movements used in product shots, arch-viz walk-throughs, and classic film and television moves.
      • Feeling Lucky button helps you generate random camera moves to preview dozens of looks.

This plugin is single-user license, and is compatible with Cinema 4D R20+. It can be used with some third-party renderers like Redshift, Arnold and Octane.

This plugin can support you to transform any object in Cinema 4D quickly and seamlessly without keyframes.

Some of Transform’s prominent features:

• • • • Instantly transform and animate any Cinema 4D objects, including MoGraph, type, logos, models, and clones.
      • Take control of your animation speed, direction, and Fracture Voronoi particles, all with a nondestructive workflow.
      • Greyscalegorilla adds 65 popular and trendy animation presets that can be applied to your objects in an instant.
      • Other features including Polygon mode for particle effects, Existing Parts mode, Custom Animation mode, Chunk mode, etc.

This plugin is single-user license, and is compatible with Cinema 4D R20+. It can be used with some third-party renderers like Redshift, Arnold and Octane.

You can definitely use these Cinema 4D animation plugins on iRender’s remote computers. iRender provides you a high-performance and configurable server system for 3D rendering, AI Training, VR & AR, simulation, etc. We believe that design and creative activities are private and personal that only you artists will know what you want with your animation.

You can create a machine with pre-installed Cinema 4D, then install these plugins on our remote machine (first time access only), add license, and modify, adjust and render by yourself there.

Let’s see some of Cinema 4D benchmark with Redshift, V-ray and Octane on our package RT4090s:

Not only those powerful configuration, iRender also provides you more services. NVLink for large scene on our server 4N – dual RTX 3090s. Free transferring tool named iRender drive for macOS or Linux users. For Windows users, we recommend using our all-in-one application iRender GPU to work, and you don’t need to come to our website. Our price is flexible with hourly rental which has pay-as-you-go basis, daily/ weekly/ monthly subscription with discount from 10-20%. Plus, you have 24/7 support service with real human who will support you whenever you encounter an issue.

Especially, if you use Cinema 4D and Redshift, now you can access our remote servers without having to install the software and renderer. We have an option to choose pre-installed Cinema 4D and Redshift, and now provide you one license free.

Register an account today to experience our service and enjoy a very big promotion 100% bonus for new user first top up. Or contact us via WhatsApp: (+84) 916806116 for advice and support.

Thank you & Happy Rendering!

Source and images: greyscalegorilla.com

Real-time rendering software has revolutionized the way designers and artists create stunning images in architectural visualization and 3D modeling. Among the various tools available, one that stands out for its seamless integration with 3ds Max is D5 Render. In this blog post, iRender will explore D5 Render’s capabilities and why it is considered one of the best real-time rendering software for 3ds Max users.

D5 Render is a powerful real-time rendering software, which refers to the ability to generate high-quality, realistic images and animations in real-time using the D5 Render software. D5 Render is a powerful visualization tool that allows users to create stunning visualizations of architectural designs, interior spaces, and other 3D scenes with ease.

By leveraging real-time rendering technology, D5 Render enables users to make design decisions quickly by seeing immediate visual feedback of their creations. This can benefit architects, designers, and other professionals who need to communicate their ideas effectively and efficiently.

Real-time rendering with D5 Render allows users to manipulate light, materials, textures, and other elements in their scenes in real-time, making the rendering process interactive and intuitive. This can help streamline the design process and lead to more compelling and realistic visualizations.

For architects, landscape designers, and interior designers, D5 Render’s live sync with 3ds Max streamlines the design process. Effective design enhancements and instant visualization in a realistic setting are made possible by the automatic updating of any changes made in Max in D5. The creative workflow becomes easier and expedited by this integration.

LiveSync plugins are designed to facilitate real-time rendering and visualization workflows by allowing 3D modeling and rendering software, such as 3ds Max, to synchronize with compatible real-time rendering engines or visualization platforms. This synchronization enables users to see immediate, real-time previews of their designs as they make changes in the modeling software, without the need for manual exporting and importing of files.

D5 Render 2.6 and later versions, as well as 3ds Max 2014–2016 and 2018–2025, are supported with the free plugin D5 LiveSync for 3ds Max. When you alter models or materials in 3ds Max, you can see the results and render in real-time without having to press the update button by hand.

Here are steps to launch D5 Render to begin the live sync in 3ds Max:

1. Start: Launch D5 Render in 3ds Max to start the live sync
2. Livesync start/pause: continue or pause the link between 3ds Max and D5 Render
3. View Switch: Keep the view of 3ds Max and D5 Render consistent in any direction
4. Send Scenes and Lights: Import the scenes and lights into D5

*You can select ‘sync structure of light component’ to sync groups of lights.

5. Export models in .d5a/.skp format
6. Sync camera animation

Rendering images/animations for 3ds Max is no longer a day-long affair. Powered by GPU ray tracing, D5 Render will speed up your workflow.

Advanced camera animation integration is now available in the latest D5 LiveSync plugin. Create stunning camera movements in 3ds Max and easily import them into D5 Render for an instant, vivid preview. Additionally, fine-tune camera movements directly in D5 and watch your animations come to life in real time, ensuring your vision is perfectly captured before finalizing the output. Choose your preferred method and tailor the workflow to best suit your creative process.

The integrated D5 Asset Library offers a vast number of high-quality models, materials, and textures that satisfy a variety of design needs and styles, making it a valuable resource for architects, landscape architects, and interior designers.

In conclusion, D5 Render stands out as one of the best real-time rendering software for 3ds Max users due to its seamless integration, stunning visuals, powerful editing capabilities, and user-friendly interface. Whether you are a beginner looking to create realistic architectural visualizations or a seasoned professional in need of a reliable rendering tool, D5 Render offers a comprehensive solution that meets the demands of modern 3D rendering workflows. With its innovative technology and ease of use, D5 Render empowers artists and designers to bring their creative visions to life with exceptional realism and quality.

D5 LiveSync for 3ds Max supports Vray 3.6 and later versions; Corona 6.0 / 7.0 / 8.0. These versions provide flexible workflows that allow projects from Vray and Corona to be fully integrated for instant real-time visualization, greatly minimizing the downtime usually associated with rendering iterative revisions. Additionally, you can confidently create stunning renderings fast using D5, increasing productivity and efficiency

 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.

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.

You can install 3ds Max with these plugins on our remote machine (first-time access only), add a license, and render with any render engines, like Redshift, V-Ray, Arnold, FStorm, etc. 

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.

Sign up for an account today to experience and enjoy our services.

Thank you & Happy Rendering!

Source and image: d5render.com

In September, Reallusion released some new free updates for the real-time character animation software iClone 8.5. In this version, we see an extension of the crowd animation toolset, such as Smart Accessory and Prop Interaction system.  Let’s take a look at them in this article.

In this version of iClone 8.5, the developer built the crowd simulation system based on iClone 8.4 and elevate Smart Accessory system. Now it’s easier for users to add accessories like hats, glasses or weapons to crowd characters.

You can attach multiple materials and multiple parent bones to your accessories, and it doesn’t need to be attached to a specific bone.

It is also now possible to embed animations in iClone’s MotionPlus format into accessories, giving crowd characters readymade stock movements that involve the accessory.

Another new feature in iClone 8.5 is the Prop Interaction system. It will help you streamline the process of getting crowd characters to interact with their environment. Using MD Prop – a new type of asset – you can automatically trigger behaviors in nearby crowd actors.

There are basic MD Prop types and customized one. The basic types include objects to sit on, push buttons on, or inspect, and the animations they trigger can be modified by a character’s age or gender. You can choose among 10 stock models that can be used with the built-in MD Prop templates in the new version of iClone 8.5 .

iClone 8.5 is available on Windows 7 and later. New perpetual license costs $599. However, the update is free to existing users.

iRender provides you a high-performance and configurable server system for 3D rendering, AI Training, VR & AR, simulation, etc. We believe that design and creative activities are private and personal that only you artists will know what you want with your animation. For the latest version of iClone 8.5, you can definitely use it on iRender’s remote computers.

You can create a blank machine, then install iClone 8.5 (or any other versions) on our remote machine (first time access only), add license, and modify, adjust and render by yourself there.

iClone only supports one GPU, so it’s better if you choose the server 3S – single RTX4090 from iRender.

Let’s see how you can start to work on iRender remote server:

Not only those powerful configuration, iRender also provides you more services. NVLink for large scene on our server 4N – dual RTX 3090s. Free transferring tool named iRender drive for macOS or Linux users. For Windows users, we recommend using our all-in-one application iRender GPU to work, and you don’t need to come to our website. Our price is flexible with hourly rental which has pay-as-you-go basis, daily/ weekly/ monthly subscription with discount from 10-20%. Plus, you have 24/7 support service with real human who will support you whenever you encounter an issue.

Register an account today to experience our service and enjoy a very big promotion 100% bonus for new user first top up. Or contact us via WhatsApp: (+84) 916806116 for advice and support.

Thank you & Happy Rendering!

Source and images: cgchannel.com, reallusion.com