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Buying a new computer. What configuration is best for DAZ rendering?

VictorioVictorio Posts: 81
in New Users

With the passing of my old computer, I am looking for a replacement that will do a better job at rendering with DAZ.  (My old machine took forever.)  I would appreciate advice from anyone who is happy with their computers.  This would include recommendations for anything you think is important such as graphic cards, disk space, CPU's, memory, etc.  If you have had a good experience with a specific manufacturer, that whould be helpful too.  Basically I just want to know what people have found works well when putting together a good graphics rendering machine... without having to take a second morgage on one's house. laugh

Thank you for your suggestions.

Comments

  • KitsumoKitsumo Posts: 1,216
    edited October 2018

    Q: What configuration is best for Daz rendering? A: The one that comes out next year.cheeky

    But seriously, it depends on whether you're using 3dl or Iray. It also depends on your budget. For Iray, I'd say at least a 4 core processor. CPU speed isn't super important for Iray, but you need something decent. For system RAM you need about 2-3 times as much as your GPU has. So if you have an 8Gb card, you'd need 16-24Gb of RAM. If you run out of system RAM during renders (like I do with my setup) it's not the end of the world, but if you can avoid it, you should do so.

    Disk space depends on how content you have and how much you plan to buy. The more important thing is what kind of data protection you want to use (external backup, RAID, cloud storage, 3.5" floppies, etc.) Personally, I use a Raid 1 volume with two 4Tb drives. A few months ago one of my drives died. I ordered a replacement, installed it, and Windows rebuilt the volume in about 24 hours. It's a lot better than losing all your data.

    No one can make a decent recommendation without knowing what renderer you use or your budget. Also, is there any equipment you plan to transfer from your old computer to the new one? That can save you some money.

    Edit: If you can get onboard video for a few extra bucks, it's definitely worth it. If your computer ever has a problem and you're trying to figure out where the fault is, being able to boot with onboard video lets you take the GPU out of the equation at least temporarily.

    Post edited by Kitsumo on
  • alexhcowleyalexhcowley Posts: 2,386

    Wise words from Kitsumo. 

    Which render engine are you using?

    If it's 3Delight, then buy a system with at least 16GB of memory and the fastest processor you can afford.  Fast memory is also a good idea when running maths heavy, graphics applications on the CPU.

    If it's Iray, then the processor is a little less important unless you're going for a multi-GPU set up - a 3.5 or 4ghz i7 should suffice, again with at least 16GB of memory, ideally 32GB.  Buy an Nvidia GPU with at least 4GB of memory (ideally 6GB, 8GB or even more if you're into very large scenes) and as many Cuda cores as you can afford. The more Cuda cores you have the faster your renders will run.  A large, well ventilated case is also a good idea.

    Cheers,

    Alex.

  • VictorioVictorio Posts: 81

    Thanks for sharing your expertise on what types of computer configurations are best suited for 3D graphics rendering.  I appreciate your advice as it will help me make more informed decisions as I shop for my next machine.

     

  • namffuaknamffuak Posts: 4,146

    One major note (well, two). First - rendering, whether 3DL or Iray is a mathematically intense process. It will generate heat. A lot of heat at times. Make sure that the case you end up with has good airflow and provision for several fans - the more the quieter, as they won't have to run at top speed.

    Second is backups. Allow for at least one 2 TB external USB external drive just for backups.

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