As an outsider or even someone looking to upgrade their rig it can be confusing exactly what you need in terms of a graphics card. So I’ve done research and am able to conclude the following.
A graphics card is required for 3d modelling. The requirement for a high performance Graphics Card however is dependent on 2 factors. What task you are performing for example 3d modelling or rendering and what software you are using.
In this article we will address both these points so you can make an educated decision for your next upgrade or what software to use based on your current setup.
Do you Need a High Powered Card
There are several factors to consider when answering this question. What kind of 3d art are you attempting to do and what programs you are using.
What kind of 3d Art Do You Do
3d Art is a very broad term within this there are several more specialized areas and within those even more specialized areas.
It is because of this some facets of 3d will require more performance from a graphics card than others. For example common activities such as modelling or sculpting require the CPU to do most of the heavy lifting. Whereas rendering tends to be (but not always) a graphics card intensive task.
If your only goal is to create cool 3d models you may find a good graphics card is unnecessary. However if you are rendering large scenes it can be a must.
What Software are You Using
This is a very important question to think about as the software you use heavily influences your computer specs requirements.
A program like Blender uses a mixed approach for example when you render you have the choice between CPU, GPU (Graphics Card) or a mix of both. This way if your graphics card isn’t up to the task you have the option. However GPU rendering can be significantly faster.
Certain programs such as Substance Painter heavily relies on graphics cards. So if you are planning to use this you may struggle.
Zbrush for instance almost exclusively relies on the CPU. I’ve actually done some tests on Zbrush examining this. If you are interested I recommend you check out this article.
I’ve put together a quick table below collating some of the bigger well known software’s’ specs to hopefully make this a bit clearer.
| CPU | RAM | Required Graphics Card | |
| Blender | 64 bit Quad Core CPU | 16GB | Graphics Card with 4GB of RAM |
| Maya | 64 bit Multi Core CPU | 16GB | Supports most NVIDIA & Radeon Graphics Cards |
| 3ds Max | 64 bit Multi Core CPU | 8GB | Supports most NVIDIA & Radeon Graphics Cards |
| Zbrush | i5/i7 Xeon or ADM Equivalent | 8GB | Most cards manufactered since 2008 or newer |
| Substance Painter | Not listed | 16GB | Graphics Card with 4GB of RAM |
| Marmoset Toolbag 4 | Not listed | 16GB | GPU with 8GB of RAM |
| Houdini | Intel or AMD x64 CPU with SSE 4.2 | 12GB | Graphics Card with 4GB of RAM |
Benefits of a GPU for 3d Art
When given the choice between CPU or GPU to perform certain 3d tasks such as rendering the benefits of a GPU can be tremendous. The biggest advantage is speed!! Graphics Card’s perform exactly how their name suggests “they are really good at rendering graphics”. This is why GPU rendering is so popular.
CPU’s are designed to be the brains of the computer as such the tasks they perform are varied, but they are not designed and engineered specifically for the task of rendering images on screen. It’s the classic Jack of All Trades or Master of None type scenario. So while it’s quite possible to use a CPU to render in most cases it can take significantly longer.
Do You Need a RTX Card
Most programs will not require a RTX card as most Render Engines allow ray tracing by default. RTX is a feature mainly used by games so unless you are planning to render in a game engine such as Unreal Engine it is not required.
Tips on Requirements For Beginners
If you are beginner starting off in 3d wondering if your graphics card will be up to the task, I can assure you it will be, provided your hardware is not to dated. A basic graphics card will more than be up to the task. After all 3d has been around for years using much older tech.
While the program choice is completely up to you I’ll give you my unsolicited bias opinion. JUST USE BLENDER. I ran this on my bare bones computer no worries. You will have no problem using it with a very basic graphics card. You will eventually notice some performance issues but I’d only upgrade only once your familiar with 3d art, then invest in a graphics card.
Don’t be deterred even Blender is free it is a very capable software that is able to do most 3d tasks. For more info i recommend you check out my article on the Benefits of Blender.
If you’re also an avid gamer you’ll find a basic gaming PC is easily up to the job. I recommended you check out this article I wrote on the subject of 3d Modelling With a Gaming PC
Recommendation for Upgrade
If after taking into consideration the factors in this article have determined upgrading will help, below would be my 3 recommendations.
If money is not an issue : NVIDIA Geforce RTX 3090
If price to performance is a factor : NVIDIA Geforce RTX 3060 Ti
If you are on a budget: AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT
Do you need a Quadro Graphics Card
You do not require a Quadro Graphics, but they can be helpful. The difference between these and normal graphics cards are the fact they have higher Video Memory and are spec’d to perform well for 3d rendering and not for games. You may find these faster at rendering but at a premium cost. I would not recommend these unless you know you will be able to utilize them fully.
Conclusion
If you are on the fence about getting into 3d art I hope this article has helped you make a better informed decision.
It is a common myth that you need a state of the art system and that’s just not true as Computers have come a long way in the last 10 years.
If you are thinking about upgrading I hope this has also helped you make a more informed decision, considering your software and workflow needs.