Best CPU for 3D Modeling
3D Modeling is a creative task in which you will need a powerful computer, or at least a strong CPU to work well.
What is the best CPU for 3D Modeling? VFXRendering will find out in this article.
What is 3D Modeling?
3D Modeling is the process of creating a mathematical representation of a three-dimensional object or shape using specialized software. The outcome of the process is known as 3D models, which have been used in a wide range of industries.
A wide range of industries, from film and television to video games, architecture, construction, product development, science, and medical industries, all need 3D modeling. Those fields need to use 3D models to visualize, simulate, and render graphic designs.
- Animation and visual effects studios utilize modeling applications to build 3D assets and characters for movies and television shows.
- Game developers use modeling software to create 3D environments and characters for games and cinematics.
- Manufacturing companies need modeling tools for 3D product design, engineering, and concept rendering.
- Architecture firms use modeling software to visualize the envisioned buildings and environments, for both their interiors and exteriors.
Image source: Autodesk
3D artists, designers, or architects can not model without the help of one or many 3D modeling applications. Each software has its own strengths. Let’s name the best software in different industries.
- Film, TV, games and VFX: 3ds Max, Maya, Blender, Cinema 4D, Houdini, ZBrush, Modo, Katana.
- Architecture and construction: SketchUp, AutoCAD, Revit, Rhinoceros, Archicad, Solidworks, etc.
- Free 3D modeling software: Blender, Tinkercad, FreeCAD, ZBrushCore, etc.
Which hardware does 3D modeling need?
3D modeling is an active working process. Other active workloads include sculpting, texturing, lighting, animating, and more.
When you model or sculpt, texture, light, and animate in a 3D software package, to process all of this, your computer must perform some complex calculations. However, those complex calculations in the 3D modeling process are carried out primarily on just a single CPU core. This is because your scene is built in a particular hierarchical structure, your CPU must progress through this hierarchy step by step. It cannot skip or offload other steps to other cores because the majority of the steps are interdependent!
Therefore, having a CPU with more cores will not speed up your modeling and will not usually make your viewport faster.
Instead, you will need a CPU with the maximum single-core performance. It makes no difference if the CPU only has a few cores because the majority of these cores will never be used for modeling.
Typically, CPUs with high clock speeds have excellent single-core performance. In 3D modeling, a high-clock speed CPU with high single-core performance will nearly always outperform a CPU with a high core count.
Best CPU for 3D Modeling
3D modeling is the least hardware-demanding 3D work you can do. It does not require as many computing resources as 3D rendering. But this does not mean you do not need a powerful computer, or simply a powerful CPU. Especially when you are working with very complex scenes with lots of high poly and high-quality models.
For 3D modeling and other active workloads, you should look for a CPU with the highest possible clock speed and single-core performance.
There are various benchmarking tools to test CPU performance. The Cinebench Benchmark is an excellent tool for benchmarking your own processor and determining which CPUs are the fastest. You can find single-core scores of CPUs on many pages such as CGDirector, and PassMark.
Cinebench 2024 CPU scores – CGDirector
CPU single thread performance – PassMark
Many CPU renderers also have their own benchmark software. For example, V-Ray Benchmark, Corona Renderer Benchmark, Blender Benchmark, Cinema 4D Viewport Benchmark, and others.
All in all, some of the best CPU for 3D modeling are:
- Intel i9 13900K, Intel i7 13700K, Intel i5 13600K.
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, AMD Ryzen 7 7900X, AMD Ryzen 5 7600X.
Conclusion
In conclusion, 3D modeling only takes advantage of 1 or 2 cores of the CPU. That’s why the best CPU for 3D modeling are the CPUs with the highest single-core performance. Such CPUs usually have high clock speeds as well.
The best CPU for 3D modeling are Intel i9 13900K and AMD Ryzen 9 7950X. There are also other good choices as we listed in the above section.
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