3D animation, modeling, and rendering are daunting in their own right. A PC, workstation, or even a laptop needs to have enough processing power to carry out 3D-related workloads.
But that’s easier said than done since your machine needs to run powerful components. We’re talking about mid range processors, graphics cards, RAM, and even storage devices. Let’s not forget about the peripherals too.
If you want a laptop for Blender or for any 3D software, then you’ll need something that’s just as powerful.
In this article, we’ll be talking about the best computer for Blender, or laptop for that matter. We’re also going to give you a small cheat sheet at the final section of the article if you want to build your own computer.
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What is Blender?
Blender is a free and open-source 3D Creation Suite, as defined by their company. The software is capable of running the entire 3D pipeline, from modeling to rigging to motion tracking to game creation and so on.
Blender is one of the best 3D software suite for creative professionals and studios, so you can imagine just how powerful this engine is. But Blender users will need a high end machine to run this software smoothly.
What’s The Best PC or Laptop For Blender?
The list is not arranged in any particular order and is a curation of different recommendations from users and studios.
HP Omen Obelisk
A Premium Prebuilt Gaming PC for the Serious Blender User
Specs
- Intel Core i7-9700K
- NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) RTX 2070 SUPER(TM)
- 16 GB
- 1 TB
- Windows 10 Pro
Now if you want to go down the expensive route, you might want to consider the HP Omen Obelisk, a beast of a gaming PC that could last you for a good five or ten years without upgrading a single thing.
Don’t get us wrong. You’re paying close to $2,000 for this machine, but you’re getting the best of the best. For starters, you have a 9th generation Intel Core i7 processor combined with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super. Complimenting this build is 16GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage space, with room for upgrade. Their gaming laptops under the same name also have the same specs.
You can use this PC for gaming, video editing, and yes, for Blender or any other 3D software. Unfortunately, there are no other configurations but you can upgrade individual computer hardware like the CPU, GPU, and RAM if you want more power.
Acer Nitro 50 N50-600
Compact and Powerful Blender PC
Specs
- Intel Core i7-9700 Processor
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060
- 16 GB DDR4
- 1 TB Mechanical Hard Drive
- Windows 10 Home
Much like HP Omen, Acer Nitro is another recognizable brand when it comes to gaming PCs and laptops. The Acer Nitro 50 N50-600 is on this list for a couple of reasons.
First, we have the processor and graphics card combo. The Acer Nitro 50 N50-600 packs an Intel Core i7 9th generation processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card. Both extremely powerful then, and still as powerful as the latest generations now.
Second, you’re getting computer hardware to complement the CPU/GPU tandem. You’re getting 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD, and 1TB Mechanical Hard Drive (HDD).
And lastly, these are all upgradeable. Mind you, the CPU and GPU won’t need any replacement for the foreseeable future. You can upgrade to more storage space and more RAM.
For the price you’re paying, this PC does it all.
SkyTech Blaze
A Perfect Option for Creatives On A Budget
Specs
- Ryzen 5 1600 6-Core 3.2 GHz (3.6 GHz Turbo)
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB GDDR5
- 8GB DDR4 2400 Gaming Memory
- 500 GB- 1TB 7200 RPM HDD
- Windows 10 Home
GPU rendering is a major point of consideration when it comes to choosing PCs or laptops with the right computer hardware. But some of the major Nvidia GPUs are quite expensive, so what choice do you have?
Well, the Skytech Blaze is first on the list and is perfectly capable of running simple tasks on Blender. There are several upgraded configurations to choose from, but the basic configuration should be a good start.
And for less than $1,000, you already got yourself a good CPU and one of the midrange Nvidia graphics cards that enable GPU rendering. With the Ryzen 5 1600 processor, you can easily run Blender.
Acer Predator Orion 3000
Specs
- 11th Generation Intel Core i7-11700F
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
- 16 GB DDR4 RAM
- 512GB SSD + 1TB HDD
- Windows 10 Home
If you want something powerful that looks the part, then the Acer Predator Orion is a no-brainer of a choice.
The Acer Predator Orion comes with 5 different configurations. The basic config runs an 11th-generation Intel Core i7 processor and RTX 2060 graphics card and will cost you about $1,700. The ultimate configuration runs an 12th-generation Intel Core i7 and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080, one of the most powerful Nvidia GPUs in the market right now. The RTX 3080 configuration will cost you about $2,500.
This PC is one of the best for running Blender and the more intensive 3D software apps. If you’re running more resource intensive tasks, then upgrading the RAM should be a priority. Or you could always go for the Intel Core i9 if you’re underwhelmed by the i7.
iBUYPOWER Pro Gaming PC Trace 4
A Budget Friendly Alternative to the SkyTech Blaze
Specs
- AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6GHz (4.2GHz Max Turbo)
- NVIDIA GT 730 2GB
- 8 GB DDR4 RAM
- 240GB SSD
- Windows 10 Home
Another budget-friendly alternative is the iBUYPOWER Pro Gaming PC Trace 4, hovering just a smidge below the $1,000 price point. And just like the SkyTech Blaze 4, you’re getting what you pay for.
The iBUYPOWER Pro Gaming PC Trace 4 is nothing to scoff at. You get an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 processor, an Nvidia GT 730 2GB graphics card, and about 8GB of DDR4 RAM. Now, all of these parts are upgradeable but it would beat having to choose a budget option.
As it stands, the graphics card might struggle to run complex tasks in Blender or any other 3D software. The RAM is also less than what we’d like it to be. How much RAM you need for 3D rendering and modeling is definitely a huge factor, and 8GB is not enough.
The graphics processing unit isn’t impressive either with 2GB, but if you just want to get a prebuilt PC and upgrade slowly by slowly, this might be a decent pick. But you’re probably just better off with the SkyTech Blaze while you’re at it. But before you do decide to buy this prebuilt PC, be sure to check out our other options.
What Are The Best Parts For Building Your Own PC For Blender?
If you don’t like the prebuilt PCs listed above, you can always go for a custom build. And in this section, we’ll go over what you need for that perfect PC build.
CPU Recommendations
The CPU or central processing unit is one of the two biggest focal points for you when it comes to building your PC. The bulk, if not half, of the rendering time, is dictated by just how powerful the CPU is.
You don’t need the most advanced processor there is, but you will need adequate processing power. A 10th-generation Intel Core i5 is sufficient, but we recommend getting the Intel Core i7 of the same generation. If you’re an AMD fanboy, you can go for the Ryzen 5 at the bare minimum.
If you want to spend more money, get the best one there is right now, which is the Intel Core i9 processor or righteously known as the Golden Waffle. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X is the counterpart.
GPU Recommendations
To guarantee the best performance possible for a Blender PC, you’ll need a graphics card that’s just as powerful as the CPU.
Unlike CPUs, there are several options to choose from, and each one of them as good as the next one. But the biggest factor that will determine what kind of graphics card you’ll be using relies on your budget.
Nvidia GPUs and AMD GPUs have returned to normal pricing and availability after a tumultuous two years. If you’re thinking about going for a professional-grade graphics card, you’ll want to go for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3000-series or the 4000-series if available.
You’ll want a good GPU such as an Nvidia RTX 3060 if you want to enable GPU acceleration on your system. Having this GPU and combined with the Intel Core i9 will give you a futureproof and powerful PC.
RAM Recommendations
We’re not going to be particular about the brands here, but more focused on the memory capacity. At the bare minimum, you want at least 16GB DDR4 RAM for your workstation. 32GB is ideal, but 64GB might be overkill.
If you do want recommendations for brands, you’ll want to go for something made by Corsair or Kingston.
The Wrap Up
If you’re thinking about getting a good laptop for Blender, you’ll need something just as powerful as the rest of the gaming desktops on here. Larger laptops are also going to be your main target, mostly because you’ll want bigger batteries, strong CPU, a powerful GPU, and at least a 15-inch or 17-inch HD display. Budget gaming PCs are possible options so as long as they meet minimum requirements for Blender.
