Workstations for 3D Modeling

HYPERPC computers for 3D modeling

How are 3D models created?

The designer receives sketches, drawings, oil paintings, ready-made paper-mache models, etc. This is called a reference. Based on the reference, a physical model is made, and the complexity depends on the necessary detail. From simple geometric shapes to complex mechanisms with hundreds of physical properties. There are many types of modeling:

• Polygonal – all objects consist of polygons. The more there are, the more accurately the contours are conveyed. This is the most popular type, used in computer games and beyond.
• Spline – models consist of lines (splines). Quality is not lost when zooming in, unlike in polygonal models where sharp polygon angles will be visible.
• NURBS – a subtype of spline modeling. Objects are constructed from curves (B-splines) that are connected by polygons.
• Sculpting – a subtype of polygonal modeling. All excess is cut off from a certain shape. It is similar to creating a sculpture out of clay.
• Industrial – physical properties are written in when creating objects. Such models are composed of shapes rather than polygons.
• Parametric – modeling based on mathematical data. Ideal for creating the necessary details of a mechanism.
• Surface – several surfaces are joined to create a model, excess is cut off, and bends are set after gluing.
• Metaspheres – modeling type similar to polygons. Instead of flat figures, spheres are used, which merge upon contact.
• After the physical model is made, textures are applied, and effects are added, the scene needs to be rendered.

After the physical model is made, the textures are applied and the effects are registered, the scene needs to be rendered.

Computer for 3D modeling: specifications

At first glance, everything seems quite democratic. But the required power increases depending on the complexity of the scene. You can create gray volumetric models on such builds as indicated in the system requirements. But as soon as you add textures, shaders, and effects, you will need to do a render. Even on a powerful processor, a modest kitchen interior will take half an hour to visualize.

Dry numbers don't say much. To feel the speed of a computer's performance, you need to work on it. There are different models, and the processing speed of room design can be several times slower than that of a single character model for gaming. The main thing is that your work is not delayed by excessively long rendering.

A workstation for 3D modeling should be built on a powerful processor. The minimum recommended chip is 4 cores at 3 GHz or higher. With this setup, you can get a finished image from a scene in half an hour to an hour. These indicators are very approximate and depend directly on the level of detail and selected effects.

RAM can be installed in almost unlimited amounts, but the graphics card memory cannot be increased. The maximum memory size for it is 16 GB at the moment. Such memory works faster than RAM. However, the cost of cards with memory larger than 8 GB is astronomical. Rendering on them is not profitable; it is better to buy a powerful CPU.

Several graphics cards can be used together even without SLI mode. A couple of such cards will fit perfectly even in a small case. The advantages of this method are that you can use the computer in normal mode while the video adapters work on the assigned task.

The number of graphics cards that can be installed simultaneously is clearly more than CPUs. After all, you cannot install a second processor, but you can connect 6-7 graphics cards to a good motherboard through adapters.

If you are not going to render on the graphics card, it is still worth buying it. You will need several screens. This will greatly speed up your work and allow you to avoid switching between windows. For working in AutoCAD, monitors with 4K resolution are recommended. The main one should ideally be like that too.

The optimal cost and performance option is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070. It is not expensive, has 8 GB of memory on board, and performs well in rendering. In terms of speed, the card outperforms the Intel Xeon with 22 cores, which costs 8 times more. However, it is designed for gaming, and the driver created for completely different tasks will limit it.

A similar hardware professional card, the NVIDIA Quadro P4000, handles rendering better, but it is more expensive. In games, this technical miracle will show much worse results than even mid-range graphics cards, but it has no equal in design.

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 is a compromise for those who want to "taste" GPU rendering with minimal investment and be able to use it for non-professional needs later. And NVIDIA Quadro P4000 is for those who are sure they want to render on the GPU and want to invest in a fast and worthwhile hardware.

Computer for 3D modeling: RAM

You can never have too much RAM in this business. If you render a scene with textures that weigh more than the amount of RAM, the program will use a swap file. This is a place on the hard drive that the system uses when there is not enough memory. This will significantly reduce the rendering speed, and after a few months of non-stop work, the hard drive may break down. Such loads are excessive for it.

Depending on what you plan to model, you need to choose the amount of memory. The minimum recommended volume is 16 GB. It is even better to have 32 GB. And it must be DDR4 with maximum frequencies. This will greatly increase the speed of work if you plan to render on the CPU.

It is better to install memory in different slots. For example, 4x4 GB will work faster than 2x8 GB. The motherboard should have four memory slots for possible upgrades.

SSD or HDD for 3D modeling?

The speed of work is the most important parameter. An SSD is mandatory for working with 3D modeling. It will speed up the system and the specific program by several times.

Remember that SSDs break down faster. The "write-erase" cycles are less than those of standard HDDs. There should be enough RAM. To check this, start rendering a heavy scene in any program and monitor the RAM usage through the "Task Manager." If it exceeds 90%, it's time to buy another RAM module or two.

Since models and textures are very large, it is advisable to have a separate HDD for storage. This is a standard combination for a modern PC: a small, fast SSD and a large, reliable HDD.

If you go further, ideally you should have an SSD M.2 + SSD + HDD combination. M.2 form factor SSDs are connected to the motherboard via a PCI-E port, which provides data transfer speeds that