Best Graphics Card for 3D Rendering

Nealsutton

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Best Graphics Card for 3D Rendering

Are you a graphic designer looking for a potent graphic card to handle all your architectural rendering work? Your workstation becomes the ground reality of your work in the animation and 3D modeling world. 

Having said that, not all graphic cards are designed to meet your specific rendering needs. You need to sift through endless options to get the best graphic card for 3D rendering.

So to help you find the best graphic card that increases your productivity and unnecessary delays in rendering, we are here with the six best graphic cards for 3D rendering.

06 Best Graphic Cards For 3D Rendering

Product PICKS Price
Asus ROG STRIX GeForce RTX 2080Ti EDITOR’S PICK
NVIDIA RTX A4000 MOST POWERFUL (Single-Slot)
AMD Radeon RX 570 MID-level GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 MID-RANG GPU
EVGA GeForce RTX 3090 FTW3 Ultra HIGH-END CARD
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti BEST BUDGET Rendering GPU

List of Best Graphics Card for 3D Rendering

So let’s review the graphic cards in detail. By the end of this review, you will find the best 3D graphics cards for your endeavors.

1. Asus ROG STRIX GeForce RTX 2080Ti

EDITOR’S PICK

Reasons to Consider

The RTX 2080 Ti offers exceptional 3D rendering performance owing to its 4352 Cores. Moreover, with its massive clock speed of 1665 MHz, you can get your 3D projects done within minutes. In addition, this graphic card is laced up with an enormous bandwidth of  616 GB/Sec that lets you do any big job quickly.

Specifications

  • Ram: 11GB GDDR6
  • Video Output: DisplayPort 1.4
  • CUDA: 4352 Cores
  • Boost Clock Speed: 1665 MHz 
  • Base Clock Speed: 1350 MHz
  • Bandwidth: 616 GB/Sec
  • Memory Interface: 352-bit

The RTX 2080 Ti is a potent graphics card that goes hand in hand with your 3D modeling needs. Since it entails 4532 CUDA cores and a faster clock speed of 1665 MHz, you can get the big job done within minutes.

And the cherry on top is its combo of ray-tracing and DLSS, which makes sure you get instant 3D animation without any lagging. With this GPU, you have a 616 Gbps bandwidth to transport data quickly. 

Moreover, the RTX 2080 Ti can be the best graphics card for 3d modeling owing to its 11GB memory coupled with Auto-Extreme and Max-Contact Technology. 

This graphic card eliminates the frequent overheating problem thanks to its 0db Triple Axial-Tech Fans. These fans boost the heatsink’s airflow and feature IP5X dust resistance.

While this graphic card is perfect for 3D modeling, its price might make a hole in your pocket. But still, considering its features, this graphic card is worth a try.

2. NVIDIA RTX A4000

most powerful single-slot

Reasons to Consider

NVIDIA RTX A4000 is yet another best GPUs for rendering. With 6,144 CUDA Cores and  16GB VRAM, you can upscale your 3D modeling project. Moreover, this single-slot GPU also features 140W TDP that lets you save the power of your workstation. And as with its impressive specification, it does not cost much like our previous pick.

Specifications

  • Ram: 16GB VRAM
  • Video Output: DisplayPort (4) 1.4
  • CUDA: 6,144 Cores
  • Boost Clock Speed: 1560 MHz 
  • Base Clock Speed: 735 MHz
  • Bandwidth: 256 GB/Sec
  • Memory Interface: 256-bit

Suppose you want to find the middle ground between price and performance, then consider RTX A4000 from NVIDIA. The predecessor to A6000 NVIDIA boasts 6144 CUDA cores coupled with 48 2nd gen RT Cores, 192 and 3rd gen Tensor Cores, and 16 GB VRAM.

Moreover, you can bring your imaginations to life with real-time ray tracing, DLSS, and outclass rendering speeds. And since this is a single-slot GPU that fits almost all workstations, you can increase the probability of working in multi-GPU environments with this one. 

For 3D artists, this is a great graphics card that goes toe to toe with your budget without compromising on the features. The 16 GB VRAM of this graphic card will seamlessly handle most of your tasks, but if you are a high-end 3D developer, you will need the successor of the A4000 Quadro series.

3. AMD Radeon RX 570

mid-level GPU

Reasons to Consider

If you want a mid-range 3d modeling graphics card that can do most of your 3D modeling projects, then this is the one to consider. It will not cost much and still work fine. Since it entails 8GB RAM, 224GB bandwidth, and 2048 cores, it will not perform like high-end cards but can do mid-level projects efficiently. 

Specifications

  • Ram: 8GB GDDR5
  • Video Output: DisplayPort (4) 1.4
  • CUDA: 2048 Cores
  • Boost Clock Speed: 1244 MHz 
  • Base Clock Speed: 1168 MHz
  • Bandwidth: 224 GB/Sec
  • Memory Interface: 256-bit

The AMD RX 570 is one of the best GPUs for rendering that cope with your tight budget. The RX 570 is an upgrade to the RX 470. The RX 570 is fitted with 32 ROPs and 8 GB of GDDR5 RAM, which works well for rendering, if not exceptional. 

Furthermore, The RX 570 also has 224GB bandwidth which is impressive for an 8GB GPU. However, this card entails a high clock speed which is why it consumes more power. 

Speaking of the RX570 look, it carries a sleek and minimalist design. Moreover, it also features a heat sink beneath its black plastic casing. Although this graphic card is not for heavy-duty rendering, it will be a wise choice for beginner graphic designers.

4. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060

mid-range GPU

Reasons to Consider

If you are looking for a mid-range GPU  that performs great with your rendering tasks NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is the choice. This card can fit into smaller PCs and works well with the 12GB VRAM. Moreover, this graphic card carries 1440P and 4K rendering, making for a uniquely immersive experience.

Specifications

  • Ram: 12 GB GDDR6
  • Video Output: DisplayPort v1.4 (3) / HDMI 2.0b x 1
  • CUDA:  2176 Cores
  • Boost Clock Speed: 1650 MHz 
  • Base Clock Speed: 1470 MHz 
  • Bandwidth: 336 GB/Sec
  • Memory Interface: 192-bit

The RTX 2060 is best for students hoping to pursue their 3D modeling career. Although this graphic card boasts a 12GB VRAM and 336 GB/Sec massive bandwidth, it makes for excellent rendering performance. 

In addition, the RTX 2060 also features real-time ray-tracing, along with 2176 CUDA cores, to make for fantastic rendering speed. And the best thing is that it does not need a powerful PC to fit in. You can place this graphic card even on basic PCs as well. 

Additionally, cooling methods, including axial fan spins and heatsinks, reduce excessive temperatures. Overall, the RTX 2060 is a fantastic option for gamers.

5. EVGA GeForce RTX 3090 FTW3 Ultra

HIGH-END CARD

Reasons to Consider

If you have a generous budget to spend on the best graphic card for 3D rendering, then go for EVGA GeForce RTX 3090 FTW3 Ultra. While it costs more, it goes hand in hand with rendering hyperrealistic 3D models and videos. With its massive 10496 CUDA and 24 GB GDDR6X, you can get any tough job done instantly.

Specifications

  • Ram: 24 GB GDDR6X
  • Video Output: DisplayPort v1.4 
  • CUDA: 10496 Cores
  • Boost Clock Speed: 1800 MHz 
  • Base Clock Speed: 1395 MHz 
  • Bandwidth: 936 GB/sec
  • Memory Interface: 384-bit

If your job asks for high-end rendering speed without lag, then this GPU is the one to pick. Since this graphic card has a maximum resolution of 7680 x 4320.590.4GT/s Texture Fill Rate and real-time ray tracing technology, you can get hyper-realistic graphics instantly. 

Moreover, the whooping 24GB memory of the graphic card makes for outclass renders. However, this card comes with a hefty price tag. It still costs much less than other equal-priced rivals, such as RTX A6000. 

In addition, this card has 10,496 CUDA cores, and it also seamlessly handles 4K and 8K HDR video. So it can be best for professionals who need to finish more work in less time.

Furthermore, this graphic card does not heat up despite the heavy workload owing to its blower-style fan model. Although this card is best for professional 3D rendering, it needs to have an error-correcting code VRAM, which makes it less reliable than other ECC-enabled VRAMs.

6. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti

BEST BUDGET Rendering GPU

Reasons to Consider

If you are after one of the fastest graphic cards at a reasonable price point, then NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is one to choose from. Its 10240 CUDA and fast VRAM clock can easily handle any gaming and 3D rendering project. Moreover, it is also one of the budget picks, considering its unique features. 

Specifications

  • Ram: 12 GB GDDR6X
  • Video Output: DisplayPort v1.4 (3) / HDMI 2.0b x 1
  • CUDA:  10240 Cores
  • Boost Clock Speed: 1655 MHz 
  • Base Clock Speed: 1365 MHz 
  • Bandwidth: 19 GB/sec
  • Memory Interface: 384-bit

If you don’t want a massive 24GB or higher VRAM but still want a potent graphic card to handle all 3D rendering and gaming endeavors, this card is the best choice. 

This graphic card entails a 12 Gb GDDR6X VRAM and 1655MHZ boost clock speed, which is quite impressive for a graphic card in this price range. Besides, the best thing about this card is its NVIDIA Ampere Architecture.

With such graphic card architecture, you can get the perks of multiprocessing and Ray Tracing cores, all of which make for better and instant 3D rendering. Since the Ampere architecture leverages Artificial intelligence instead of manual rendering, it is best for real-time rendering.

The cherry on top is its 10240 CUDA and 80 RT acceleration cores that make challenging rendering projects a breeze. 

Although this graphic card handles complex tasks seamlessly, be ready to encounter heating problems with this card. Still, this is the best graphics card for 3D rendering that costs little.

What do you need in a Best Graphic Card for 3D Rendering

Before buying a GPU for 3D modeling, keep these points in mind:

Nvidia or AMD

Both Nvidia and AMD have theirs gives and takes. For instance, NVIDIA costs much more, but they also provide unparalleled performance as they have ray-tracing and DLSS. While AMD GPUs are much more affordable but they do not have features to meet most of your 3D job needs. 

It is best to go with NVIDIA for high-end 3D projects; however, for beginners, AMD is a good starting point.

Video Memory and bandwidth

VRAM of GPU tells you how much video data the card can handle. The higher the VRAM, the more visual data it can keep for processing. Besides, VRAM bandwidth determines how fast you can complete a 3D task. The bandwidth will be responsible for transferring data from VRAM to a processor.

Cores

As with CPUs, GPUs also work efficiently with a more significant number of cores. The greater the number of cores, the faster you will be rendering.

Clock Speed

The clock speed of the GPU determines the rendering time of the GPU. Moreover, two different clock speeds are base and boost clock speed. While the base clock is the minimum threshold of GPU processing, the boost clock is when you put a lot of work into GPU.

Budget

One of the essential factors in buying a GPU is budget; if you have a tight budget but still want an excellent graphic card we recommend going with the AMD series; however, if you can afford more premium GPUs like RTX 2080 Ti, then go for it. 

FAQs

What type of graphics card does work for 3D modeling?

If you are an avid 3D artist, it is best to go with NVIDIA GPUs. However, if you are a beginner, AMD GPUs serve well since they cost less.  NVIDIA RTX 3080 Ti is one of the best graphic cards for professionals.

Can a graphics card overheat when performing 3D modeling?

It is widespread for graphic cards to overheat, leading to different problems. Sometimes overheating can occur due to dist and lint. So it is recommended to service your workstation for optimal performance. 

Do gaming graphics cards serve as 3D rendering?

The answer to this question is complex. Why? Because you can use a gaming GPU for immersive endeavors, however, you might have trouble doing another way round. Moreover, it is an excellent practice to get a separate card for both tasks. 

Conclusion

So that was all from our guide to the best graphic cards for 3D rendering. Since buying a GPU is a considerable investment, and getting the wrong one will put all your money to waste. So before you buy a graphic, it is better to know your budget and needs and choose a graphic card that meets your requirements. We hope you like our review and find the best one for your 3D endeavors!

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Nealsutton

Hello, I'm the blogger and author of this blog. I have been in the industry for more than 10 years. Since I began testing and reviewing graphics cards for custom PC builds, I have tested and reviewed hundreds of them. As a result of my knowledge and experience, I believe I will be able to help you choose the card that really fits your budget and needs.

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