Do I need an NVIDIA processor?

myutogaru

I'm getting a new computer and I want to know if I have to have an NVIDIA processor to render in iray. If I don't get a computer with NVIDIA can I still get my scenes to look as good? Also, is 8GB of RAM enough to render, i used to encounter errors on almost every render bc I had only 2GB RAM. Pls help

Ongoing Moment

No, you could render with a CPU. It will take much longer. Using a Nvdia GPU decreases render time dramatically. It will look the same CPU or GPU rendering. 8gb of RAM would be the minimal. A figure with some clothes and a back wall approximately. For every Gig of scene information you need 3 GB of RAM approximately when the CPU sends the render info over to the GPU. So if you have an 8gb GPU it would be safe having 32gb of RAM.

frank0314

Yes you have to have a NVIDIA to use it in Iray. If you don't have one you have to use only your CPU. You want to get a NVIDIA card with at least 4GB of VRAM to be used in IRAY. 8GB of RAM is pretty low. It will work but you will have to do smaller scenes. Try to get at min 16GB. The more RAM you have the better experience you will have in Daz Studio.

nicstt

A semi decent system will have 16 to32GB or RAM, a decent CPU i7 or Ryzen 7 for preference; it will have a graphics card by Nvidia (ideally a 10 series) with at least 4GB of RAM, and tbh, 4GB is not enough imo, and 6 is closer to the minimum that should be specified, but 4 will work for simple scenes.

It will need decent storage, a good PSU (dont skimp on them) as well as other items; there are a number of threads where folks have asked check them out, some good advice.

By the best you can afford; it might be better to buy it in stages too.

myutogaru

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the help ????????

harrykim

Well, all said is correct, but not the only truth. And what if the optimum is out of your budget ? One year ago I´ve started with DAZ using my 3 year old laptop ( for which I´ve invested 400 $ at the time) 1gb Nvidia (710M) and 4gb RAM ( i3 processor) system and it worked propperly based on my skills. Means that the results exceeded my expectations.

What makes it hard to work with DAZ and Iray is that a lot of effects you add to your scene are just visible during/after rendering. So I fully agree in that to have a propper system and not to have to spend hours of waiting increases the fun. But frankly spoken, even if you invest 1000 $ and more you have to wait. Not as long as befor, but even advanced users are telling from "over night, complete days or even a week" of render time.

It is always reccomendet to buy a desctop computer instead of a laptop because you can change components according to your needs and budget. As long as its base configuration can handle it.

To come to the end. What I currently have and be happy with is a laptop with 2gb Nvidia (940mx) 8 gb RAM ( i5 processor last generation ). Bought it for 500 $ as it was on special offer since that was my budget. Since today I never reached the max. capacity of the card. Even a scene with 152 ! items, water and backdrop image where only 1.758 gb scene size. Would say, it looks not bad at all :).  As long as I´m a beginner, not using a hughe environmet preset and being satisfied with the ( Iray) shaders coming with DAZ 4.9, I cannot confirm what others reccomend as minimum requirements. And dont forget, that you have 3DLight render engine too. Many users get fantastic results with it. And it renders ( almost ever) way faster then Iray.

fastbike1

@harrykim "even advanced users are telling from "over night, complete days or even a week" of render time."

As you said "all said is correct, but not the only truth" In this case, yours. Advanced users running overnight, days etc are doing it with CPU not a decent GPU. If a scene will fit into the GPU memory, it's not going to need to run overnight unless the user chooses to let it run indefinitely.

You are apparently new enough not to know that 3DL users were typically running overnight / days for scenes.

harrykim

Why do you understand my text as an attack ? And against whom ? It was not my intention !

From myotugaru´s message I understand that he /she is obviously not happy with the requirements told to have fun with DAZ. So why not telling that it is possible with less performanced systems ?

And you are right, I dont know how long 3DL renders take typically. But my experiances with the few I did is exactely what I said. So why not telling that fun is possible, even if you do not invest in 1000 $ system ?

Chohole

Please keep the conversation civil, Criticism should be directed towards the subject or topic at hand, rather than an individual.

Ongoing Moment

Some things in IRAY slow down the render process. Translucency seems to slow IRAY down. Lots of emmissive objects/lights. The size of your render also has an effect. But generally on my 1070 a 2000x2000 render with 7gb of information/scene takes 30 to 180 minutes to get 4000-8000 iterations. Around 80% convergence you can tell what if anything needs more time and adjust the render quality. Usually 4000 iterations gets your render smooth. But some objects need more time.

Fletcher

1080 ti, enuff said. Best thing is that you'll be able to easily preview your renders in the viewport. This is great for trying out different and complicated lighting. It's all into the lighting!