Advice re upgrade for 3D modelling computer

[Derek Smith]

If I buy before the end of the financial year I can get tax relief on an upgrade to my computer. I'd like advice as to what would be the best way of upgrading my system to speed up Blender. I don't want to throw money at the problem, but a couple of hundred or so is the target.
Spec:
Windows 10 Pro
AMD Ryzen 3 2200G with Radeon Vega Graphics, 3500 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s) on an Asus Prime A320M-K motherboard with 32GB (2x16GB) 2400Mhz DDR4 RAM
Nvidia GeForce GT710 2GB
Dual 24" displays.
I've no problem with it for the programmes I use mainly: the Affinity Photo, Designer and Publisher and PhotoDirector 365. Rendering seems slow in Cycles in Blender.

Derek

[Monty Python]

Probably a faster CPU with more cores (e.g. Ryzen 5 3600), assuming it's supported by your motherboard. An Nvidia GPU would also speed up some processes, but a CPU would be able to make use of main RAM which the GPU won't (or at least not as efficiently).

[Derek Smith]

Monty Python said:

Probably a faster CPU with more cores (e.g. Ryzen 5 3600), assuming it's supported by your motherboard. An Nvidia GPU would also speed up some processes, but a CPU would be able to make use of main RAM which the GPU won't (or at least not as efficiently).

Thanks.

[plasticpig]

Are you using the CPU or GPU to render a scene? Spend the money on upgrading whichever you are using.

[Monty Python]

Digging a bit further, Cycles appears to use the GPU, so that may be the way forward. Hard to know which would give you the best performance increase, but at least you'll get some improvement irrespective of which route you chose.

You may get a more definitive answer on the Blender forums: https://www.blender.org/community/

[Derek Smith]

Monty Python said:

Digging a bit further, Cycles appears to use the GPU, so that may be the way forward. Hard to know which would give you the best performance increase, but at least you'll get some improvement irrespective of which route you chose.

You may get a more definitive answer on the Blender forums: https://www.blender.org/community/

I've asked around and the consensus seems to be that if I'm serious about 3D software, I need more cores, more RAM and a much better GPU. It appears that a cheap upgrade for the GPU - I've gone for an Asus 8GB Radeon Vega card. It seems it'll speed things up a fair bit.

I'm trying to learn Blender for the lockdown and it's hooked me. I'll think about a new computer later this/next year if I'm still fascinated.

[rxe]

You mean one of these?

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/8gb-sapphire-radeo...

That doesn't seem cheap!?

Your motherboard looks like it will support everything up to a Ryzen 9 (Socket AM4), so you don't need a new machine - if you have that beast of a graphics card, then a CPU upgrade later would be perfect. I would have gone for the CPU + a mid range grahics card instead....

[130R]

Derek Smith said:

I've asked around and the consensus seems to be that if I'm serious about 3D software, I need more cores, more RAM and a much better GPU. It appears that a cheap upgrade for the GPU - I've gone for an Asus 8GB Radeon Vega card. It seems it'll speed things up a fair bit.

I'm trying to learn Blender for the lockdown and it's hooked me. I'll think about a new computer later this/next year if I'm still fascinated.

If you are looking at a GPU in the ~ £500 budget range then I would get a RTX 2070S. RTX cards can use OptiX APIs which will give you a significant performance improvement in Blender: https://www.scan.co.uk/products/evga-nvidia-geforc...

[Jinx]

CPU Blender benchmarks

Slightly older CPU and GPU benchmarks for blender

So should give you some idea what would be best depending on the workload.

Or and for the latest AMD card:

https://www.extremetech.com/computing/297167-rtx-2...

Edited by Jinx on Thursday 2nd April 10:25

[Derek Smith]

I've been told that to make my computer task specific, ie 3D modelling, I would need to replace virtually everything, and a new computer would probably be the better options. I normally change my MB/CPU every 3-4 years and I'm only into 20 months with this one.

A GPU upgrade seemed the best option so it's a Radeon RC 570. It went in without problems, once I remembered where I'd put the connector leads for the PSU. Rendering speed has improved significantly, and so far the fans have not burst into life. I had problems running PowerDirector at with my old GPU in full HD mode, and that's improved, as has the smoothness of the preview.

Pleased with my purchase. Just £135 for a significant change.

[The_Jackal]

Derek Smith said:

I've been told that to make my computer task specific, ie 3D modelling, I would need to replace virtually everything, and a new computer would probably be the better options. I normally change my MB/CPU every 3-4 years and I'm only into 20 months with this one.

A GPU upgrade seemed the best option so it's a Radeon RC 570. It went in without problems, once I remembered where I'd put the connector leads for the PSU. Rendering speed has improved significantly, and so far the fans have not burst into life. I had problems running PowerDirector at with my old GPU in full HD mode, and that's improved, as has the smoothness of the preview.

Pleased with my purchase. Just £135 for a significant change.

I hope the person that "told" you that info isnt a friend, because he/she is talking out of their arse bigtime.
Yeah if you are designing for a games company making a commercial product where time is money (I used to work for a games company building and configuring the artists and programmers PCs).
It looks like your previous graphics barely cut the mustard. No wonder you were struggling with rendering.