Octane Render

The Best Recommended Hardware for Octane Render

OctaneRender is the world’s first and fastest unbiased, spectrally correct GPU render engine, delivering quality and speed unrivaled by any production renderer on the market.

OTOY is proud to advance state of the art graphics technologies with groundbreaking machine learning optimizations, out-of-core geometry support, massive 10-100x speed gains in the scene graph, and RTX raytracing GPU hardware acceleration.

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Recommended Hardware for Octane Render

Processor (CPU)

In OctaneRender, and similar GPU-based engines, the CPU isn't directly involved in rendering scenes. However, it still carries out essential tasks like pre-render calculations and handling intermediary processes between frames in animations. CPU performance 

Clock speed stands out as the primary determinant of CPU performance in Octane. Interestingly, the number of cores doesn't significantly affect it. This correlation extends to other frequently used software alongside OctaneRender, such as Maya, 3ds Max, and Cinema 4D, all favoring higher clock speeds. If you're running additional applications, especcially 3D design then we would highly recommend looking at our following pages to deperming which CPU you need for which application you will be using. 3DS MAX, AutoDesk MAYAHoudini, Cinema4DBlender.

As noted earlier, the CPU doesn't directly contribute to Octane's rendering process. However, it does influence the number of video cards the system can accommodate, thereby affecting direct performance to rendering . Here are a couple of recommendations based on this insight. 

If you only require up to two GPUS then we'd suggest looking at AMD 7000 series or Intel 14th Generation CPUs. Both offer high frequency CPUs ample storage options with NVMe M.2 drives, up to 128GB of memory which is plenty and all without breaking the bank.

Should you require up to 4 GPUs we would recommend the AMD Threadripper and Threadripper Pro line up of CPU. Not only do they support 4 GPUS, they come with extremely powerful chips offering up to 96-Cores which some users may find useful should you use applications such as Cinema4D and Houdini.

Mid-Tier CPU for Dual Graphics: AMD Ryzen 7800X3D comes with 8 core at around 5GHz frequency which is perfect for beginners and hobbiest looking to delve into GPU rendering 
High-Tier CPU for Dual Graphics: Intel's Core i9 14900K, with its 24 cores at 6GHz tops most CPU charts and would be the ideal chip for a high-performance all round editing and rendering machine.

Mid-Tier CPU for Quad Graphics: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7960X with 24-cores is our go to chip for anyone looking for raw GPU performance as it can  
High-Tier CPU For Quad Graphics: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7985WX with 64 cores would be our suggestion for studios or professionals looking to be ahead of the game in terms of CPU and GPU performance.

Memory (RAM)

Determining the exact RAM requirement hinges on the intricacy of your projects. For optimal performance in OctaneRender and GPU rendering in general, we typically advise a minimum of 32GB, often suggesting a bit more.

Since rendering engines like Octane are rarely operated in isolation, it's essential to consider the memory demands of concurrent programs. If you're utilizing 3D modeling software such as Cinema 4D, Maya, or 3ds Max, the scene's complexity influences the system memory needed, mirroring the impact on VRAM requirements for Octane on your video card.

Again, looking at our other listed applications in the CPU section will allow you to determine the correct amount of memory for your system.


Graphics Card (GPU)

The choice of video card stands as the primary determinant of performance in OctaneRender. Two key factors influence render capabilities: the inherent speed of the GPU and the amount of memory on the card. Video memory dictates the size and complexity of scenes that can be rendered. GeForce cards typically offer commendable raw performance coupled with sufficient video memory. In contrast, Quadro cards boast larger VRAM capacities but come with a higher price tag for similar performance levels. Hence, for most Octane users, we recommend opting for GeForce series cards.

It's crucial to consider NVIDIA's professional-grade video cards, as they may offer advantages over GeForce cards for certain users, despite their higher cost. Here's why investing in them might be worthwhile:

Higher VRAM options: Professional-grade cards like the RTX A6000 and 6000 Ada can offer up to 48GB of VRAM, enabling users to handle larger and more complex scenes with ease.
Enhanced multi-GPU support: These cards often feature blower-style cooling systems and more regulated power consumption, facilitating better multi-GPU configurations for improved performance and stability.
ECC memory on higher-end models: Some higher-tier professional-grade cards come equipped with ECC memory, enhancing system stability by correcting memory errors, which can be invaluable for demanding workloads and critical projects.

Below is a chart we've been working on for over 8 years, highlighting the results of from Octanes Benchmarking software, testing all NVIDIA based GPUs since the release of the GTX 1080 and 1070 back in May 2016. Feel free to compare your current GPU and see what poential you can unlock with a more powerful card.

Please note all tests were run with a single GPU and you can expect around 90 - 100 % additional performance by adding each of a similar model. 

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As you can see with our chart, the RTX 40 series graphics cards are the clear winner for anyone looking for the very best performance in Octane, with the RTX 4090 dominating ahead of all other cards.

Depending on your current workflow we'd suggest opting for the best graphics card you can afford and as mentioned before additional cards can double the performance so if you need to upgrade later on down the line be sure to have a powerful enough power supply and the correct CPU and motherboard to support additional cards.

Storage Drives 

Given their remarkable speed and cost-effectiveness, we highly advocate for incorporating solid-state drives (SSDs) as your primary storage solution for both your operating system (OS) and the OctaneRender installation. SSDs excel in delivering swift boot-up times, lightning-fast application launches, and rapid file access, outperforming conventional hard drives by significant margins. Particularly, the cutting-edge NVMe SSDs, leveraging advanced interfaces like M.2, offer unparalleled transfer speeds.

For optimal performance, consider allocating a secondary SSD for storing active projects, further optimizing load and save times. We strongly advise selecting an OS drive with a capacity of no less than 500GB to ensure future-proofing and minimize the need for complex primary drive upgrades in the foreseeable future.

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