Discover the Best Computer for KeyShot – CPU, GPU, RAM, and Storage.

Embarking on the journey of bringing your creative visions to life with KeyShot requires a reliable and efficient computer setup. The right hardware not only ensures smooth operation but also accelerates rendering times, allowing you to focus on the artistry rather than waiting for results.

In this post, Chip Render will explore the system requirements and key components for the Best Computer for KeyShot. We also explore the importance of each element in maximizing your rendering experience.

KeyShot itself is engineered for fast performance on a wide range of hardware, whether you are using a basic setup or a high-powered system with multiple CPU cores. Its efficiency is designed to scale linearly with your hardware capabilities.

To begin with, let’s explore the minimum system requirements and GPU recommendations for the latest version of KeyShot.

KeyShot Minimum Requirements

Operating System:

• Microsoft Windows: Windows 10 or 11, Windows Server 2019 or newer.
• Apple macOS: macOS 11.7 Big Sur or newer.
• 64-bit platform

RAM: 4GB

CPU (Processor):

• Quad-core processor.
• Intel or AMD 64-bit CPU with SSE4.1 or higher.

GPU (Graphics card): OpenGL 2.0 capable system (Although a GPU is not necessary for KeyShot to render, certain elements of its user interface do require a GPU that supports OpenGL 2.0 or higher).

Resolution: 1920 x 1080 resolution or higher.

An Internet connection is required to activate the product.

KeyShot CPU mode

KeyShot GPU Requirements

KeyShot can fully utilize GPU-accelerated ray tracing capabilities through NVIDIA RTX with OptiX. Its GPU Mode is available for both real-time rendering and local render output.

KeyShot’s GPU raytracing supports NVIDIA GPUs based on Maxwell microarchitecture, requiring CUDA Compute Capability 5.2 or later (which is found in Quadro M6000 or GTX 980 and above).

For optimal performance, KeyShot suggests:

• Leverage graphics cards based on the NVIDIA RTX technology, with at least 8 GB of memory.
• Make sure your system is running the recommended driver versions for KeyShot GPUs: 451.82 on Windows and 450.51.06 on Linux, catering to both Quadro and GeForce setups.

KeyShot GPU mode

What is the Best Computer for KeyShot? Look closer at the key components of a computer that can get you the best performance in KeyShot.

CPU (Processor)

KeyShot is optimized to make the most of all available CPU cores. This means you will get faster rendering times with more CPU cores and threads. In CPU-based rendering, KeyShot’s performance scales exceptionally well with both core count and clock speed. Ideally, a processor with numerous cores, coupled with a robust clock speed is what you need to deliver optimal results.

When opting for GPU rendering, the CPU becomes less critical but still plays a role, particularly if you are running a 3D design or CAD software concurrently with KeyShot. In such scenarios, an ideal choice is a processor with a high clock speed despite a lower core count.

Best CPU for KeyShot

So, what is the best CPU for KeyShot?

• AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 5995WX
• AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 5955WX
• AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 3955WX

When it comes to CPU rendering, both AMD and Intel provide workstation-class CPUs with impressively a lot of cores. Currently, AMD’s Threadripper PRO products stand out as the fastest options. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 5995WX, featuring 64 cores, is an excellent choice for CPU rendering in KeyShot.

On the flip side, for those leaning towards GPU rendering, the CPU’s significance diminishes. In such cases, we typically suggest a high-clock speed processor like Intel’s Core family or AMD’s Ryzen line. These CPUs not only complement GPU rendering but also perform admirably in 3D design and CAD applications frequently used alongside KeyShot.

• Intel Core i7 14700K
• Intel Core i9 14900K

Chip Render Workstations are equipped with AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 3955WX CPU and (1/2/4 or more) RTX 3090 GPUs.

Best GPU for KeyShot

How KeyShot uses GPU depends on your choice of rendering mode, whether it is CPU-based or GPU-based.

For CPU rendering, the graphics card assumes a minimal role, mainly handling the display of your scene and the final render.

On the other hand, in GPU-accelerated rendering, the GPU takes center stage, with its speed and the amount of video memory (VRAM) playing crucial roles in overall performance.

Excitingly, KeyShot supports multiple GPU rendering and scales impressively with additional cards. In simpler terms, using two cards can cut render times in half, and employing three cards could potentially finish renders three times faster than with a single GPU. The flexibility and efficiency of multi-GPU setups in KeyShot contribute significantly to accelerated rendering workflows!

Best Graphics Card for KeyShot

• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 24GB
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 24GB
• NVIDIA RTX 6000 Ada 48GB

RTX 3090 and RTX 4090 are our go-to recommendations for most GPU rendering customers. Both have a tremendous 24GB of memory, RTX 3090 is a great choice for rendering, while RTX 4090 provides the best performance in Keyshot. On the other hand, NVIDIA RTX 6000 Ada is for those who need a lot of VRAM.

RAM (System memory)

Determining the ideal RAM for your system relies on the nature of your projects and the software you engage with, here KeyShot.

As a general guideline, we recommend a minimum of 64GB of RAM. This provides ample capacity for multitasking across various 3D, CAD, or architecture applications and supports the rendering of modest scenes on the CPU.

For those delving deeper into CPU-based rendering, opting for 128GB or even more is advisable.

In contrast, GPU-based rendering places less strain on system memory and instead emphasizes the need for graphics cards equipped with generous onboard VRAM.

Storage (Hard Drives)

Opting for solid-state drives (SSDs) is a strong recommendation for the primary drive housing your operating system and software, including KeyShot. SSDs stand out due to their impressive speed and relatively affordable pricing. Their high-speed performance significantly accelerates system boot times, application launches, and file loading compared to traditional hard drives.

For optimal results, we particularly endorse the use of the latest NVMe SSDs, leveraging advanced connections such as M.2 and offering unparalleled transfer rates. A 1TB capacity is our preferred recommendation, ensuring ample space for the operating system, applications, and active files.

In 3D rendering, where precision and speed are paramount, choosing the best computer for KeyShot is a critical decision. The ideal setup combines powerful processors, graphics cards, and lots of memory, while the storage solutions ensure seamless operations and quick access to your projects.

Whether you opt for CPU or GPU rendering, the right hardware enhances the KeyShot experience, turning your creative endeavors into stunning visual realities.

Remember, a well-equipped system not only boosts productivity but also allows your artistic vision to shine without compromise.

Discover Twinmotion Lumen Global Illumination, a new feature in Twinmotion 2023.2.

Lumen is a new dynamic global illumination and reflection system introduced in the Twinmotion 2023.2 release. It provides highly accurate lighting and reflection in a real-time rendering environment.

In Twinmotion 2023.2, you will need to open the Properties panel in the Footer.

• Under Ambience, click the Render tab > Real time button.
• Under Global illumination, there are Standard and Lumen. Click the Lumen button to enable Lumen.

But, how is Lumen different from the default Standard Global Illumination? And what are its features? In this post, Chip Render will explore all about Lumen Global Illumination in Twinmotion.

Lumen is a cutting-edge real-time global illumination and reflections system tailored for your Twinmotion scenes. The Lumen system provides fully dynamic indirect lighting and reflections. Plus, it accurately simulates how light interacts with objects and how light and reflections transfer between objects. This significantly enhances global illumination and, thus realism.

This system allows indirect lighting to dynamically adapt to changes in direct lighting or geometry. Such as altering the angle of the sun with the time of day or opening exterior doors. As a result, it adds a higher level of realism to real-time applications, offering stunning stills and videos with a quality similar to path-traced rendering. More importantly, all can be achieved in a fraction of the time.

With Unreal Engine 5, UE broke new ground with its awe-inspiring dynamic global illumination and reflections system – Lumen. Since then, architects and designers have eagerly awaited its integration into Twinmotion, too. The time had arrived: With Twinmotion 2023.2, Lumen made its debut in Twinmotion, opening doors for incredible visual enhancements

Lumen delivers to Twinmotion powerful and dynamic global illumination features with real-time performance. Let’s take a closer look at 5 features of Lumen.

1. Diffuse Indirect Lighting

Lumen global illumination delivers dynamic diffuse indirect lighting by continuously reflecting light from surfaces onto other nearby surfaces. Although each bounce has a large processing cost and affects render times, this behavior replicates reality, in which light bounces from one surface to another forever until the light source loses all energy.

• Diffuse indirect lighting generates an effect named color bleeding.
• If the original light source is colored, the bounced light will reflect that color onto other surfaces.
• If the surfaces have a diffuse color, the bouncing light reflects that color onto adjacent surfaces as well.

Objects in the scene that block this diffuse indirect lighting will cast diffuse indirect shadows.

In the image above, you can see the difference in the Diffuse indirect lighting effect with and without Lumen. Image by Twinmotion.

2. Ambient Lighting

Lumen enhances ambient lighting and reflections for a more realistic feel. This includes illumination in scenarios with sky shadowing, in which indoor spaces are significantly darker than outdoor lighting.

Plus, Lumen offers global illumination for translucency and height fog effects. However, it is of lower quality for opaque surfaces.

The image shows how Ambient lighting illuminates the scene’s height fog. Image by Twinmotion.

3. Emissive Materials

Lumen allows objects with emissive materials to bounce specular and diffused light to other surrounding objects. For instance, you could apply a material with emissive properties to a primitive object, such as a cube, and place it in the scene to provide lighting.

However, if the cube is too small and bright, noise artifacts might show up in the scene. Instead of employing objects with emissive materials to light a scene, using light sources from the Twinmotion Library is recommended.

The image shows a sphere with emissive material properties that illuminate the scene. The sphere is large enough for light to bounce correctly without causing noise artifacts. Image by Twinmotion.

4. Reflections

Lumen produces dynamic diffuse and specular reflections on materials with roughness values ranging from 0% to 100%.

Lumen enables multiple specular reflections (the reflection of light between two or more reflecting surfaces), controls skylight shadows, and gives glossy reflections on translucency.

In the image above, Emissive surfaces impact diffuse and specular reflections and are also impacted by the roughness values of the surrounding surfaces. Image by Twinmotion.

5. Supported Light Types

Lumen global illumination benefits all light sources and light types in Twinmotion. High Dynamic Range Images (HDRIs), the Twinmotion Dynamic Sky, and the lights in the Twinmotion Library are all included.

The following are the system requirements for using Lumen GI in Twinmotion:

Windows

• Operating system: Windows 11 64-bit version, or Windows 10 64-bit version 1909 revision .1350 or higher, or versions 2004 and 20H2 revision .789 or higher.
• Render Hardware Interface (RHI): DirectX 12.
• GPU: NVIDIA RTX-2000 series, AMD RX-6000 series, or higher graphics card.

MacOS

• Operating system:

The minimum OS: MacOS 12.5 Monterey.

The recommended OS: MacOS Ventura 13.

• GPU: A discrete GPU is required rather than an integrated CPU/GPU. Metal 1.2 compatible graphics card is necessary.

To sum up, Twinmotion Lumen is a dynamic global illumination and reflection system that provides highly accurate lighting and reflections in a real-time rendering environment. Lumen brings better performance and results with Diffuse Indirect Lighting, Ambient Lighting, Emissive Materials, and Reflections in Twinmotion.

Besides, Lumen requires more CPU, GPU, and VRAM resources than Standard global illumination. If you need to render off-site, check out a friendly and easy-to-use solution below.