Hardware Recommendation

[Mischa Portmann]

Hi there everyone
I'm looking for hardware recommendation based on some facts, maybe someone knows a solution or already had the same issue:

I'm working with Cinema 4D as my main tool with Vray for C4D as well as with Corona for C4D.
Postprodution in AE and Photoshop and final product in Premiere.
In the near future I'll need to learn Unreal Engine as well (personal preference and might use it for VR in my office)

At the moment I'm working with an iMac Pro, 20 x 3GHz Intel Xeon W, 64GB RAM.

So far I used 2 additional iMac Pros (identical) and 2 Windows Computer, 12 x 3.6GHz and 64 GB Ram and 16 x 3GHz, 32 GB Ram for DR in Vray.

Now with Corona I have the same configuration but need to use Team Render instead of DR (command line).

We're thinking about getting a server solution as well as a local rendercluster or anything that can run all at the same time with the best provided result since I need to achieve fast and lots of animations within reasonable time (as everyone obviously).

At the moment it takes me roughly 65 hours to create 4-5 seconds of ArchViz animations (25 fps) in a reasonable resolution/quality.

I need to consider as well that I might get another team member in the near future (I'm a rogue atm).

Changing from Mac to windows is not an issue since I feel like changing anyway (for several reasons).

So, lots of informations and problems but no solution 😅

can anybody recommend a proper setup?

Many thanks in advance.

[Nejc Kilar]

Hello Mischa,

I think you are on the right track. I know Macs have value and even though you can get a much better PC for the same amount of money I really do understand why people prefer the "simplicity" and "fuller" customer service from Apple. Just wanted to put that forth before answering your actual question.

So first of all it would help if you would spec a budget you are working with. Otherwise we can just say get the latest Platinum Dual Socket Intel Xeon / Dual AMD Epyc configuration and fly away :)) Also, are you looking to build a workstation or a render node?

Realistically though, I think a really extraordinary value is found in the 2950X / 2970X and 2990WX CPUs. You simply cannot match a configuration from the Intel side without resorting to a much much much more expensive Xeon build. It is not really a value choice per say, its just amazing performance in the price range that is between 1500$-2000$ per CPU. Its really high end performance although obviously you can get higher with dual socket Xeon and Epyc builds. Epycs gen 1 do tend to have lower boost clocks so they might not be the best choice in that regard.

Since you want it for C4D I'd pay attention to single core boosts. I don't think there is much sense going with a slower Intel CPU like the 9900k just so you can get ~5 more FPS in the viewport. Unfortunately that is how C4D works right now. I would however say that you shouldn't go below 3.8 GHZ on a single core boost because then you are talking some sort of a noticeable difference.

You can see how each CPU performs if you look at the Corona Benchmark page. Do not look at the top entries but also do not go below the middle entries (some people have weird configurations, its not realistic to have such slow performance generally speaking).

The math makes it easy to compare speeds and render time as you can essentially say if your scene would be 10 times as heavy as the benchmark scene you'd go from say 40 seconds (2990WX) to 400 seconds. And you can then compare the render times in theory and figure out how it works out given your current performance. So if your current CPU needs 80 seconds to complete the benchmark you are in theory looking at 400 seconds (2990WX) vs 800 seconds (your current CPU)

So yeah, throw a budget out there and maybe we can put a build together for you :) Otherwise I'm just going to say its probably going to be one of the Threadrippers, if you are looking at rendering performance first and foremost.

[Mischa Portmann]

Hi nkilar

Thanks for the quick response.
You're right, I'm a mac user and I really love them even though I know there's much better hardware out there on PC.
But I consider a change in the office and wouldn't mind it.

So back to your question: The good thing is money is not really and issue (I'm in a really good position when it comes to that), I just don't want to buy a new setup just to realize after that it isn't that much better than what I already have now... we already had a look at some hardware to build it ourself (approx 10'000 - 15'000 CHF which is 8900 - 13'300 Euro or 10'200 - 15'300 $) but I'm looking for recommendations from actual users since my IT Guy doesn't fully understand the world of 3D and rendering.
I'm open when it comes to having either a workstation or a render node. I just have to consider that I'm not the only one using C4D and Corona/Vray in the future so preferably a node to use DR/TR.

Basic question (it was a suggestion from my IT guy) was to have either a workstation (the one I have now basically) and use it for local work and a server solution which I can use for DR/TR or have an external "supercomputer" which does all the work and just a display signal to my workplace so I can work remotely.

let's say with my current setup up in Vray it took me about 15-20 hours to render a 5 seconds animation in DR (125 frames)
with my workstation and in a reasonable quality (noise level 3%) it took me approx 270 hours on corona to render a 5 seconds animation without TR (125 frames) don't know yet how long it would take with TR.

I'd like to bring it down to "over night" or at least "over weekend" when it a heavy scene. I'm just looking for the best solution and maybe a second/third (low and middle) which I can present to my Boss and CEO.

I really hope I could explain myself.

many thanks anyway for your help.

[Mischa Portmann]

In addition (for the future) since vray is now under the development of chaosgroup and will release vray next for c4d in the future which supports CPU and GPU and I need a local workstation for UE anyway as far as I know it might as well be a combination of both, server and workstation.

[Nejc Kilar]

I don't think you need to  over complicate things with UE. If you are going with a high end Corona rig, you just need to add a high end GPU to it and thats generally it. If you are going the Threadripper way, you'll have room for 4 GPUs (if the case is big enough) so even GPU rendering will be an option down the line. Otherwise, if you'd go with a single Xeon / Epyc / i7 / Ryzen then you'd need to make sure you have enough GPU slots on the motherboard and you'll loose some speed in a multi-gpu configuration. For Unreal it would run just fine as you usually run it as any other game - On a single GPU.

Conversely, if you opt for a Xeon / Epyc build you will probably get slightly lower frame rates in UE due to single core bottlenecks but your interactive rendering in Corona will see a big boost.

I'm not sure which generation that Xeon W you have is but I reckon a 2990WX would be a healthy upgrade in terms of Corona speeds. Considering that Xeons rarely hit more than 3.6ghz on a single core, I am thinking you might even see better single threaded performance overall. Things like Handbreak and video work might actually not see any improvements because thats where the 2990WX is not that great when ran under Windows.

That being said, I just did a quick search and I'm not sure I can find 20 core Mac. Are you sure its 20 core and not 20 thread? If its just 20 thread you'll see your renders go from like 3 hours to one and a half or something. Can't really give you a recommendation without knowing exactly what you have :)

Oh and I'd like to warn against unrealistic expectations. If your animations take 10 hours in Corona and you have a 20 thread, 3ghz clocked CPU I suspect you'd cut those times down to like 2-4 hours with a 2990WX. These numbers are superbly approximate as again, I don't know your exact specs but I just wanted to illustrate the point that it probably won't take 5 minutes to render an animation :)