Struggling with selecting a graphics card that can handle the demands of 3D modeling and rendering?

In this blog, we unveil the best graphics cards for 3D artists and designers, from budget-friendly options for beginners to high-end models for professional studios, including a range of cards that balance performance with price.

With over 15 years of experience in digital art and computer graphics technology, we’ve guided numerous 3D modelers, animators, and visual effects artists in finding the right hardware for their creative workflows. Our comprehensive testing has identified standout graphics cards that excel in 3D modeling tasks. These aren’t just typical components; they are powerhouses of rendering capability and efficiency. We’ve evaluated them in various demanding scenarios, from intricate architectural visualizations to complex character animations, and found them to be exceptional in delivering smooth performance, detailed graphics, and reliability, making them ideal for anyone serious about 3D creation.

11 Best Graphics Card for 3D Rendering Reviewed 2024

Best Graphics Card For 3d Modeling 2024

Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti

Featuring a dual-fan cooling system and a full-length vapor chamber, this one is one of the most suitable options for you. It comes with the best cooling system to ensure that your graphics card remains cool while you are working for a long time.

Benefits for the user: The vapor chamber in this graphics card covers the PCB of the card, which protects your device from overheating, especially when you are working for a long hour. This card has unique power ray tracing, which allows it to render natural shadows and that too in real-time lighting scenarios.

The specialty of this model is that it comes with two cores in the form of RT along with tensor cores, which its previous models never had. The 544 Tensor Cores are equipped with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Deep Learning Super Sampling technologies that apply anti-aliasing and enhance resolution.

What We Like

  • It works very fast
  • It comes with high-fps 4K gaming
  • It features Deep Learning technology
  • It provides USB-C connectivity
What We Don’t Like
  • It is expensive

Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super

Featuring superior GPU render value, this one ensures a fast pace to handle the complex tasks associated with the viewport.

Benefits for the user: One of the best features of this graphics card is the Zero Frozr technology, which ensures you have noise-free performance while working. Also, it stops the fan in low-load conditions.

It makes a perfect choice for working with ray-tracing-enabled games.

Allowing you to add finesse to complex architectural rendering tasks, this graphics card is perfect for 3D rendering.

Anti-aliasing, AO, and in-viewport SSAO are the features that make it one of the best you can have. However, it lacks the same number of cores as the previous model.

What We Like

  • It runs very fast
  • It ensures low energy consumption
  • Stable overclocking enhances performance
  • Future-proofing is ensured by the RT and Tensor cores
What We Don’t Like
  • There is no SLI option
  • For a mid-range GPU, it seems expensive

Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super

A true value for money, this graphics card features 3072 CUDA cores, which is more than RTX 2080, featuring 2,994. The VRAM in this one offers 15.5 Gbps of memory bandwidth, making it one of the finest for 3D rendering.

Benefits for the user: This graphics card is equipped with the latest technology, named FrameView. With this feature on, you can see the frame rate, frame time, temperature, and GPU usage.

Since it breaks down the power consumption of your graphics card, it helps you find out the exact power consumption of each operation.

That’s not all; it makes a useful device for you when you want to overclock your GPU to achieve maximum potential.

However, the downside is that overall it will not deliver more power as compared to the RTX 2080.

What We Like

  • It is suitable for 1440p and 4k
  • It comes with the fastest GDDR6 clock
  • More expensive than the RTX 2080
  • The FrameView software is convenient
What We Don’t Like
  • Overall performance is lower than RTX 2080

AMD Radeon Pro WX 8200

Featuring 3,584 graphics core stream processors running at a speed of 1200 MHz base clock and 1500 MHz boost, this graphics card provides a smooth experience while 3D rendering. It features VEGA architecture with the 14nm FinFET process, making it a high-end device.

Benefits for the user: This graphics card is designed with four connections that can support high-resolution images. It supports up to 4K monitors, three 5K monitors, and one single screen at a resolution of 7,680 x 4,320 and a frequency rate of 60 Hz. Hence, it is a suitable option for professionals and architects.

This graphics card provides smooth and fast usability to those who need to work with high-end graphics software and apps that are mostly related to manufacturing and design. For these tasks, it has proven to be more efficient

What We Like

  • It ensures seamless multitasking
  • It supports high-resolution images
  • It is ideal for manufacturing and design
  • Running modeling and GPU compute is easier
What We Don’t Like
  • It has a high power consumption
  • It is expensive

Nvidia Quadro P5000

Considered the monster of all the graphics cards, this one is sure to uplift your experience of 3D rendering. The Quadro series from Nvidia is exclusive to its advanced Pascal graphics architecture and this graphics card takes the technology to another level.

Benefits for the user: Firstly, you can enhance rendering, simulation, and design as you want with this graphics card that allows you to finally achieve a photorealistic environment. For most of your rendering projects, you will benefit from fast performance since it decreases the 3D rendering time by 60%.

However, the actual performance varies from system to system, just like any other graphics card. Yet, Nvidia ensures that the final result will almost be the same for all the systems. The four DP 1.4 + DVI-D DL display connectors can run simultaneous displays (4 direct and 4 DP 1.4 multi-stream).

What We Like

  • It is ideal for CAD tasks
  • It is silent at high workloads
  • It keeps GPU cool at full load
  • Good graphics cards for 3d modeling
What We Don’t Like
  • Expensive for a mid-range GPU

Nvidia Quadro P4000

Equipped with Quadro Sync 112 and 1.4 Display ports, this one is convenient as well as high-responsive when it comes to 3D rendering. It features max consumption at 105W, which is a little less than other graphics cards in a higher price range.

Benefits for the user: The Quadro Sync 112 is an amazing new technology that allows you to synchronize image output and display, and that too with multiple Quadro GPUs for a single system. The single PCle slot with four 1.4 display ports makes the device even more convenient to use.

The sleek heat sink smartly keeps the device cool during 3D rendering by covering the entire graphics card.

Those who are looking for a graphics card to endure extreme workloads and deliver uninterrupted 3D rendering will find it extremely useful.

What We Like

  • It is very responsive and fast
  • It doesn’t overheat in huge loads
  • It is ideal for professionals who have extreme workloads
What We Don’t Like
  • It is too large in size

AMD Radeon RX 570

One of the best budget graphics cards for 3D rendering, this one will impress you with higher memory clocks and cores than the previous model, the RX 470. The graphics card is equipped with 32 ROPs and 4 GB of GDDR5 memory.

Benefits for the user: With a higher clock speed than the RX 470, this advanced graphics card draws more power.

It is rated at a 150 W thermal design point. Hence, it makes an ideal choice for those who are looking for a solid mid-tier graphics card.

The design is kept simple, with a black plastic cover that has a heat sink right below it.

The exposed heat sink, an 8-pin power connector, and an illuminated ROG logo are some of the features that portray its simplistic approach.

It is definitely the most affordable option for 3D rendering.

What We Like

  • It is very affordable
  • It ensures excellent 1080p performance
  • It works well for most of the animation and modeling tools
What We Don’t Like
  • The thermal solutions are less capable
  • Not as powerful as high-tier cards

Comparison NVIDIA Titan RTX Graphics Card NVIDIA Quadro RTX 8000 NVIDIA RTX A6000 NVIDIA Quadro RTX 5000
Device Type Graphic Cards
Graphics Card Interface PCI Express PCI-Express x16 PCI-Express x16 PCI-Express x16
Graphics Coprocessor TITAN RTX NVIDIA Quadro RTX 8000 NVIDIA Quadro RTX A6000 NVIDIA Quadro RTX 5000
Graphics Ram Size 24 GB 48 GB 48 GB 16 GB
Graphics Ram GDDR6 GDDR6 GDDR6 GDDR6
Hardware Interface PCIE x 16 PCI Express x8 PCI Express x16 PCI Express x4
Included Components GPU NVIDIA Quadro RTX 8000 professional graphics card NVIDIA RTX A6000 NVIDIA® Quadro RTX™ 5000 Graphics Card
Item Dimensions 12.95 x 3.66 x 6.89 inches 10.51 x 4.41 x 1.42 inches 13.78 x 9.84 x 3.94 inches 10.5 x 8.12 x 4.4 inches
Memory Bus Width 384 bits 384 bits 384 bits 256 bits
Memory Clock Speed 7000 MHz 0 MHz 0 MHz 0 MHz
Style Card PNY

Best Graphics Card for 3D Rendering: A Buying Guide

Importance of Graphics Cards for 3D Rendering

There can be no doubt that graphics cards are necessary when you are working actively in the 3D scene. Having the best GPU will surely increase productivity by enhancing your work experience. After all, 3D rendering is an active working process as you have to interact with the software in a continuous process and you require a specific number of threads and cores as well as a powerful RAM.

How does 3D rendering work?

3D rendering involves the use of software to create a 3D image or to transform an image from 2D to 3D. In 3D rendering, the computer takes a certain amount of time, which basically depends on the complexity of the image.

Hence, it is essential to choose the right tools and hardware, besides having powerful software. If your graphics card is old or insufficient, you cannot perform 3D rendering properly.

AMD vs Nvidia: Which GPU is best?

When it comes to the comparison on the basis of 3D rendering, Nvidia tops the list of all graphics cards and therefore, takes the lead. Partnered with Intel, the brand specializes in GPU technology for the 3D rendering requirements.

On the other hand, AMD produces both CPUs and GPUs with the same focus and isn’t as good for 3D rendering as Nvidia. In this context, you must also know that manufacturers such as Asus, MSI, EVGA, Gigabyte, and others mostly duplicate the reference designs of both Nvidia and AMD.

FAQ: Best Graphics Card for 3D Rendering

Can I use a gaming graphics card for 3D rendering?

The answer is not a simple yes or no. Your gaming graphics card can only work for 3D rendering when it supports the 3D rendering software, such as the Nvidia Quadro series or the AMD FirePro card. However, if you are looking for a non-professional option, the Asus Strix GTX 1070 makes a suitable choice for both 3D rendering and gaming. Otherwise, it is always better to have two separate graphics cards for 3D rendering and gaming.

Can a graphics card overheat while 3D rendering?

Yes, your graphics card can overheat during 3D rendering or any other operation. To ensure it doesn’t, always remove the dust and keep your graphics card clean. Secondly, make sure your PC is kept in a cool place and the cooling system of your graphics card is also working efficiently.

Do higher model numbers of graphics cards deliver better performance?

No, there can be no such assumption. The performance of a graphics card doesn’t depend on the numbers used for the GPU model. Sometimes, the model number can represent the performance but that totally varies from brand to brand.

Will my graphics card run at 144 Hz?

The latest and most advanced graphics cards are able to run at 144 Hz at various resolutions. You can easily check this by monitoring the frame rate while playing a game. However, the app or game you are playing also needs to run at 144 Hz, which is very difficult to reach for the higher resolutions and more demanding games.

Will my graphics card fit in my PC case?

Most of the graphics cards easily fit in the standard full-size PC cases. When you have a large graphics card and your PC case has a small form factor, there might be some issues. Hence, we recommend checking the measurement or dimensions of the graphics card you buy.

Conclusion

When you are finally aware of the best graphic cards for 3d rendering, go ahead and opt for the one that suits your needs and budget.

Overall, our recommendation will be the Nvidia Quadro range of graphics cards. However, you must prioritize your needs before you go for any model from the list. For example, the Nvidia GeForce

RTX 2080 Ti is the most expensive and best-suited for 3D rendering whereas the Nvidia Quadro P5000 is the best graphics card for 3d modeling.

When you are on a really tight budget, the AMD Radeon RX 570 makes an ideal option.