Modeling vs Rendering?

[turkey3_scratch]

What is the main difference in modeling and rendering? Also, how much CPU and GPU does each use compared to the other?

 

[Lordgeorge16]

Modeling is the manipulation of a 3D model to the way the user wants or needs it to look (posing, animating, etc.), and rendering is the process of taking that finished modeling product and turning it into a high quality image, video, or a compiled and fully animated model for a game like a customized gun or an NPC. Modeling usually depends on the GPU because you're working in a 3D space, whereas rendering usually relies on your CPU (I say usually because it depends on the program and/or the rendering engine you choose to use).

 

[wolverine96]

Exactly. Modelling is the process of actually building your meshes/objects, and rendering is adding colors, textures, lighting, and/or animation. When you are modelling something, it uses the GPU mostly, but your CPU is still important. Also, when you are modelling something, you typically have just that one object in your scene, whereas when you are rendering, you need to render the entire scene. The CPU is usually used for rendering, but if your software enables you to use the GPU for rendering, you will need an Nvidia card.

If you are planning on building a computer specifically for 3D modelling/rendering, here's a great article on that:
The Ultimate Guide to Buying a Computer for Blender
The article is for Blender, but you can apply it to Maya, Autodesk, or any other high-quality 3D suite.

 

[turkey3_scratch]

Why would the CPU be more involved in implementing textures and lightning. Is that not the work of the GPU and what is done while gaming for instance?

 

[Lordgeorge16]

Why would the CPU be more involved in implementing textures and lightning. Is that not the work of the GPU and what is done while gaming for instance?

3D modeling programs function much differently from games. I can't tell you exactly why because I'm not a software or a programming buff, but on an incredibly basic level, the CPU is more involved in rendering because most render engines take advantage of multiple CPU cores to complete the task faster. That's why most people recommend getting an Intel i7 processor with hyperthreading enabled when using these programs.

 

[wolverine96]

Why would the CPU be more involved in implementing textures and lightning. Is that not the work of the GPU and what is done while gaming for instance?

Yes, and that is why the GPU is so much faster at rendering. However, like I said, most people render on the CPU. And even if you do use the GPU to render, if your graphics card has, say, 3GB RAM, and your scene is larger than that, you will have to switch over to the CPU. My machine has 32GB of RAM, but you could easily get away with 16GB or even 8GB for most scenes.

 

[turkey3_scratch]

Why would the CPU be more involved in implementing textures and lightning. Is that not the work of the GPU and what is done while gaming for instance?

Yes, and that is why the GPU is so much faster at rendering. However, like I said, most people render on the CPU. And even if you do use the GPU to render, if your graphics card has, say, 3GB RAM, and your scene is larger than that, you will have to switch over to the CPU. My machine has 32GB of RAM, but you could easily get away with 16GB or even 8GB for most scenes.

Wow I still think CPU rendering is kind of stupid. But it is what it is.

 

[wolverine96]

Wow I still think CPU rendering is kind of stupid. But it is what it is.

That's why I got my Titan Black. 😉

I must say, though, for CPU rendering, my FX-8350 is very good, especially when you consider that I only paid $150 for it (brand new, from Micro Canter). It's only about 4-5 times slower than my Titan Black.