Computer hardware advice for faster 3D rendering in Lumion 2024
Want to get the most out of Lumion? Discover our hardware tips for faster rendering and improved workflow efficiency
Let's say you're starting from zero
Well, almost zero. You know you’re overdue for a computer upgrade and you need a desktop computer with a powerful engine for modeling in your CAD software and rendering in Lumion.
And you have no idea where to start.
Whether you’re buying a new desktop or laptop computer, upgrading your current desktop computer, or getting a custom build, finding the best hardware for supercharging Lumion’s performance might seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t need to be.
In this guide, you can explore the following topics and get advice about what’s best for your situation:
Lumion hardware recommendations, including graphics cards, desktops, and laptops
Getting a custom-built computer?
Can your current computer or laptop run Lumion?
How to get the best performance out of Lumion
Graphics Card Buyer’s Guide
Can’t find the right topic for your hardware needs? Head on over to the Lumion Support & Learning Center for personalized, expert help and insights from the Lumion community.
Computer hardware suggestions
When going through the suggestions in this post, remember that a powerful graphics card is the most crucial component to achieving a good experience with Lumion. CPU, memory, and other specs also play a role, but a good experience begins with the graphics card.
The following suggestions are not influenced by any hardware manufacturers. Lumion doesn't have any partnerships with hardware manufacturers and brands.
Our goal is to showcase hardware, without outside influence, that we know will give you an amazing experience when rendering with Lumion. It’s still essential to review every desktop computer or laptop before purchasing, and further down in this post, you’ll find detailed information about how to make the best decision.
Jump to section:
Graphics cards
The graphics card (or GPU) in your computer is what displays your Lumion project on the computer screen. While working on building the context around your project, the graphics card ensures a smooth and enjoyable frame rate (measured in FPS).
When rendering, the GPU streamlines the rendering process so that you can get the image, video, or 360 panorama in a fast and efficient manner.
If you are unsure of what graphics card you need, you can find more information in the Graphics Card Buyer’s Guide further down in this post. Otherwise, check out a few example options below:
I want the best graphics card money can buy
I have an average budget and I’m looking to optimize the performance/price ratio
My budget is tight but I need a reliable graphics card for complex projects (for example, a large park or part of a city)
Desktop computers
What makes a good desktop computer for running Lumion?
You can get a more detailed answer in the Custom build computer section of this guide, but it essentially boils down to a fast GPU. You need a great GPU for fast 3D rendering and performance in Lumion, and when shopping, always pay attention to this specification.
A good desktop computer for Lumion also has enough CPU to back up the graphics card, suitable system memory, the correct power supply, and a 64-bit Windows 10 operating system. Read more about our system requirements.
Example of a Lumion-suitable desktop computer — Origin Genesis 7000X.
When shopping for a Lumion-ready desktop or laptop computer, there are few important details you should know:
There are different models, configurations, and tech kits available for many desktop and laptop computers. Many desktops, for example, are customizable and let you choose the technology you want inside of it.
Screen resolution has a big impact on performance. A 3840×2160 screen, for instance, is very demanding on a graphics card, even with a powerful one. If it’s an option, consider a 1920×1080 screen.
Here are a few great-performing desktop computers at varying price points. This is only a sample of the different workstations - there are other equally powerful desktop computers that can be evaluated.
Important note: Some of the links below will take you to a system configuration page for the computer on the manufacturer’s website. Please double-check the computer’s configuration before making a purchase to make sure it meets Lumion’s system requirements.
I want the best Lumion-ready desktop money can buy
I have an average budget and I’m looking to optimize the performance/price ratio
My budget is tight but I need a reliable workstation for complex scenes (large park or part of a city)
Laptop computers
More and more architects are taking their CAD designs and renderings on the go and with rapidly increasing graphics card and laptop technology, top-notch systems are getting lighter and more affordable.
Example of a Lumion-ready laptop computer - Razer Blade 15
Here are a few great-performing laptop computers available at varying price points. Keep in mind that this is only a sample, and you can find many equally powerful laptop computers. Additionally, always pay attention to the configuration, especially with regards to the graphics card.
I want the best Lumion-ready laptop computer money can buy
I have an average budget and I’m looking to optimize the performance/price ratio
My budget is tight but I need a reliable laptop for complex projects (large park or part of a city)
For more laptop suggestions, check out this article:
Getting a custom-built computer?
Building a computer from scratch or getting someone else to build your perfect architectural design and rendering computer?
There are several ways to ease the process of building a Lumion-ready computer.
Firstly, it’s a good idea to read the rest of this post to uncover specific details for optimizing Lumion’s performance. Secondly, if you’re heading to your local computer shop to ask the crew, you can simply provide the staff with Lumion’s System Requirements.
I want the best Lumion-ready workstation money can buy
Graphics card: Graphics Card scoring a G3DMark of 22,000 or higher and with at least 16GB of memory
CPU: Intel/AMD Processor scoring a single thread CPUMark of 3000 or higher
System memory: 64 GB or more
Power supply: Minimum 80+ gold-rated with sufficient wattage
OS: Windows 10 64-bit
I have an average budget and I’m looking to optimize the performance/price ratio
Graphics card: Graphics Card scoring a G3DMark of 14,000 or higher and with at least 10GB of memory
CPU: Intel/AMD Processor scoring a single thread CPUMark of 2600
or higherSystem memory: 32 GB or more
Power supply: Minimum 80+ gold-rated with sufficient wattage
OS: Windows 10 64-bit
My budget is tight but I need a reliable workstation for complex scenes (large park or part of a city)
Graphics card: Graphics card scoring a G3DMark of 8,000 or higher and with at least 6GB of memory
CPU: Intel/AMD processor scoring a single thread CPUMark of 2200 or higher
System memory: 16 GB or more
Power supply: Minimum 80+ gold-rated with sufficient wattage
OS: Windows 10 64-bit
Can your current computer or laptop run Lumion?
When you want to know if your current computer is fast enough to run Lumion, the first step is to check its specifications.
There are essentially four computer specs that you need to know to ensure optimal Lumion performance on your computer, including:
Graphics card (GPU)
Graphics card memory (VRAM)
System memory (RAM)
Central processing unit (CPU)
If you already have Lumion, you can find these details by running a benchmark on the Lumion home screen. If you don’t have Lumion, you can request the free 14-day Lumion Pro trial. The benchmark will tell you if the performance is too low, good enough, or ideal. Here are some examples of different computers' specs with the Lumion benchmarking tool.
There are other easy ways of finding information about your computer specs. For instance, the method outlined in this guide uses the DirectX diagnostic tool (DxDiag) on Windows 10.
Click on your Windows Search bar, or press the WIN+S keys simultaneously
Type in DxDiag
Open Dxdiag by clicking on the search result
Write down the Operating System, Processor and Memory
At the top of the window, click on the “Display” tab or, in some cases, the “Render” tab to view your graphics card details
Write down the graphics card name and the VRAM (often written as “Display Memory” or “VRAM”)
By having this data, even if you don’t fully understand what it means, you’ll already have a huge head start in upgrading the graphics card or other components and getting the best performance possible out of Lumion.
How to get the best performance out of Lumion?
Below are the basic computer requirements for achieving fast, non-laggy, and stable performance in Lumion:
A powerful and fast graphics card with a 22,000+ PassMark Score (more on this below) and 16 GB of graphics card memory or more.
CPU with more than 4.0 GHz and 8 cores. You can run Lumion with a CPU that clocks at 3.0 GHz or higher, but if you have a fast graphics card, a low CPU will essentially block those extra benefits you would have received.
64 GB of system memory (RAM). If you are only doing simple scenes, however, you can get by with 16GB of memory, but once again, this is not ideal.
64-bit Windows 10 operating system.
A 1000-watt Gold- or Titanium-rated 80+ power supply.
105 GB of free storage space on a fast drive such as an m.2 NVME drive (Lumion needs about 30 GB of free storage space).
Keep in mind that these are Lumion’s high-end requirements. Lumion will still run with the minimum specifications, which you can find here.
Ray tracing
Lumion's unique in-house render engine has been overhauled and now integrates ray tracing technology alongside rasterization, unlocking a whole new level of visualization potential and unmatched realism.
Breathing life into your renders is now easier than ever thanks to materials and lighting now being physical-based and simulated with a much higher degree of accuracy.
For supported graphics cards, see this article: Which graphics card do you need for Lumion 2024?
Graphics Card Buyer’s Guide
Because Lumion runs on advanced 3D graphics technology, the performance of your graphics card will affect the speed of both real-time visualization and rendering.
The following real-time visualization showcases the level of quality powered by the graphics card:
Real-time visualization:
Final render
There are hundreds of graphics cards available on the market, but when choosing the right graphics card that balances price and performance, there is one detail that can help ease the browsing process: the PassMark point.
PassMark points are used to rate the performance of a graphics card. The higher the PassMark, the higher the performance of the card. The following graphics card PassMark chart is an easy-to-follow guide for categorizing graphics cards:
View the full list of graphics cards and their PassMark scores.
See also a detailed, comprehensive overview of the different graphics cards available and how they can help you get the best performance out of Lumion.
More tips for improving performance
For more information regarding Lumion hardware and performance, you can refer to the following posts:
If you are a Lumion customer, you can also get fast and helpful customer support for any question you have on hardware at the Support & Learning Center.
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