Autodesk 3ds Max Workstation
The 3D computer graphics program Autodesk 3ds Max was specially developed for modelling and visualization. Graphic designers, game developers, CAD artists and architects use Autodesk 3ds Max for 3D modeling, animation and rendering. Here is our hardware recommendation:
How to configure your Autodesk 3ds Max Workstation
The right processor for 3ds max
Single threading applications such as Autodesk 3ds Max develop their full potential with the highest possible processor clock speed. For simple modelling and animation, we recommend a high-frequency Intel Xeon 6-core or 8-core E- or W-series processor with at least 3.5 GHz. For rendering, Autodesk 3ds Max uses a CPU-based rendering engine. A high number of CPU cores is required to process the rendering processes quickly and smoothly. For complex projects and demanding 3D renderings, we can recommend the following processors depending on your budget: Intel Core i7 9700 with 8 cores, 16 threads and 4.70 GHz Intel Core i9 10900x with 10 cores, 20 threads and max. 4.5GHz, optionally a special rendering workstation with dual Xeon processors of the Intel Xeon Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum series. In our MediaWiki we explain in detail the differences between Intel Xeon and Intel Core processors. More than a real alternative are AMD processors, for example an AMD Ryzen ThreadRipper of the Pro Series 3955WX.
How much memory for 3ds max?
For most Autodesk 3ds Max users, 32 GB of memory is quite sufficient. Make sure your workstation gives you enough RAM banks. We recommend a business workstation with 8 memory banks to avoid complicated and costly RAM upgrades at a later date. Memory with ECC (Error Correction Code) support offers higher reliability. Errors in the RAM can corrupt data, resulting in erroneous data and calculations as well as system crashes. For CAD artists who work with complex models and renderings on a daily basis, we recommend using one of our RAM-optimised workstations with 64 GB or more.
The optimal graphics card for 3ds max
To be able to optimally display scenes in motion in Autodesk 3ds Max, you need a performance-optimised graphics card. If you use 2-4 GB drawings, image jerks can occur due to the blockwise input/output operations between the hard disk and the graphics card memory as soon as the graphics card memory is fully utilised. We recommend an NVIDIA RTX4000 as a starter, an NVIDIA Quadro RTX5000 with 16GB DDR6 VRAM for high-performance workflows, alternatively an NVIDIA Geforce RTX 3070. For the high-end workstation we recommend an NVIDIA Quadro RTX6000, NVIDIA Geforce 3080 or an NVIDIA Geforce 3090. AMD supports 3ds max with the AMD Radeon ProRenderer. AMD has good alternatives ready with the Radeon RX6800TX and Radeon 6900TX. Look out for driver support and AutoDesk 3ds Max certifications.
Hard disk accelerator
SSDs are much faster than traditional hard drives and in many cases can significantly reduce the time it takes to open and save files – not to mention simply starting Windows and starting 3ds Max itself. Our customers mainly use Samsung M.2 SSD of the Pro series for the installation of the operating system and store their project data locally on.
