Best CPU for Blender
Looking for the best CPU for blender? look no further.
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Blender serves as a free and open-source creation suite for 3D modeling, animation, simulation, rendering, motion tracking, and more. You can do a lot with this piece of software, and the possibilities are only limited by your skills and hardware. We’ll be concerning ourselves with the latter for now. For newcomers and veterans alike, we’ll try to figure out the best CPU for Blender.
Now Read: Best CPU for Coding
Before we move on though, you need to consider your workflow and hardware requirements. For the Blender workstation, processing power matters a lot. If you are just starting, you can go with a cheaper processor, but you’ll definitely see better performance with more cores.
A higher core count and fast CPU rendering will allow you to see a major reduction in render time. With that in mind, let’s find out what’s the best CPU for Blender.
Best CPU for Blender – Intel Core i7 13700K
For the majority of users, the Core i7 13700K is the best CPU for Blender in 2022. This was quite a surprise as usually, AMD’s Ryzen processors give a tough battle in this workstation. However, Intel managed to pull ahead this generation, and the 13700K is the best choice out of the 13th-Gen lineup.
Intel Core i7 13700K
Intel Core i7-13700K
Cores
16
Threads
24
Base speed
P-cores 3.4 GHz / E-cores 2.5 GHz
Boost speed
P-cores 5.4 GHz / E-cores 4.2 GHz
Cache
24MB
TDP
125 W / 253 W boost.
So, the reason we’re dubbing the 13700K as the best processor for coding is simply because of the high-core count and fast rendering performance. With 16 cores and 24 threads, you won’t be longing for an upgrade any time soon. The CPU also boosts up to 5.4GHz, which is excellent for reducing rendering times.
Compared to the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X, the direct competitor, the 13700K is about 59% faster in the Blender Benchmark 3.3.0. This test was conducted in CPU mode. This was a bit surprising, but considering that the 13700K has more cores/threads and better multi-core performance in some programs, it all makes sense in the end.
Of course, the 13700K will cost you a pretty penny in the end. However, considering you will get top-of-the-line gaming performance and no reason to upgrade for about 4-5 years, it is a worthy investment.
Best Budget CPU for Blender – Intel Core i5 13600K
The obvious alternative to the might 13700K then is the Intel Core i5 13600K. Being on the lower end of the 13th Gen lineup, you might think the performance is not that good. However, the 14 cores and high boost clock beg to differ.
Intel Core i7 13600K
Intel Core i5-13600K
Cores
14
Threads
20
Base speed
P-cores 3.5 GHz / E-cores 2.6 GHz
Boost speed
P-cores 5.1 GHz / E-cores 3.9 GHz
Cache
20MB
TDP
125 W / 181 W boost.
With the Core i5 13600K, you can expect excellent gaming performance for both productivity and gaming workloads. This processor is also 63% faster than the Ryzen 7 7600X, according to the Blender 3.3.0 Benchmark. Again, this benchmark was performed in CPU mode.
You also get excellent overclocking performance, support for both DDR5 and DDR4 motherboards, and excellent bang for your buck. While the 13700K will give you a considerable performance uplift, the 13600K is easier to cool and will save you more money.
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Final Word
In 2022, we’d recommend sticking with Intel processors for Blender. If you are building a new PC, then you should be looking at Intel’s 13th Gen processor. This statement remains true for both gaming and productivity use cases. For Blender, the 13700K is the obvious choice.
However, if you can’t afford it, then going with the Core i5 13600K won’t leave you disappointed either. Both CPUs are a great choice for your Blender workstation.
