Blender is your go-to open-source 3D software. Achieving better performance and a fluid workflow, from simple modeling to complex rendering, requires capable hardware. This guide details the essential Blender 3D hardware requirements for Windows, macOS, and Linux, covering minimum and recommended specs for CPU, GPU, RAM, storage, peripherals, and answers to common questions.
Blender 3D Requirements at a Glance
| Component | Minimum Specification | Recommended Specification |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 8.1 64‑bit; Linux (glibc 2.28+, 64‑bit); macOS 11.2 (Big Sur) | Windows 10/11; Linux (latest LTS distro); macOS 14 (Sonoma) |
| CPU | 4‑core 64‑bit with SSE4.2 support | 8‑core 64‑bit processor |
| RAM | 8 GB | 32 GB |
| GPU | 2 GB VRAM, OpenGL 4.3+ | 8 GB VRAM (CUDA OptiX, HIP or Metal‑capable) |
| Display | 1920×1080 Full HD | 2560×1440 QHD or higher |
| Storage | 500 MB free disk space | 1 TB SSD |
| Peripherals | 2‑button mouse/trackpad | 3‑button mouse or pen‑tablet |
Detailed Blender 3D Requirements
1. Operating System
- Windows: Minimum Windows 8.1 64‑bit; for best driver support and security, use Windows 10 or 11.
- macOS: Minimum macOS 11.2 (Big Sur); recommended macOS 14 (Sonoma) on Apple Silicon or Intel.
- Linux: Any 64‑bit distribution with glibc 2.28 or newer; kernel 5.x+ recommended.
2. CPU
- Minimum: Quad‑core 64‑bit CPU with SSE4.2 support (e.g. Intel Core i3/i5, AMD Ryzen 3/5).
- Recommended: 8‑core or higher (e.g. Intel Core i7/i9, AMD Ryzen 7/9, Threadripper) for faster modeling, simulation and rendering.
3. Memory (RAM)
- Minimum: 8 GB to handle basic modeling and simple scenes.
- Recommended: 32 GB or more to work comfortably with large scenes, high‑res textures and multi‑layer compositing.
4. Graphics Card (GPU)
- Minimum: 2 GB VRAM, OpenGL 4.3 compatible (e.g. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650, AMD Radeon HD 7000, Intel integrated GPUs with OpenGL 4.3).
- Recommended: 8 GB VRAM or more, supporting CUDA OptiX (NVIDIA RTX), HIP (AMD RDNA+), or Metal 2.2 (Apple) for GPU‑accelerated Cycles and Eevee.
5. Storage
- Minimum: 500 MB free for Blender installation; SSD recommended for faster load times.
- Recommended: 1 TB SSD (or NVMe) to store assets, cache, simulations and multiple projects.
6. Display
- Minimum: Full HD (1920×1080) for clear viewport and UI readability.
- Recommended: QHD (2560×1440) or 4K for detailed work and UI scaling comfort.
7. Peripherals
- Mouse/Trackpad: 2‑button works, but a 3‑button mouse (middle‑click) speeds up navigation.
- Optional: Graphics tablet (Wacom, Huion) for sculpting, texture painting, Grease Pencil.
Additional Considerations
- Multiple GPUs: Supported for Cycles (NVLink on NVIDIA breaks memory duplication).
- Drivers: Always use the latest GPU drivers from NVIDIA, AMD or Intel to ensure OpenGL/OptiX/HIP support.
- Cooling & Power: High‑end CPUs/GPUs require adequate cooling and a quality PSU (≥650 W) for stability during long renders.
- Future‑proofing: Aim slightly above recommended specs if you plan to work with real‑time rendering, complex simulations or 8K projects.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Yes, if it meets minimum specs (8 GB RAM, 4‑core SSE4.2 CPU, OpenGL 4.3 GPU). For heavy scenes, consider upgrading RAM or using an external GPU.
Absolutely—more VRAM allows larger textures, more geometry and bigger render tiles, speeding up Cycles GPU rendering.
While Blender runs on HDD, an SSD/NVMe greatly reduces scene load times, file saves and cache writes.
Apple Silicon is fully supported since Blender 3.1 via Metal API. Minimum 8 GB unified RAM recommended; 16 GB+ preferred.
Next Steps
Ready to build or upgrade your Blender workstation? Check out our Blender Basics series for:
- 👉 10 Essential Blender Shortcuts to Supercharge Your 3D Workflow
- 👉 Ray Tracing vs Path Tracing: Understanding the Differences
- 👉 Changing Units of Measurement in Blender 3D: A Complete Guide
And of course, download the latest Blender release: Download Blender.