How to Optimize Blender on Older or Low-End Devices
Blender is a versatile 3D creation suite, but its resource-intensive features can be a challenge for older or low-end devices. However, with some strategic optimizations and adjustments, you can still enjoy 3D modeling and animation on your system without the need for expensive hardware upgrades. In this blog, we’ll explore various ways to optimize Blender on older or low-end Windows devices.
Use an Older Blender Version
In some situations, blender may not support older versions of operating systems and then you may need to use an older version of Blender that is compatible with your operating system. You can find previous releases of Blender on the official website (https://download.blender.org/release/). But it is important to keep in touch with the official documentation. You can find new updates in release patches provided by the blender officials. Sometimes those updates include optimizations in the software for different kinds of system requirements.
Update Graphics Drivers
Outdated graphics drivers can significantly impact Blender’s performance. Check for updates for your graphics card and install the latest drivers to ensure optimal compatibility with your older system.
Choose the Right Render Engine
While older systems may struggle with the Cycles render engine, you can still use Eevee, which is generally faster and better suited for real-time rendering. When setting up your scene, opt for Eevee to improve performance.
Lower Render Samples
If you’re using the Cycles render engine, reducing the number of render samples can significantly decrease rendering times. Keep in mind that this may result in lower rendering quality, so find a balance that suits your project’s needs.
Use Simplified Viewport Shading
To reduce the strain on your GPU, switch to “Solid” or “Material Preview” shading modes in the 3D viewport while working on your scene, instead of the resource-intensive “Rendered” mode.
Optimize Your 3D Models
Simplify your 3D models by reducing the number of vertices and using more efficient textures. Only apply subdivision modifiers when absolutely necessary to maintain a smoother workflow.
Lower Display Resolution
Reducing your display resolution can help alleviate the graphical load on your older system. Adjust your screen resolution in the Windows display settings to improve performance.
Turn Off Unnecessary Add-ons
Blender supports numerous add-ons, but not all may be necessary for your workflow. Disable or uninstall any add-ons you don’t regularly use to save memory and processing power.
Manage Memory Usage
In Blender’s preferences, under the “System” tab, adjust settings related to memory usage. Reduce “Undo Steps” and “Memory Cache Limit” to free up system resources.
Optimize Your Scene
Pay close attention to your scene’s complexity. Avoid an excessive number of lights, high-poly objects, or large textures. Utilize linked duplicates and instances to save memory.
Bake Textures
For complex materials, consider baking textures. Baking combines various textures and lighting information into a single texture map, reducing the need for real-time calculations during rendering.
Render in Chunks
For rendering large images or animations, render in smaller chunks or use lower resolutions. You can later combine these chunks or scale up the smaller renders in post-processing software.
Background Processes
Close unnecessary background processes and applications to free up system resources for Blender. Additionally, set Blender’s process priority to “High” in the Windows Task Manager to allocate more CPU resources to it.
Blender is a powerful tool that can still be optimized to run on older or low-end devices. By following these tips and experimenting with different settings, you can enjoy a smoother experience while working on your 3D projects, even on hardware that may not be the latest or most powerful. Remember that optimizing Blender is about finding the right balance between performance and quality for your specific needs. Feel free to explore the realm of Blender by following those steps!
Cheers!