I still remember the first time I tried to render a fluid sim on my old laptop. The fans spun so loud it sounded like it was about to take off, the screen froze, and I had enough time to go make a coffee… twice. By the time the render finished, I was already questioning my life choices.

If you’ve used Blender for more than a few weeks, you’ve probably been there too. It’s not just about having a computer, it’s about having the right computer. And in 2025, with Blender 5.0 pushing Vulkan and GPU demands higher than ever, choosing the right setup matters more than ever.

So here’s the deal: you’ve basically got three routes —

1. Buy a pre-built workstation and get going right away.

2. Grab a laptop if you want portability.

3. Build your own DIY rig if you like tinkering (and want to stretch your budget).

And, of course, there’s a curveball fourth option: don’t buy hardware at all and run Blender on the cloud. But we’ll get to that later.

Let’s start with the most straightforward choice: pre-built Blender PCs.

Pre-Built Blender Workstations

Not everyone wants to spend weekends figuring out airflow, BIOS updates, and which RAM timings play nice together. If you just want to unbox a machine, fire up Blender, and get to work, pre-built workstations are the way to go. They’re not always the cheapest, but they save you a ton of time (and headaches).

#1. CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme (RTX 4060)

CyberPowerPC isn’t fancy, but they offer solid entry rigs that pack a lot of performance for the price. Their Gamer Xtreme desktops with Intel i7 + RTX 4060 land right in that $1,200–1,500 sweet spot. Reliable starter, widely available, and easy to upgrade later.

System Features:

• CPU: Intel Core i7 (13th Gen)

• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4060 (8 GB VRAM)

• RAM: 16–32 GB DDR5

• Storage: 1 TB NVMe SSD

• OS: Windows 11 Home

#2. Dell XPS Desktop (RTX 4060)

Dell’s XPS desktops aren’t marketed as “workstations,” but don’t let that fool you. The RTX 4060 version with 32 GB of RAM makes a surprisingly capable Blender starter.

System Features:

• CPU: Intel Core i7 (13th Gen)

• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4060 (8 GB VRAM)

• RAM: 32 GB DDR5

• Storage: 512 GB NVMe SSD + 1 TB HDD

• OS: Windows 11 Home/Pro

#3. Boxx Apexx A3

Boxx has always catered to creatives, and the Apexx A3 is one of those machines that feels purpose-built for Blender. With Ryzen 9 / i7 CPUs, RTX 4070 Ti graphics, and 64 GB of RAM, it’s right in the sweet spot for freelancers.

System Features:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7900X / Intel Core i7 (16 cores)

• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti (12 GB VRAM)

• RAM: 64 GB DDR5

• Storage: 1 TB NVMe SSD

• OS: Windows 11 Pro

#4. HP Z2 Tower G9

HP’s Z series is more on the corporate workstation side, but the Z2 Tower G9 with an i9 and RTX 4070 Ti is a quiet beast.

System Features:

• CPU: Intel Core i9 (13th Gen)

• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti (12 GB VRAM)

• RAM: 64 GB DDR5

• Storage: 1 TB NVMe SSD + Expansion Bay

• OS: Windows 11 Pro

#5. Corsair Vengeance i8100 / i7300 (RTX 4090)

Corsair’s Vengeance series is designed for creators as much as gamers. The i8100 with Intel i9 + RTX 4090, 64–128 GB RAM, and fast NVMe storage makes it a powerhouse for Blender. Corsair also has excellent cooling solutions built in, which matters at this tier.

System Features:

• CPU: Intel Core i9-13900K (24 cores)

• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4090 (24 GB VRAM)

• RAM: 64–128 GB DDR5

• Storage: 2 TB NVMe SSD

• OS: Windows 11 Pro

#6. HP Z8 Fury G5 Workstation (Threadripper / Xeon + RTX 4090)

HP’s Z8 Fury is built for professionals who need insane reliability and scalability, VFX studios, architects, simulation-heavy work. It supports AMD Threadripper PRO or Intel Xeon, and can be configured with RTX 4090s. Unlike boutique brands, HP has global support and enterprise-grade warranty.

System Features:

• CPU: AMD Threadripper PRO (up to 96 cores) or Intel Xeon W

• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4090 (24 GB VRAM) or professional RTX A6000 options

• RAM: Up to 1 TB DDR5 ECC

• Storage: Multiple NVMe SSD bays + RAID support

• OS: Windows 11 Pro / Linux

Best Laptops for Blender (2025)

Here’s the thing about laptops: they’re insanely convenient, but Blender will absolutely push them to their limits. Thermals, power draw, GPU wattage, all become bottlenecks much sooner than on a desktop. That said, 2025 laptops are far more capable than they were a few years ago. If you travel a lot, need portability for client demos, or just can’t deal with a huge tower under your desk, a good Blender laptop can get the job done.

#1. Acer Predator Helios (RTX 4060)

The Predator Helios is marketed as a gaming laptop, but its RTX 4060 GPU and solid thermals make it a great budget Blender machine. You’ll be fine with modeling, Eevee renders, and medium-sized Cycles projects.

System Features:

• CPU: Intel Core i7 (13th Gen)

• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4060 (8 GB VRAM, 115W TGP)

• RAM: 32 GB DDR5

• Storage: 1 TB NVMe SSD

• Display: 15.6″ FHD 144 Hz IPS

#2. MSI Katana 15

MSI’s Katana series is another “gaming” laptop that doubles as an affordable Blender starter. Decent cooling, RTX 4060 graphics, and plenty of upgrade options.

System Features:

• CPU: Intel Core i7 (13th Gen)

• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4060 (8 GB VRAM, 105W TGP)

• RAM: 32 GB DDR5 (expandable)

• Storage: 512 GB NVMe SSD

• Display: 15.6″ FHD IPS

#3. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (RTX 4070/4080)

This one’s a fan favorite among Blender freelancers. The Zephyrus packs high-wattage GPUs, great cooling, and a color-accurate display, basically everything you want in a Blender laptop.

System Features:

• CPU: Intel Core i9 (13th Gen)

• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4070 (8 GB VRAM, 140W TGP) or RTX 4080 (12 GB VRAM)

• RAM: 64 GB DDR5 (upgradeable)

• Storage: 1 TB NVMe SSD

• Display: 16″ QHD+ 240 Hz, 100% DCI-P3

#4. Lenovo Legion Pro 7i

Lenovo’s Legion Pro series is a sleeper hit for 3D artists. Fantastic cooling, reliable keyboards, and RTX 4070/4080 options make it a safe choice for Blender pros on the go.

System Features:

• CPU: Intel Core i9-13900HX

• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4080 (12 GB VRAM, 175W TGP)

• RAM: 64 GB DDR5

• Storage: 1 TB NVMe SSD

• Display: 16″ WQXGA 240 Hz, G-Sync

#5. Razer Blade 18 (RTX 4090)

The Razer Blade 18 is basically a desktop replacement disguised as a laptop. Sleek design, massive screen, and the most powerful mobile GPU you can get. Downside? Battery life is a joke, but plugged in, it’s a monster.

System Features:

• CPU: Intel Core i9-13980HX (24 cores)

• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4090 Laptop GPU (16 GB VRAM, 175W TGP)

• RAM: 64 GB DDR5

• Storage: 2 TB NVMe SSD

• Display: 18″ QHD+ Mini-LED 240 Hz, 100% DCI-P3

#6. MSI Titan GT77 HX (RTX 4090)

If you want raw power and don’t care about portability, the Titan GT77 is absurd in the best way. Massive chassis = better cooling, so the GPU actually runs closer to desktop-level performance.

System Features:

• CPU: Intel Core i9-13980HX (24 cores)

• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4090 Laptop GPU (16 GB VRAM, 175W TGP)

• RAM: 128 GB DDR5 (yes, a laptop with 128 GB)

• Storage: Dual 2 TB NVMe SSDs

• Display: 17.3″ 4K Mini-LED, HDR1000

DIY Builds (Custom PCs for Blender)

If you don’t mind rolling up your sleeves (and occasionally swearing at a motherboard manual), building your own PC is the best way to stretch your money. You’ll get more performance per dollar than with pre-builts or laptops, plus you can choose exactly the components that fit your workflow. You’ll also want to streamline your workflow with custom Blender shortcuts and hotkeys — they’re the unsung heroes of speeding up viewport work on any system.

That said, don’t fall into the trap of overspending in the wrong areas. I’ve seen people drop $1,500 on a GPU, then choke their system with only 16 GB of RAM. Blender punishes that kind of imbalance. Here’s how I’d approach a DIY build in 2025.

#1. Starter Build (~$1,000)

A solid entry-level setup for learning Blender, doing medium-sized projects, and running Eevee comfortably. Great for beginners who want flexibility without overspending.

Example Parts:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 7600X (6 cores, high clock speed)

• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4060 (8 GB VRAM)

• RAM: 32 GB DDR5

• Storage: 1 TB NVMe SSD

• Motherboard: B650 chipset (WiFi optional)

• PSU: 650W 80+ Gold

• Case: Mid-tower with good airflow

#2. Mid-Tier Build (~$1,500–2,000)

This is the sweet spot for most Blender users in 2025. Enough power for serious Cycles rendering, complex geometry nodes, and even some simulation work.

Example Parts:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7900X (12 cores) or Intel Core i7-13700K

• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti (12 GB VRAM)

• RAM: 64 GB DDR5

• Storage: 1 TB NVMe SSD (Gen 4) + 2 TB HDD for assets

• Motherboard: X670 / Z790 chipset

• PSU: 750W 80+ Gold

• Case: ATX mid-tower with mesh front for cooling

#3. High-End Build (~$3,000+)

If Blender is your livelihood, this is where you go all-in. Designed for professional work: heavy sims, 4K/8K rendering, multi-scene projects, or even short film production.

Example Parts:

• CPU: AMD Threadripper PRO 7970X (32 cores) or Intel i9-13900KS

• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4090 (24 GB VRAM) or RTX 5090 (32 GB VRAM)

• RAM: 128 GB DDR5 (ECC if you want workstation stability)

• Storage: 2 TB NVMe SSD (Gen 4) + 4 TB HDD (or RAID setup)

• Motherboard: WRX90 (for Threadripper) / Z790 Extreme (for Intel)

• PSU: 1000W 80+ Platinum

• Case: Full-tower with liquid cooling support

What Actually Matters in a Blender PC

Specs lists can feel like alphabet soup, DDR5, CUDA cores, ECC RAM, NVMe Gen 4, but when you strip it down, Blender only really cares about a few things. And knowing what matters (and what doesn’t) can save you from wasting thousands of dollars.

🧠 CPU: Cores vs. Clock Speed

Here’s the truth, Blender uses your CPU for a lot more than just rendering. Physics sims, cloth, particles, and even some geometry nodes lean heavily on it.

• More cores help with CPU rendering (Cycles on CPU), but if you’re using a modern GPU, that’s less critical.

• Higher clock speeds make a bigger difference in the viewport, sculpting, and single-threaded tasks.

💡 Rule of thumb: For most users, a Ryzen 9 / Intel i7 with 12–16 cores is the sweet spot. Only go Threadripper if you’re running heavy multi-scene simulations or rendering entire short films.

🎨 GPU: Where the Magic Happens

Blender’s Cycles renderer thrives on GPU power. And with RTX acceleration (OptiX) or AMD HIP, GPUs are the real workhorses.

• VRAM is king. 8 GB will run out fast with large textures or complex scenes. Aim for 12 GB minimum if you’re serious.

• NVIDIA still holds the edge in Blender thanks to CUDA + OptiX. AMD is improving, but driver issues pop up more often.

• The RTX 4090/5090 class cards can handle almost anything you throw at them.

💡 Rule of thumb: If you’re torn between spending more on CPU or GPU, upgrade the GPU first. It makes the biggest day-to-day difference.

As more AI tools for model generation in Blender emerge, having enough GPU VRAM becomes even more critical for keeping your workflow smooth.

🧵 RAM: Don’t Starve Your Scenes

Blender eats RAM like popcorn. You won’t notice it when modeling a chair, but throw in a hair sim or 8K textures and suddenly you’re swapping to disk.

• 16 GB: Bare minimum (you’ll hit limits fast).

• 32 GB: Fine for smaller projects.

• 64 GB: Sweet spot for most artists in 2025.

• 128 GB: For pros with massive scenes or film-level projects.

💡 Rule of thumb: More RAM = fewer crashes and smoother multitasking. If you can’t afford the fastest CPU/GPU combo, prioritize RAM headroom.

💾 Storage: Speed vs. Capacity

Loading assets, caching simulations, and saving renders all hit your storage. SSDs make a massive difference in quality-of-life. Using fast storage is a smart move, especially when caching sims — but you can also reduce Blender rendering times with a few creative tweaks.

• NVMe SSDs (Gen 4) = fast loading, smoother viewport with big files.

• A secondary HDD or SATA SSD is great for archiving textures, HDRIs, and old projects.

• For pros, RAID setups or dual NVMe drives can keep assets organized and backups safe.

💡 Rule of thumb: 1 TB NVMe SSD for active projects + a bigger secondary drive for storage.

🖥️ Monitor: Don’t Neglect the Screen

You’ll spend hours staring at it, so don’t cheap out.

• Go for at least a 27″ QHD or 4K IPS panel with decent color coverage.

• Dual monitors can be a game-changer for separating the viewport and your workspace (node editor, timeline, outliner).

• If you’re into color-sensitive work (film, animation, archviz), aim for 100% sRGB or DCI-P3 coverage.

💡 Rule of thumb: A good monitor doesn’t make Blender faster, but it absolutely makes you faster.

Smarter Solution: Vagon Cloud Computer

Alright, here’s the twist. What if you didn’t have to buy any of this hardware at all? No $3,000 towers, no RTX 4090 price shocks, no wondering if your PSU is enough for the next GPU upgrade. Instead, you just rent the power when you need it.

That’s exactly what Vagon Cloud Computer does. Think of it like having a super-powered workstation sitting in the cloud, waiting for you. You log in from your laptop, tablet, even a basic desktop, and suddenly you’re running Blender with the kind of performance you’d normally only get from a beastly RTX machine.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

• On-demand power: Fire up an RTX-level GPU whenever you need to render or handle a huge scene.

• No upgrades, ever: Forget swapping GPUs every two years. Vagon updates the hardware for you.

• Work anywhere: At home, in a studio, or on a cheap ultrabook in a coffee shop, your Blender workstation follows you.

• Scale up or down: Need Threadripper-level performance one day, and something lighter the next? You can switch.

I’ve tested it myself, running Blender on a lightweight laptop that normally chokes on a basic Eevee scene. With Vagon, I was suddenly previewing Cycles renders like I had a 4090 strapped inside the chassis. And the cool part is, when I was done, I just shut it down. No fan noise, no electric bill spike, no extra heat in the room.

Is cloud for everyone? Not necessarily. If you’re offline a lot, or sculpting where latency needs to be zero, local machines still have an edge. But if you’re tired of Blender bottlenecking your hardware, Vagon gives you another path forward, one that doesn’t start with pulling out your credit card for a GPU upgrade.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you can run Blender on an iPad with serious performance — spoiler: you can — Vagon makes that possible, no hacks or jailbreaks required.

When Local Still Wins

Cloud sounds amazing, and for a lot of people, it is. But let’s be honest: it’s not always the right answer. There are still plenty of situations where a good old-fashioned local PC is the better move.

• Offline work: If you’re traveling, working on a set, or just in a place with sketchy internet, a local machine won’t let you down. Blender doesn’t care if your Wi-Fi cuts out.

• Ultra-low latency sculpting: When you’re doing detailed sculpting or grease pencil animation, every millisecond counts. Even with fast internet, local hardware will always feel just a bit snappier.

• All-in-one studios: Some people just like having everything under their desk. No subscriptions, no streaming, no middle layer. Buy once, use it forever.

• Upgrades as a hobby: Let’s face it, some of us actually enjoy swapping GPUs, overclocking CPUs, and tweaking airflow. If that’s you, the cloud will never replace the satisfaction of tinkering.

So no, cloud doesn’t kill the need for desktops and laptops. But it does add an option. And sometimes, having both, a solid laptop for sculpting + Vagon for heavy rendering, is the smartest combo of all.

And if you’re diving into 2D animation in Blender or grease pencil work, nothing beats the latency-free feel of local hardware for frame-perfect control.

Wrapping It Up

At the end of the day, Blender doesn’t care whether you’re on a shiny new workstation, a chunky gaming laptop, or a DIY rig you built with parts you hunted down on sale. What matters is balance, enough CPU to keep your simulations moving, enough GPU VRAM to stop Cycles from crying, and enough RAM so your system doesn’t collapse the second you add a particle system.

For some, that means buying a pre-built and never touching a screwdriver. For others, it’s about finding the perfect laptop that can travel with you. And if you’re like me, you might have gone through a phase of building a DIY beast, only to realize that hardware never really keeps up as long as you’d like.

That’s where the cloud comes in. Tools like Vagon let you stop worrying about upgrades and just focus on creating. It doesn’t replace local PCs entirely, but it does give you the freedom to choose. Whether you're on a cloud rig or a DIY setup, a few smart Blender tips and tricks can make even modest hardware feel more powerful.

So here’s my take: the best PC for Blender in 2025 isn’t just about specs. It’s the one that keeps you creating instead of waiting. And whether that’s a $1,200 laptop, a $4,000 workstation, or a cloud-powered machine that lives in your browser… the choice is yours.

FAQs

Q: Do I need a super-expensive PC to run Blender?
Not at all. Blender will run on budget systems, but performance really depends on what you’re making. If you’re just starting out and working on small models, even an affordable setup with an RTX 4060 will get the job done. Once you step into larger scenes, heavy simulations, or high-resolution rendering, that’s when stronger hardware starts to matter.

Q: Is GPU or CPU more important for Blender?
For most Blender users, the GPU makes the bigger difference. Cycles rendering and viewport responsiveness rely heavily on GPU power, especially on how much VRAM it has. The CPU still matters, especially for simulations, physics, and general system speed, but if you’re deciding between a CPU or GPU upgrade, the GPU usually pays off first.

Q: How much RAM do I need for Blender?
Sixteen gigabytes is technically enough to run Blender, but you’ll run into limits quickly. Thirty-two gigabytes gives you some breathing room for medium-sized projects. Sixty-four is the sweet spot for most professionals in 2025, and going up to 128 gigabytes only really makes sense if you’re working on massive film-level scenes or highly complex simulations.

Q: Can a laptop handle Blender seriously?
Yes, modern laptops absolutely can. The latest 2025 models with RTX 4070, 4080, or even 4090 GPUs handle Blender surprisingly well. The main drawback is thermals, laptops simply can’t cool as efficiently as desktops, so you’ll hear the fans working overtime. Still, if you value portability and choose a model with solid cooling and at least 32 to 64 gigabytes of RAM, a laptop can be more than enough for professional work.

Q: Should I buy a pre-built PC or build my own?
It comes down to personality and priorities. Pre-builts cost a bit more, but they give you warranty support, stability, and zero hassle. If you like the idea of picking every part yourself, and you don’t mind the occasional troubleshooting, building your own rig will stretch your budget further and give you exactly the system you want.

Q: What if I don’t want to buy new hardware at all?
That’s where cloud solutions like Vagon Cloud Computer come in. Instead of dropping thousands on upgrades, you can log in from whatever device you already have and spin up a powerful RTX workstation in the cloud. It’s not for everyone, you still need a decent internet connection, and some workflows feel better on local machines, but it’s an option that removes the constant pressure of keeping up with hardware cycles.