Adobe After Effects (v.2019 and newer)

Adobe After Effects is a widely used tool for motion graphics, compositing, and visual effects. To maximize performance, especially when working with complex compositions, enabling GPU acceleration can significantly speed up rendering times and improve overall workflow efficiency.

How to Enable GPU (CUDA) Acceleration in After Effects

1. Launch After Effects
   Open the app by navigating to the default installation location:
   C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe After Effects 20##\Support Files\AfterFX.exe

2. Access Project Settings
   Go to File > Project Settings.

3. Enable Mercury GPU Acceleration (CUDA)

   
   

   

   
   In the Video Rendering and Effects tab, select Mercury GPU Acceleration (CUDA) from the dropdown menu.
   This setting allows After Effects to leverage the GPU for rendering tasks, improving both preview and export times.

4. Restart After Effects
   After applying the changes, restart After Effects to ensure the new settings take effect.

Top Tips to Speed Up Adobe After Effects

1. Keep Your GPU Drivers Updated
   Regularly update your NVIDIA GPU drivers to ensure compatibility with After Effects' latest features and optimizations. New driver updates often contain performance enhancements.

2. Use Multi-Frame Rendering
   After Effects now supports multi-frame rendering, which allows the software to process multiple frames simultaneously by utilizing all available CPU cores. Pairing this with GPU acceleration can drastically cut down rendering times.

3. Optimize the Disk Cache
   Set up a fast disk (SSD or NVMe) for your cache to improve preview and rendering speeds. You can adjust disk cache settings in Preferences > Media & Disk Cache.

4. Lower Preview Resolution
   Reducing the preview resolution to half or quarter while working on heavy compositions can speed up playback without affecting the final output quality.

5. Limit Layer and Effects Usage
   Complex effects and many layers slow down performance. Try pre-composing layers or using GPU-accelerated effects whenever possible.

Top Recommended GPUs for Adobe After Effects

For optimal performance with GPU acceleration, the following GPUs are recommended:

1. NVIDIA RTX 4090
   If you work on extremely demanding projects, the RTX 4090 is the best choice. Its 24GB VRAM and incredible CUDA core count allow for fast real-time previews and efficient rendering in After Effects.

2. NVIDIA RTX 3080/3080 Ti
   With 10GB to 12GB of VRAM, the RTX 3080 series offers high performance at a more affordable price. It’s great for professionals who need fast renders without going for the top-end cards.

3. NVIDIA RTX 3090
   With 24GB of VRAM, the RTX 3090 is ideal for high-resolution work and large compositions. Its performance is slightly below the RTX 4090 but is still excellent for demanding workloads.

4. NVIDIA RTX 3070
   The RTX 3070 is a solid mid-range option for users who don’t need the top-tier power but still want fast rendering and smooth previews. It offers 8GB of VRAM, making it capable of handling most After Effects tasks efficiently.

By enabling GPU acceleration and using a powerful GPU, you can significantly boost performance and streamline your workflow in Adobe After Effects.