Video rendering requires more CPU or GPU?

Let me answer it, it’s the CPU!

In general, to render a video, the most important thing is CPU. Even when rendering with GPU increasingly popular (especially on 3D software), rendering video is still CPU intensive.

Would you like to know why? Today’s article will help you better understand this issue, stay tuned!

#first. What is video rendering?

Video rendering is the process of outputting a complete file, which contains a block of consecutive images (including audio, images, clips, effects ..) after being edited from the computer and tools. support. These tools are video making softwareVideo editing software..

Currently, there are two main types of Render: CPU Render and GPU Render.

CPU Render is a rendering process where the system will use the CPU as the main, the computer will make the most of available resources (RAMGPU, CPU, hard drive..) to calculate and process pixel information in 3D format, it is necessary to output 2D images displayed on the screen for the user.

GPU Render: The computer will use its graphics information processing capabilities to process elements related to the process of exporting 3D design images into 2D. At this time, the CPU shares the huge workload when rendering files and controls and assigns tasks during the GPU’s rendering process.

#2. Render Video and Render 3D

Video rendering has many different processes than regular 3D rendering. To output a video that is readable and meets the parameters of resolution, color, sound …. involves many different processes.

In which, the most notable is Encode, this is the process of converting data in encoded form with certain parameters into another format.

It can be said that this is one of the most complex tasks, requiring high computing power, so almost only the CPU is the most efficient until now.

If you’ve ever exported video files, you’ve probably heard the term H.265 or H.264, right, these are common video compression (video encoding) standards, in addition, there are many video compression standards. another.

When rendering video, most of the 2D effects are handled by the CPU, such as text, image files, etc. Because they are basically written by software companies to optimize the CPU.

As for 3D effects, then we will see a lot of interference from the GPU, but provided that these effects and the software itself must support for the GPU to interfere in the rendering process.

Currently, there are two most popular Video Editing software, Abode Primeire and Davinci Resolve, but they go in two different directions, Abode Primeire is optimized for CPU, and Davinci Resolve is optimized for GPU.

However, according to my understanding, sometimes Davinci Resolve still uses a lot of CPU to process effects. And in particular, the custom node settings in this application are also CPU intensive.

#3. Advantages and disadvantages of rendering video using CPU?

As I said above, the encoding process is very complicated, it requires the ability to process many instructions at the same time, so the CPU is always the first choice for video rendering.

Although the GPU has developed a lot in recent times, it has not really been able to handle what the CPU is doing.

Fewer errors during rendering: The CPU has been entrusted with the responsibility of doing heavy, difficult, and heavy work from birth. So they have the “qualities” to do those jobs with less errors or technical glitches – at least in terms of hardware.

The GPU is inherently made to calculate the available tasks, available parameters and is continuous such as using images, rendering images. Moreover, in terms of durability, the GPU has never been rated higher than the CPU. Even in a computer, the GPU is considered the most vulnerable device to sudden death.

CPU is easier to set up For small rendering systems, these are dual CPU Xeon machines. They are designed to operate continuously 24/24 for a long time.

The GPU is different, you need to choose mainboard there are many graphics card ports, moreover there is a problem of bandwidth between the cards. In general, it is quite complicated, the CPU is simply plugged in and turned on.

In short, the advantages of CPU Render are:

• The number of software that supports Render is more.
• Render is more stable, and can make good use of the inherent resources of the system.
• Easier to make use of existing computers.

Any downsides?

• As you know, upgrading CPU is very expensive and complicated.
• CPU occupies a large amount of resources of the computer system, and it is easy to freeze if the resources are used up all the time (RAM, CPU …)

#4. Advantages and disadvantages of rendering video with GPU?

Advantage

• If you decide to build a computer Render GPU, it will be more cost-effective, because it is easier to combine multiple GPUs (when you have determined in advance, of course).
• Rated to render much faster than CPU. According to many reviews, if you use software that supports good GPU rendering, for the same price, the rendering speed with GPU is many times faster than Render with CPU.
• Take advantage of the built-in GPU chip.

And what is the downside?

• There are still quite a few optimized software for Render GPU
• VRAM on low capacity GPUs.
• The GPU is constantly updated by the company, so its stability will depend a lot on the driver.
• It is easy to encounter bottlenecks between CPU and GPU.

#5. Epilogue

Those are the information you should know about CPU Render and GPU Render. In general, at the present time, specifically in our Vietnamese market, CPU Render is still popular and better supported.

But we also cannot deny that GPUs are growing stronger and stronger, the world has made a big shift from CPU 3D rendering to GPU 3D rendering.

And the fact that recently, video rendering says they have also had this shift, but there are still a lot of problems with software optimization, developer support and, of course, business. cost as well as hardware complexity.

Maybe in the future the GPU will be optimized for better encoding. Hopefully by then we will see how powerful they really are.

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