V-Ray: works both ways, buy for how you actually use it
V-Ray supports both CPU and GPU rendering (V-Ray GPU / V-Ray CUDA). CPU rendering benefits from more cores -- a Ryzen 9 or Threadripper-class chip shines here. GPU rendering benefits from VRAM and CUDA cores -- an RTX 4070 Ti or better. Most studios pick one mode and standardise on it; buy hardware for whichever mode your actual pipeline uses.
Corona: CPU-only by design
Corona Renderer is CPU-based only (no GPU rendering mode), which makes the decision simpler: prioritise core count and clock speed. A Ryzen 9 7950X or similar high-core-count CPU will render noticeably faster than a mid-range GPU-focused build, because the GPU isn't doing any of the rendering work here.
Octane: GPU-only, and VRAM-hungry
Octane is built entirely around GPU rendering and rewards VRAM heavily -- scenes with high-res textures and complex lighting can hit VRAM limits fast. A 16GB+ card is the safe choice for serious Octane work; 12GB is workable for smaller scenes.
Quick reference
| Engine | Rendering mode | What to prioritise |
|---|---|---|
| V-Ray | CPU or GPU (your choice) | High core-count CPU OR high-VRAM GPU, matching your mode |
| Corona | CPU only | Core count and clock speed |
| Octane | GPU only | VRAM capacity, then CUDA core count |
Our advice for Ugandan studios
Know which engine and mode your studio actually uses before buying hardware -- a beautifully speced CPU-heavy machine is wasted budget if your team renders exclusively in Octane, and vice versa.
Tell us which render engine your studio uses and we'll spec the PC around it specifically, not generically.
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