Lumion 2026: Maximum performance for professional architectural visualization

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With Lumion 2026, you can create high-quality architectural visualizations and realistic 3D renderings efficiently and quickly. To fully leverage your visualization software's potential, the right hardware is just as important as the software itself. Our high-performance CAD and rendering workstations are specifically designed to meet the demands of professional architectural visualization. They enable you to work smoothly on even large-scale projects featuring complex geometry, detailed 3D models, and sophisticated scenes. Benefits of an optimized Lumion workstation High rendering performance: Powerful hardware for efficient visualization and rendering workflows. Smooth handling of complex projects: Optimized system configurations for extensive 3D models and highly detailed scenes. Efficient CAD workflow integration: Support for common design tools such as AutoCAD, Revit, Rhino, SketchUp, Archicad, and Autodesk 3ds Max—subject to specific Lumion interfaces and software versions. Custom hardware configuration: We tailor the processor, graphics card, RAM, and other components precisely to your project requirements. Reduced wait times, increased productivity: A balanced system configuration helps minimize bottlenecks and streamline your workflows. Test performance before you decide Which workstation suits your needs? Find out with our free remote test. We configure a high-performance business workstation to meet your specific requirements, allowing you to experience the system in a real-world setting. Test your typical workflows, evaluate performance with demanding 3D scenes, and gain a solid basis for your next workstation investment decision.

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Check your Lumion workstation with our ultimate system guide

More rendering power, less waiting time: How to choose the right Intel CPU for Lumion 2026

Lumion 2026 is high-performance 3D visualization software that relies heavily on a fast CPU and a powerful GPU. Choosing the right processor depends on project size and specific requirements. Here is a comparison between Intel Core and Intel Xeon (workstation/server CPUs) for various project types:


Small-scale architectural projects – simple residential buildings and small commercial structures

Requirements: Good single-core performance, solid multitasking capabilities, and a balanced price-to-performance ratio. For small to medium-sized Lumion scenes, a powerful graphics card is generally more important than an exceptionally expensive CPU. However, the processor should still offer sufficient headroom for CAD/BIM applications, model preparation, running concurrent programs, and maintaining a smooth workflow. Recommended CPUs:


Best value for money: Intel Core i7-12700K

  • 12 cores (8 Performance and 4 Efficient cores), 20 threads, and good single-core performance. Particularly attractive as an affordable used CPU or for an existing LGA1700 system.

  • Less performance headroom than newer i7 generations for demanding multitasking and CPU-intensive tasks.

  • Use case: Small residential buildings, simple outdoor areas, manageable scene sizes, and budget-conscious workstations.

Balanced mid-range option: Intel Core i7-13700K

  • 16 cores (8 Performance and 8 Efficient cores), 24 threads, and a turbo clock speed of up to 5.4 GHz. Good combination of interactive workflow performance and multitasking capabilities.

  • High maximum turbo power draw of up to 253 W.

  • Use case: Small to medium-sized architectural projects involving the simultaneous use of CAD, BIM, image editing software, and Lumion.

High-performance all-rounder: Intel Core i7-14700K

  • 20 cores (8 Performance and 12 Efficient cores), 28 threads, and a turbo clock speed of up to 5.6 GHz. Offers additional performance headroom compared to the i7-13700K, particularly for parallelized tasks.

  • Use case: Small to medium-sized projects, running multiple applications simultaneously, and scenarios requiring higher CPU performance.

Modern alternative: Intel Core Ultra 7 265K

  • 20 cores (8 Performance-cores and 12 Efficient-cores), turbo clock speeds up to 5.5 GHz, and a more modern platform featuring LGA1851 and DDR5 support. An attractive option for a new build if the combined cost of the CPU, motherboard, and memory is favorable.

  • Use case: New, future-proof workstations for smaller architectural projects where efficiency, modern platform technology, and strong multitasking performance are priorities.

Workstation alternative: Intel Xeon W3-2435

  • 8 cores, 16 threads, ECC memory support, and a dedicated workstation platform. A sensible choice when data integrity, validated hardware configurations, or professional platform features are explicitly required.

  • Use case: Small professional projects with specific workstation requirements where ECC memory or specific platform features take precedence over maximizing price-performance value.

Our verdict:

For small architectural projects using Lumion 2026, the Intel Core i7-12700K is an attractive budget-friendly solution, especially when purchased as part of an affordable refurbished workstation. The i7-13700K offers a balanced mix of price and performance, while the i7-14700K provides extra headroom for multitasking. The Core Ultra 7 265K is primarily of interest for new builds, provided the total cost of the new platform makes financial sense. In contrast, the Xeon W3-2435 should be selected specifically for workstation scenarios requiring ECC memory or similar professional-grade features. Important for budget planning: For Lumion 2026, the budget should first be allocated to a sufficiently powerful, supported graphics card with adequate VRAM and to sufficient system memory.


Mid-sized architectural projects (multi-family homes, mid-sized office buildings)

Requirements: High single-core performance for smooth operation in real-time views, solid general CPU performance for complex scenes, and sufficient headroom for running concurrent applications such as Revit, Archicad, SketchUp, and Photoshop. Recommended CPUs focusing on price-to-performance:

Intel Core i9-12900K – affordable entry-level recommendation

  • 16 cores (8 performance and 8 efficiency cores), 24 threads; remains capable for mid-sized architectural projects and is often available cheaply on the used market.

  • Older platform; lower single-core and multi-core performance compared to newer i9 models.

  • Use case: A sensible choice if the processor is already owned or can be purchased at a very low price.

Intel Core i9-13900K – attractive price-to-performance balance

  • 24 cores (8 performance and 16 efficiency cores), 32 threads, high clock speeds, and strong performance for demanding multitasking.

  • Use case: An excellent choice if a good deal is available and the platform is already owned or can be assembled cost-effectively.

Intel Core i9-14900K – maximum performance on the LGA-1700 platform

  • 24 cores (8 performance and 16 efficiency cores), 32 threads, and a maximum turbo clock speed of up to 6.0 GHz.

Intel Core Ultra 9 285K – modern alternative

  • Modern platform: Support for DDR5 memory and PCIe 5.0 for fast SSDs and modern hardware

  • High computing performance: 24 cores (8 performance cores and 16 efficiency cores) for demanding workloads and multitasking.

Important notes for Lumion 2026: The graphics card is the most important performance component for real-time visualization and rendering. A powerful CPU cannot compensate for an underpowered GPU.


Complex Architectural Projects - Large-Scale Projects, Urban Planning, and Detailed Landscapes

Application Area: Professional architectural visualization using Lumion 2026 for architectural firms, general planners, urban planning offices, landscape architects, project developers, and visualization service providers. Workstation Requirements: Complex architectural and infrastructure projects place high demands on the workstation as a whole. Large-scale city models, expansive landscapes, detailed buildings, extensive vegetation, high-resolution textures, and numerous object instances must be processed within an interactive 3D environment. Therefore, a high-performance workstation with a balanced hardware configuration is recommended for professional use with Lumion 2026. Key priorities include a powerful graphics card with sufficient VRAM, a fast CPU, ample RAM capacity, and a stable, reliable overall system. Our recommendations:

Intel Xeon W - Professional Workstation Platform

The Intel Xeon W series is suitable for demanding professional workstations that require high computing power, extensive memory options, and a platform designed specifically for workstation applications. Intel Xeon W9, for example, models from the W9-3500 series:

  • Workstation CPU with appropriate memory support

  • Generously sized system memory for large project files and parallel applications

Advantages for professional use:

  • High computing power for complex workflows and compute-intensive background processes

  • Platform options for large memory capacities and high memory bandwidth

  • Suitable for workstations running other demanding applications alongside Lumion

Attractive for companies with standardized hardware platforms and professional support requirements

  • AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO – High-end workstation platform

  • AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO is a particularly compelling alternative for companies looking to combine maximum computing capacity, high memory bandwidth, and extensive expansion capabilities in a single workstation. Recommended product family:

  • AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9000 WX-Series

  • Depending on budget and workload, for example, the Threadripper PRO 9975WX, 9985WX, or 9995WX

  • Professional workstation motherboards supporting large ECC RAM configurations and multiple expansion cards

Advantages for professional use:

  • Very high core and thread counts on selected models

  • High memory bandwidth thanks to an eight-channel memory workstation platform

  • Extensive options for system memory and PCIe expansion cards

  • Suitable for parallel computing tasks, demanding 3D workflows, and the simultaneous use of multiple professional applications

  • Attractive for studios and design firms that perform CPU-intensive calculations, simulations, or other rendering tasks alongside real-time visualization

Which platform makes more sense for Lumion 2026?

When selecting a CPU for Lumion 2026, the core count should not be the sole deciding factor. Lumion relies primarily on a powerful graphics card. The CPU supports tasks such as processing complex scenes, interacting with numerous objects, and supplying the GPU with necessary data. Therefore:

  • Intel Xeon W: A suitable choice for professional workstations requiring advanced platform features, extensive memory support, and enterprise-grade integration.

  • AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO: Particularly attractive if, in addition to Lumion, the workflow demands high CPU computing power, extensive memory bandwidth, and numerous expansion options.

For Lumion-focused workflows: A balanced system featuring a high-performance GPU and strong single-core performance may be more cost-effective than an extremely expensive CPU with a very high core count.

Actual performance should be tested based on the intended project and, ideally, using representative scenes.

Shared platform features: The Xeon W-3500 platform offers eight memory channels, DDR5-RDIMM support at up to 4,800 MT/s, ECC memory support, and a maximum supported memory capacity of 4 TB. Additionally, it provides 112 PCIe 5.0 lanes for expansion cards and high-speed storage solutions. The actual usable specifications depend on the motherboard and system configuration. For Lumion 2026, this means the platform is suitable for very large, memory-intensive workstations. However, the added value of 60 CPU cores versus 44 should be evaluated based on the specific software usage.

Intel Xeon W7 and W9 - Detailed Model Overview:

Intel offers two W9 models in the professional Xeon W-3500 series. Additionally, the Xeon W7-3565X is an interesting option if a high-performance workstation is required but the budget does not extend to the top-tier W9 model.

Intel Xeon W7-3565X - 32 cores, 64 threads, 2.5-4.8 GHz, 82.5 MB cache, 335 W base power, up to 402 W turbo power consumption. A sensible addition to the W9 lineup for performance-oriented workstations. The lower core count may be sufficient for mixed workloads involving interactive model editing and parallel computations.

Intel Xeon w9-3575X - 44 cores, 88 threads, 2.2-4.8 GHz, 97.5 MB cache, 340 W base power, up to 462 W turbo power consumption. A more balanced w9 alternative that still delivers very high multi-core performance. An attractive option for professional studios and design firms that require a high-end CPU but do not necessarily need to utilize the maximum core count of the 3595X.

Intel Xeon w9-3595X - Intel’s top-tier model, 60 cores, 120 threads, 2.0–4.8 GHz, 112.5 MB cache, 385 W base power, up to 462 W turbo power consumption. The flagship model for workstations requiring massive CPU parallelism. Suitable for companies that run CPU rendering, simulations, complex calculations, or other compute-intensive applications alongside Lumion.


AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9000 WX – All Models

The Threadripper PRO 9000 WX series is based on AMD’s Zen 5 architecture and includes models ranging from 12 to 96 cores. The processors support eight memory channels, DDR5 RDIMM and ECC, as well as PCIe 5.0. These models are designed for professional workstation environments.

AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX - 12 cores, 24 threads, 4.7-5.4 GHz, 64 MB L3 cache, 350 W TDP. An entry-level model within the PRO 9000 WX family. Specifically for Lumion, it is worth carefully considering whether the expensive platform—with its eight memory channels and extensive expansion capabilities - offers genuine added value. AMD designates this as an OEM model, so actual availability should be verified with system integrators.

AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX - 16 cores, 32 threads, 4.5-5.4 GHz, 64 MB L3 cache, 350 W TDP. For professional workstations where high clock speeds and the PRO platform are more important than the maximum available core count. Cost-effectiveness should be weighed against less extensive platform options.

AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX - 24 cores, 48 ​​threads, 4.2-5.4 GHz, 128 MB L3 cache, 350 W TDP. An option for professional users who require high CPU clock speeds and a high core count without stepping up to the 32-, 64-, or 96-core classes.

AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9975WX - 32 cores, 64 threads, 4.0-5.4 GHz, 128 MB L3 cache, 350 W TDP

Particularly interesting for high-performance all-round workstations: high core count, high base clock speed, and ample memory bandwidth. A strong candidate for professional 3D workstations running other applications alongside Lumion.

AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX - 64 cores, 128 threads, 3.2-5.4 GHz, 256 MB L3 cache, 350 W TDP. A high-end option for large visualization studios and technical offices with significant parallel computing demands. It offers 64 cores with a higher base clock speed than the 96-core model.

AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX - AMD’s top-tier model: 96 cores, 192 threads, 2.5-5.4 GHz, 384 MB L3 cache, 350 W TDP. Designed for maximum CPU computing power - ideal for extensive CPU rendering, simulations, generative design, and concurrent workflows. For exclusive use with Lumion, this model is only a cost-effective choice if the additional CPU resources are actually utilized.

To configure an optimal enterprise workstation for Lumion 2024, it is crucial to choose the memory (RAM) carefully, as it plays a central role in performance, especially when processing visual effects and complex scenes. A comparison between DDR4 and DDR5 RAM in relation to small, medium and complex projects provides valuable insights to make the right decision.


Lumion 2026 overview and RAM requirements

Lumion is known for its ability to render highly detailed 3D visualizations in real time. RAM requirements vary depending on the project size:

  • Small projects: simple scenes with little geometry and few effects.

  • Medium projects: moderately complex scenes with multiple buildings, detailed landscaping and a variety of effects.

  • Complex projects: large and detailed scenes with extensive landscapes, many elements and intense effects.

DDR4 vs. DDR5 RAM: Technical differences


DDR4: Typically operates at a clock frequency of 2666 MHz to 3200 MHz and offers a bandwidth of up to 25.6 GB/s per channel. Latency times are comparatively higher, which means that data access takes a little longer.
DDR5: Offers a significantly higher clock frequency of 4800 MHz up to over 6000 MHz and a bandwidth of up to 51.2 GB/s per channel. Latency times are slightly higher than DDR4, but this is more than compensated for by the increased bandwidth and improved efficiency.


Comparison of performance for different Lumion project sizes

Small Lumion projects

  • DDR4: For small projects, DDR4 with 16-32 GB is sufficient. The performance is sufficient to render simple scenes smoothly, as the memory requirements are low.

  • DDR5: Here, DDR5 offers only a marginal advantage, especially in terms of future security. If the workstation is also used for other memory-intensive applications, DDR5 can already work noticeably faster with 16 GB.

  • Conclusion: DDR4 is sufficient for small projects, but DDR5 offers additional performance and better future prospects.


Medium Lumion projects

  • DDR4: 32-64 GB DDR4 is recommended for medium projects. Performance is acceptable, but very detailed scenes can experience delays, especially when multiple applications are running in parallel.

  • DDR5: This is where DDR5 shows its strengths. With 32-64 GB DDR5, the higher bandwidth is used to process data more quickly, which leads to smoother rendering and better multitasking capabilities.

  • Conclusion: DDR5 offers a noticeable increase in performance and better overall performance for medium projects compared to DDR4


Complex Lumion projects

  • DDR4: Even 64-128 GB DDR4 reaches its limits for complex projects. Loading times increase and rendering can become noticeably slower.

  • DDR5: 64-128 GB DDR5 offers a significant performance boost. The increased bandwidth and efficiency allow complex scenes to load and render faster, significantly increasing productivity.

  • Conclusion: For complex projects, DDR5 is the clear choice. Not only does it offer improved speed, but it also allows larger projects to be processed without significant delays.

Lumion 2026 places higher demands on workstation performance, particularly when handling complex 3D scenes, high-resolution textures, detailed vegetation, extensive city models, and ray-tracing-based visualizations. The graphics card is a critical component for ensuring smooth workflows, minimizing wait times, and maintaining project efficiency. Consequently, for architectural firms, general planners, BIM departments, engineering offices, and professional visualization service providers, the question is not simply which GPU is the fastest. Instead, the key is selecting a graphics card that aligns with specific project sizes, budgets, and operational requirements. While current GeForce RTX cards often offer an excellent balance between purchase cost and rendering performance, professional NVIDIA RTX workstation GPUs stand out due to their positioning within the professional hardware ecosystem, features such as ECC-capable memory (on select models), and compact or energy-efficient designs. Older generations - such as the NVIDIA RTX A4000, RTX A5000, RTX 2000 Ada, and RTX 4000 Ada - can also remain cost-effective solutions for existing workstations.


Which graphics card is suitable for which Lumion projects?

Small projects - individual buildings, interiors, and smaller outdoor areas

  • Single-family homes and smaller residential buildings

  • Interior visualizations and furnishing concepts

  • Small commercial properties

  • Presentations with manageable vegetation and a limited number of objects

  • Design variations and early project phases

Recommended GPU class:

  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti or RTX 5070

  • Professional alternative: NVIDIA RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell

  • Existing workstation: NVIDIA RTX A4000 or RTX 2000 Ada, provided memory requirements and project complexity align

For smaller projects, a modern GeForce RTX graphics card is often the most cost-effective choice. It offers high rendering performance at a comparatively attractive price point and is particularly well-suited for individual workstations, small architectural firms, and visualization tasks with moderate resource demands. The RTX A4000 and RTX 2000 Ada are particularly relevant options if they are already available, if a compact or energy-efficient workstation system is required, or if corporate policies favor the use of professional-grade GPUs. With the RTX 2000 Ada, especially for larger scenes, it is important to verify that the specific card variant and its video memory are sufficient for the project.

Mid-sized projects - apartment buildings, office buildings, and smaller developments

  • Apartment buildings and residential complexes

  • Office and administrative buildings

  • Hotels, schools, and public buildings

  • Multiple building sections with detailed outdoor areas

  • Extensive interiors with high-resolution textures

  • Regular presentations using real-time ray tracing

Recommended GPU class:

  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080

  • Professional alternative: NVIDIA RTX PRO 5000 Blackwell

  • Existing workstation: NVIDIA RTX A5000 or RTX 4000 Ada

For mid-sized projects, graphics memory, GPU computing power, and performance headroom for demanding real-time visualizations are becoming increasingly important. A modern high-end GeForce card is suitable for many visualization workstations, while professional RTX models offer an attractive alternative depending on specific operational requirements. The NVIDIA RTX A5000 features 24 GB of graphics memory, providing a solid memory foundation for many demanding architectural projects. With 20 GB, the RTX 4000 Ada also offers substantial memory resources and can be an attractive option, particularly in professional workstation configurations. Whether upgrading to a newer GPU is truly worthwhile should be assessed based on project requirements and, ideally, by using a reproducible Lumion benchmark. A larger VRAM capacity alone does not guarantee higher frame rates or shorter render times.


Large and highly complex projects - city models, large-scale landscapes, and extensive animations

  • Large residential districts and urban development projects

  • Complex commercial and industrial sites

  • Hospitals, airports, and sprawling public buildings

  • Extensive landscapes with detailed vegetation

  • Large scenes featuring numerous high-resolution assets

  • Demanding ray-tracing visualizations and animations

Recommended GPU class:

  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 with 32 GB of VRAM

  • Professional alternative: NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell

  • Existing workstation: NVIDIA RTX A5000 or RTX 4000 Ada (subject to individual project assessment)

For very large scenes, the graphics card should not be selected based solely on average rendering performance. Equally important is whether the required geometry, textures, and other GPU resources fit within the available video memory (VRAM). Larger VRAM reserves can facilitate work on complex scenes, particularly for highly demanding visualizations. Consequently, the GeForce RTX 5090 with 32 GB is a powerful option for such high-end workstations. The NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell is designed for professional workstation requirements where factors such as extensive VRAM and integration into demanding enterprise environments are critical. Older workstation GPUs may still be viable options, provided their performance and memory capacity are sufficient for the specific project. However, for new workstations that will regularly handle very large scenes, a direct comparison with current GPU generations is recommended.


GeForce RTX vs. Professional NVIDIA RTX PRO: Which Makes More Sense for B2B?

The choice between GeForce and professional RTX GPUs should be based on operational requirements rather than just the product name. GeForce models are often the more cost-effective choice for workstations focused on Lumion, real-time visualization, and presentations; freelancers, small offices, and visualization teams, in particular, often benefit from the high performance of current GeForce generations. Depending on the product generation and specific model, professional RTX cards offer features such as ECC-capable graphics memory, compact form factors, and optimization for professional workstation environments. They are particularly relevant when factors like hardware standards, defined configurations, procurement policies, or centralized IT management play a key role. A crucial point to consider: a professional GPU is not automatically faster, more stable, or better suited for Lumion than every GeForce card. Likewise, ECC memory does not guarantee the prevention of all rendering errors. Ultimately, the decision depends on which specific features and support services are actually required for the business's operations.

To use the software to its full potential, it is crucial to choose an optimal hard drive that enables fast loading times and smooth workflows. Two popular options are the Samsung M.2 SSDs with PCIe 3.0 and PCIe 4.0 interfaces. Below we compare the performance of these two SSDs when working with small, medium and complex projects in Lumion 2024.


Small Lumion Projects

  • Project Size: Under 500 MB (small 3D models, simple scenes)

  • Performance Requirements: Low to moderate requirements for storage and loading speeds.
    Samsung M.2 SSD PCIe 3.0

  • Read/write speed: Typically around 3,500 MB/s or 3,200 MB/s.

  • Performance: For small projects, the PCIe 3.0 SSD offers more than enough speed. Loading times are short and working in Lumion is smooth and responsive.
    Samsung M.2 SSD PCIe 4.0

  • Read/write speed: Up to 7,000 MB/s or 5,000 MB/s.

  • Performance: Even though the PCIe 4.0 SSD is twice as fast as its PCIe 3.0 counterpart, the difference in performance is hardly noticeable for small projects. There are minimal improvements in loading times, but these are often not significant in practice.

Conclusion for small Lumion projects:

A Samsung M.2 SSD with PCIe 3.0 already offers excellent performance here and is a very good choice in terms of price-performance. PCIe 4.0 would be faster, but the difference is not significant for small projects.


Medium Lumion projects

  • Project size: 500 MB to 2 GB (more complex scenes, multiple textures, lighting effects)

  • Performance requirements: Higher requirements for memory, loading and rendering speed.
    Samsung M.2 SSD PCIe 3.0

  • Performance: For medium projects, the PCIe 3.0 SSD shows solid performance. However,

  • loading times can increase slightly for very complex scenes, which can lead to a small delay.
    Samsung M.2 SSD PCIe 4.0

  • Performance: The PCIe 4.0 SSD can make better use of its higher speed. Loading times are significantly reduced and working in Lumion remains smooth even with more complex scenes. The speed advantage is clearly noticeable here.

Conclusion for medium projects:
For medium projects, the PCIe 4.0 SSD offers noticeable advantages, especially when it comes to loading speed and working fluidity. However, the PCIe 3.0 SSD is still a solid choice, especially if you're on a tight budget.


Complex Lumion projects

  • Project size: Over 2 GB (detailed 3D models, extensive textures, complex light and shadow effects)

  • Performance requirements: Very high requirements for storage performance and data transfer rate.
    Samsung M.2 SSD PCIe 3.0

  • Performance: The PCIe 3.0 SSD reaches its limits with very complex projects. Long loading times and occasional delays when rendering can make work difficult.
    Samsung M.2 SSD PCIe 4.0

  • Performance: This is where the PCIe 4.0 SSD shows its full strength. Fast loading times and smooth performance ensure that even the most complex projects can be processed without any problems in Lumion 2024. The double speed compared to PCIe 3.0 is clearly noticeable here.

Conclusion for complex projects:

For very large and complex projects, the PCIe 4.0 SSD is clearly the better choice. It enables efficient work without delays and offers the necessary speed to process large amounts of data quickly.


Our assessment

  • Price-performance ratio: For smaller projects, a PCIe 3.0 SSD is completely sufficient in most cases, as the speed advantage of PCIe 4.0 hardly applies here. However, those working with medium to large projects benefit greatly from the higher speed of the PCIe 4.0 SSD. Despite the higher price, it offers a future-proof solution for demanding work in Lumion 2024.

  • Future-proof: Since the requirements for storage and processing speed will continue to increase over time, investing in a PCIe 4.0 SSD makes sense in the long term, especially for professionals who regularly work with complex scenes.

An optimal workstation for using Lumion 2024, especially when working on small, medium and complex projects, requires careful selection of hardware to ensure smooth performance and fast rendering times. When comparing the HP Z4 G4 and HP Z4 G5, there are significant differences that can influence the decision for one of these workstations.


Lumion Performance and processor


HP Z4 G4:

  • Equipped with older generation Intel Xeon W processors (Skylake-W).

  • Support for up to 18 cores.

  • Well suited for small to medium projects in Lumion where processor performance is not the limiting factor.

  • Bottlenecks can occur in complex projects, especially when working with large scenes and high rendering requirements.


HP Z4 G5:

  • Newer Cascade Lake or Ice Lake generation Intel Xeon W processors.

  • Support for more cores and threads, which improves multithreading performance.

  • Significantly more powerful for medium to complex projects, as the higher core count and clock speed reduce rendering times and provide better performance for large projects.

  • The higher VRAM capacity enables larger scenes to be loaded and rendered more efficiently, making the Z4 G5 a better choice for complex projects.


Lumion Memory and expandability


HP Z4 G4:

  • Support for up to 256 GB DDR4 RAM.

  • Suitable for small to medium projects where memory requirements remain manageable.

  • For very large projects, however, the maximum RAM capacity can be limiting.


HP Z4 G5:

  • Support for up to 512 GB DDR5 RAM.

  • Enables significantly better performance for complex projects where a lot of memory is required for scene management and rendering.

  • The DDR5 technology also offers higher bandwidths, which further increases system performance.


Lumion Storage solutions


HP Z4 G4:

  • Support for NVMe SSDs, which offer good read and write speeds.

  • Sufficient for smaller projects where loading times and file access are less critical.


HP Z4 G5:

  • Support for the latest PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSDs, which offer faster data transfer rates.

  • Ideal for medium to complex projects where fast storage solutions can significantly improve work speed.


Lumion Cooling and power supply


HP Z4 G4:

  • Solid cooling and energy efficiency for standard workloads.

  • However, with intensive rendering processes in complex projects, the cooling could reach its limits.


HP Z4 G5:

  • Improved cooling solutions and higher energy efficiency that enable better performance in demanding workloads.

  • The better cooling is particularly beneficial for long rendering processes and complex scenes.


Our Conclusion for Lumion

For small projects, our HP Z4 G4s are a solid choice as they offer enough power to process them efficiently. For medium-sized projects, the Z4 G4 could still keep up, but the HP Z4 G5 offers significantly better performance, especially for tasks that require more CPU and GPU power. For complex projects, the HP Z4 G5 is clearly the better choice, as its modern hardware offers a faster and more stable working environment. If the budget allows and future projects tend to be larger and more complex, the HP Z4 G5 is the optimal workstation for Lumion 2024.

Workstation recommendations for Lumion