# Rendering in sketchup 2017 maxes out CPU but not GPU **URL:** \ **Category:** Extensions\ **Tags:** rendering, gpu\ **Created:** [July 23, 2018, 5:00am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rendering-in-sketchup-2017-maxes-out-cpu-but-not-gpu/72756 "2018-07-23T05:00:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![whiterabbitdesigncompany](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/whiterabbitdesigncompany/32/84739_2.png) [@whiterabbitdesigncompany](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/whiterabbitdesigncompany)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 6:43am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rendering-in-sketchup-2017-maxes-out-cpu-but-not-gpu/72756/21 "2018-07-26T06:43:43Z")
> [@IT2018](#): > > found out that Renderin3 only uses CPU Sorry for bad call on this then, the Render[in] website lists the need for a GPU, so would assume it used it as most renderers do. How did you find out that it only uses CPU? There are so many other renderers out there and much opinion as to which is best. Many come with a free trail period so that’s always a good place to start to see if its a good fit with your particular needs and workflow… If productivity is key, it may well be worth considering a render farm that the work can be farmed out to so people aren’t waiting around with their machines consumed with rendering? V-Ray is top contender but expensive. I use Thea…there are many others…if you search the forum here you will get some useful opinions…ultimately it’s a subjective call, , I’ve always used a musical instrument analogy. You need to master the controls of lighting and textures… as there’s no real “magic button”. So a good musician could get a great tune out of a cheap instrument, but a novice would make a Stradivarius wail. ---
**Author:** ![SketchUp3D\_de](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/sketchup3d_de/32/167_2.png) [@SketchUp3D\_de](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/SketchUp3D_de)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 9:50am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rendering-in-sketchup-2017-maxes-out-cpu-but-not-gpu/72756/22 "2018-07-26T09:50:36Z")
> [@SeanB](#): > > Sometimes it’s the way those gaming laptops “look”. size matters 🙂 [https://www.playnation.de/uploads/news/newspic-68700.png](https://www.playnation.de/uploads/news/newspic-68700.png) ---
**Author:** ![SketchUp3D\_de](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/sketchup3d_de/32/167_2.png) [@SketchUp3D\_de](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/SketchUp3D_de)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 9:55am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rendering-in-sketchup-2017-maxes-out-cpu-but-not-gpu/72756/23 "2018-07-26T09:55:58Z")
a [dedicated graphics card](https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/high_end_gpus.html) (best bang for the buck: GeForce GTX series) is important for performance as well as a proper 3D display output (see [OpenGL](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenGL)) compared to the lame graphics subsystems integrated in the CPU as the intel HD series. CAD modeling operations are in general [single-threaded only](https://www.cpubenchmark.net/singleThread.html). ---
**Author:** ![SeanB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SeanB](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/SeanB)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 11:33am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rendering-in-sketchup-2017-maxes-out-cpu-but-not-gpu/72756/24 "2018-07-26T11:33:36Z")
Agreed, a GTX 1050, for example, can be a good CAD card. I am due a new machine at work and this will be the minimum GPU that I will get. Good thing I get to spec out our new CAD machines. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SketchUp3D\_de](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/sketchup3d_de/32/167_2.png) [@SketchUp3D\_de](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/SketchUp3D_de)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 12:03pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rendering-in-sketchup-2017-maxes-out-cpu-but-not-gpu/72756/25 "2018-07-26T12:03:01Z")
> [@SeanB](#): > > a GTX 1050 go for the 1050Ti which is only slightly more expensive but delivers roughly 30% more power _har har har_ [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/c/4/c4252d3261f1d38618a6449366cbf7898884c6fd.jpeg "Tim Taylor grunzen!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGakE6QNfgQ) ---
**Author:** ![IT2018](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b77776/32.png) [@IT2018](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/IT2018)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 6:27am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rendering-in-sketchup-2017-maxes-out-cpu-but-not-gpu/72756/26 "2018-07-31T06:27:32Z")
Thanks for all the info. I’ve never really worked in a design company so this is a learning process for me in regards to hardware requirements etc for the end user. Appreciate the responses 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![IT2018](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b77776/32.png) [@IT2018](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/IT2018)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 6:45am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rendering-in-sketchup-2017-maxes-out-cpu-but-not-gpu/72756/27 "2018-07-31T06:45:33Z")
All good, will definitely check out Thea. Cheers! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/f/2/f2a121500b085ed60806607a82720b092d800bb3.png) [@system](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2019, 2:45pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/rendering-in-sketchup-2017-maxes-out-cpu-but-not-gpu/72756/28 "2019-01-30T14:45:35Z")
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