3D modeling is a vast technology used in numerous fields, including games, films, architecture, illustrations, engineering, and advertising. The modeling process and tools vary depending on the application. Besides popular 3D software like Cinema 4D, Maya, 3ds Max, and Blender, which are widely accessible, many other software options are tailored for specific tasks. When considering human creation, Daz Studio stands out as a leading and favored software. With a wealth of tools and assets, Daz Studio allows for the creation and rendering of 3D scenes to produce images and animations. Visualization primarily utilizes the advanced Iray rendering engine, which is included with Daz Studio.
Iray is a physically based render engine that simulates how light functions in the real world, enabling the creation of highly photorealistic renders. A key feature of Iray is its use of RT Cores to accelerate ray tracing performance in real-time. Because Iray is built on NVIDIA’s latest technology, an NVIDIA graphics card is required to harness the fast GPU rendering speeds. However, not all NVIDIA cards can perform real-time ray tracing; only RTX cards with dedicated ray-tracing-acceleration RT cores support this capability.
Due to the specific technologies involved, Daz Studio & Iray face a similar situation to Lumion and Enscape, where the number of render farms supporting them is limited. We’ve explored and discovered solutions for Daz Studio and Iray users. This article identifies some of the best options.
Best Render Farms for Daz Studio & Iray in 2023
1. XESKTOP
Xesktop provides powerful GPU servers for rent. These servers are accessed via a Remote Desktop application, allowing users to interact with them as if they were their own computers. After logging in, a fresh system instance with Windows 10 can be created. The user is responsible for installing the necessary software and using their own licenses. The system instance is saved and preserved after the initial setup, ready for use at any time.
Xesktop offers two types of GPU servers: 10x GTX 1080Ti and 8x Tesla V100. While popular 3D software can be installed and rendered on them, their servers seem especially suited for multi-GPU-support software because of performance and price considerations. For Daz Studio & Iray, which benefit from multi-GPU rendering, both options are viable. The 10x GTX 1080Ti setup is advantageous for standard 3D tasks and software capable of utilizing all 10 GPU cards. In contrast, the 8x Tesla V100 server is better for AI training, intensive 3D projects, and software that can utilize 8 or fewer GPU cards. Though each server is better suited for specific needs, and the Tesla V100 server has superior speed than the 10x GTX 1080Ti, they’re interchangeable and will both perform well. You can even create multiple server instances to save time. The pricing is also quite comparable.
2. ANIMA RENDER
Anima Render lets you remotely access the server through VNCviewer, and you connect to the server to perform the render. However, you need to notify them in advance so they can provision the server. They can pre-install Daz Studio, or you can install the software yourself. Anima Render offers two server types: 5x GTX 1080Ti and 5x RTX 2080Ti, though at a higher price point than other farms. A drawback is that the application and data are not saved when the servers reboot, which happens periodically, requiring reinstallation with each session. This is very inconvenient because Daz Studio libraries and assets are usually large, which can be particularly disruptive if they amount to 1TB or more.
3. RENDER4YOU
At Render4you, jobs are created and scenes submitted (from applications like Maya, Cinema 4D, 3Ds Max, and Blender, among others) from a local computer to the farm. They use an application called “cloudinterface” to manage this process. Unfortunately, direct submission from Daz via cloudinterface is not currently supported. An alternative involves sending files for rendering through Wetransfer; the farm tests some frames and assesses project costs. If the price is accepted, rendering proceeds. Their servers feature configurations that include 10x RTX 2080ti, 10x RTX 3060, 10x RTX 3090, and some other setups with similar specifications.
Summary
In conclusion, after taking many factors into account, we’ve determined the two leading Render Farms for Daz Studio and Iray in 2023: Xesktop and Anima Render. The test results indicate that Xesktop offers good performance with fair pricing. However, results are only for your reference. It’s highly suggested that you experience the render farms yourself to determine the best fit for your project needs.
