Cycles: physically accurate, GPU (or CPU) intensive
Cycles is Blender's path-tracing renderer, built for photorealistic final output. It can render on CPU, GPU, or both together, but GPU rendering (via CUDA/OptiX on NVIDIA cards) is dramatically faster for most scenes today. VRAM matters here the same way it does in any GPU path-tracer -- 12GB is a comfortable working minimum for serious work.
Eevee: real-time, GPU-light by comparison
Eevee is Blender's real-time rasterisation engine, built for speed rather than full physical accuracy. It runs comfortably on much more modest GPUs than Cycles needs for equivalent visual complexity, because it's not doing full path-tracing -- it's a great fit for previewing work, motion graphics, and stylised final renders that don't need Cycles' accuracy.
What this means for buying hardware
| If you mainly use... | Prioritise |
|---|---|
| Cycles (photorealistic final renders) | GPU VRAM (12GB+), then CUDA/RT core count |
| Eevee (real-time, stylised, previews) | Mid-range GPU is enough (8GB is workable) |
| Both, switching depending on project | Spec for Cycles -- it covers Eevee comfortably too |
A common trap: buying for Eevee, then needing Cycles
Because Eevee runs fine on modest hardware, it's easy to under-buy a GPU early on and then hit a wall the first time a client needs photorealistic output and you switch to Cycles. If there's any chance you'll need Cycles-quality renders eventually, it's cheaper to spec for that from the start.
Our recommendation
If you're serious about 3D work in Blender and there's any realistic chance you'll need photorealistic output, buy for Cycles (12GB+ VRAM GPU) even if you're currently working mostly in Eevee -- it's the safer long-term spend.
Not sure which Blender engine your work will actually need? Tell us your project goals and we'll spec accordingly.
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