6. Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 2 

The Best Workstation Laptop For 3D Animation

  Core i9-13950HX

  128GB RAM

  NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada 16GB vRAM

  4TB SSD NVMe

  16″  UHD (3840 x 2400) TouchScreen  

  8 lbs

  1 hours

  Best for High Quality Movie like 3D animations.

This is going to be the only workstation laptop I’m going to list. It’s also the most powerful workstation laptop as of 2024.

I would not recommend this laptop to any animator unless they are REQUIRED to buy one by a company.

  RTX A5500

They’re not useless but they’re not better in performance than laptops with regular ‘gaming’ GPUs as far as software for 3D animation is concerned.

Since 3D Animation software runs more or less the same type of calculations behind gaming (rendering & viewport). Naturally gaming GPUs will be a better choice.

As for renderers favoring workstation or gaming GPUs. Most renderers like  Octane, fstorm & redshit will tell you to choose either. Where as renderers like vRAY & mental Ray show better performance with gaming GPUs. 

Finding the best hardware for animation isn’t easy—it depends on a lot of factors:

• Unlike other 3D creative fields, there’s a lot of software for animation.
• Considering the different types of animation (2D, 3D, CGI), there’s even more.
• Different software has different hardware requirements.
• However, hardware requirements for 3D animation software are fairly similar.
• A project’s demands on hardware can vary widely, depending on textures, shaders, and the complexity of models with lots of particles and effects.

Animation Software

Before diving into each hardware component’s role in animation software, let’s review the software used in animation to understand the kind of hardware we’ll need.

The requirements for pure 2D animation are simpler and less demanding. If you’re only using 2D software, jump to the last section of this post. We’ll focus on 3D animation from here on.

3D Animation Software

You can find a complete list of popular 3D animation software on this Wikipedia page. The three most widely used are still Maya, Blender, and 3DS Max.

Some of you may not yet know which software you’ll be using, and it depends on what you’re doing:

• AutoDesk Maya: Used in films, TV shows, architectural walkthroughs, game intros, and car simulations.
  • Films: Harry Potter, Kung Fu Panda, Transformers
  • Games: FIFA, Prince of Persia
• Autodesk 3DS Max: Mainly for TV and movies, and also common in architecture and game trailers.
  • Movies: Avatar, Tomb Raider, Transformers, X-Men
  • Games: World of Warcraft, Call of Duty

Recommended Specs for 3D Animation

Let’s start by looking at the official hardware requirements.

1. CPU

While workflow for 3D animation models mostly depends on the GPU, the CPU plays an equally important role, especially in drawing, editing, rendering, and, to a lesser degree, the viewport.

2024 Intel CPUs*

2024 AMD CPUs

*Same color are basically the same model but upgraded. Ex: Core i3 8130U and i3 115G4 are the same model with different generations. Nothing to do with performance.

The table above shows the CPUs you’ll come across when browsing for laptops on this website or elsewhere. Don’t rely solely on core count or clock speed to compare performance. Instead, refer to benchmarks if you’re unsure which CPU to choose. I have a post using PassMark benchmarks to measure their relative performance here: Laptop CPU – Ryzen vs Core Performance Comparison.

Editing and Modeling

Fast CPU → Fast computer → Fast workflow → Less time spent on projects.

Since workflow mostly involves applying effects and drawing polygons in the viewport, the faster these two tasks, the faster your workflow.

Drawing polygons and applying effects are largely clock-speed dependent. In fact, almost every function in animation (effects, lines, coloring, drawing polygons, etc.) relies on the speed of a single core—they’re mostly single-threaded tasks.

This means choosing the CPU with the highest Turbo Speed you can afford.

Viewport (3D movements in Space)

By viewport, I mean zooming, rotating, panning, and manipulating an object in 3D for viewing and modeling. A fast viewport also means a faster workflow.

In the picture above, I’m rotating a model in object mode, where polygons are visible. This serves as a good benchmark for the CPU, as there aren’t many shaders or textures (which would make it more GPU-intensive) but rather more calculations of the polygons being manipulated. In this case, the CPU is very multi-core when viewporting a model, so more cores will make viewporting faster.

While one thread (one box) seems to take on roughly twice the workload (area under the curves in the image), the workload is more or less evenly spread across all threads.

This means that as objects get bigger, the need for a multi-core CPU increases.

Rendering

Rendering, regardless of the software, is always a multi-threaded task. The more cores you have, the less time it’ll take to render.

So, once you’ve maximized clock speed, go for the CPU with the highest core count if you want faster rendering.

Multitasking
It’s very common for animators and artists to use multiple animation programs at once, like After Effects and Cinema 4D alongside 3D modeling software. This is where multi-core CPUs also come in handy.

Conclusion: What’s the best CPU?
It depends on the size of your models. For medium-sized models (as shown in the graphs), any recent multi-core CPU (preferably 6 cores) will work wonders. Most of the time, the GPU—not the CPU—will be the bottleneck.

Desktop CPUs vs Laptop CPUs

Now… I have to warn you. Even the most powerful laptop will struggle with very complex, detailed, or large scenes, like those used in high-budget movie production. Animation work at that level requires processing power that goes beyond what any laptop CPU can handle efficiently.

For example, scenes in films like Avatar or Toy Story 4 involved such massive data processing—like handling millions of polygons, particle effects, and advanced lighting—that they required the kind of power only found in high-end desktop workstations. Desktops equipped with CPUs like the AMD Ryzen Threadripper or Intel Xeon W-series, which offer upwards of 64 cores and 128 threads, provide the parallel processing needed to handle these extreme workloads without bottlenecks.

In addition to handling larger core counts, desktop CPUs typically operate at higher sustained power and have more cooling capacity, allowing for longer, continuous rendering sessions without thermal throttling. This difference becomes crucial when projects require intensive rendering or simulation work, where a laptop’s thermal limitations can slow down or even interrupt the workflow

2. GPU (Graphics Card)

The key to getting the best performance for every dollar spent is choosing the right GPU.

Below are the most common dedicated graphics cards you’ll find in 2024. Look for two main components: VRAM and CUDA Cores.

vRAM: Viewport

VRAM is video memory, and this is where 3D graphics, details, and calculations related to graphics are stored for processing

From this small test, we can conclude that VRAM is not so important when working with small-sized models. This model is only using 1/2 GB of VRAM.

However…

The more polygons, textures, and shaders a model or scene has, the more VRAM (video memory) it will need. With this in mind, you can save a lot of money by getting only the amount of VRAM you need, rather than overspending on GPUs with excessive VRAM, which tend to be more expensive. Just note that the specific VRAM requirements can vary based on software optimizations and scene complexity—some applications handle resource management more efficiently than others.

Small Scenes: 2-4GB VRAM
If you are working with just one or two character models within a scene, 2-4GB of VRAM is generally sufficient. This is typically enough for animation classes. The model I’m using here is a good example of a small model for learning purposes.

Medium Scenes: 6-8GB VRAM
For scenes with output files intended for movies or short animations, you’ll need at least 6GB of VRAM. Such models might not use the entire 6GB, but having extra headroom and CUDA cores helps ensure smoother graphics processing and workflow. Otherwise, small freezes may occur when working with a 3D model. Keep in mind that VRAM requirements may vary slightly depending on texture quality, shaders, and how assets are loaded into memory.

Very Large Scenes: 16-24GB VRAM
It’s rare for animators to need this much VRAM. The main case would be working with highly detailed, realistic scenes intended for full-length movies. In such cases, high VRAM usage is often accompanied by high CUDA core counts to avoid bottlenecks, as VRAM alone doesn’t guarantee smooth processing of highly detailed scenes.

Lack of VRAM
VRAM bottlenecking is rare. When it does occur, the computer will use system RAM as VRAM, which can significantly slow down the viewport—sometimes to the point of being unusable. If there’s only a slight VRAM shortage, the viewport might still run smoothly, but parts of the model may randomly disappear or flicker (similar to screen tearing in games). When VRAM demands greatly exceed GPU capacity, lower-end GPUs may even crash or become unstable.

VRAM vs. GPU Architecture
While more VRAM can save money, it doesn’t guarantee the same performance. For example, an older 6GB VRAM GPU like the RTX 2060 won’t perform as well as a newer GPU like the RTX 4050. More recent architectures have higher clock speeds, more CUDA cores, and other improvements that directly impact processing efficiency. VRAM primarily helps with storing assets like textures and high-poly models, while actual processing speed is tied to CUDA core counts, architecture, and optimizations.

Workstation GPUs: Quadro vs. FirePro
As of 2024, workstation GPUs offer limited advantages over consumer (gaming) GPUs in animation. Workstation GPUs excel in specialized 3D CAD software like SolidWorks, where precision and stability in floating-point calculations are prioritized over rendering speed. Gaming GPUs, optimized for rendering, are generally better suited for animation tasks, as animation software primarily focuses on rendering during editing. This holds if you’re comparing equivalent GPUs (recent gaming and workstation GPUs with similar clock speeds, CUDA cores, and VRAM). It’s also worth mentioning that workstation GPUs might provide better driver stability in certain professional applications, which could be useful for long, uninterrupted work sessions in animation or CAD software.

NVIDIA vs. AMD: Which Brand is Best for Animation?
NVIDIA. This question is more relevant for desktops since the laptop market for dedicated graphics is dominated by NVIDIA. If you find an AMD GPU with similar specs to an NVIDIA GPU, be aware that most GPU renderers are optimized for NVIDIA’s CUDA core technology, and many rendering engines haven’t yet been adapted for AMD GPUs. This means AMD GPUs may not perform as well in GPU rendering tasks. While AMD’s ROCm initiative has improved compatibility with some rendering software (especially in high-performance desktops), NVIDIA remains the top choice in terms of compatibility and efficiency in the animation field.

RAM

Since RAM is used to store your animation software and OS, you’ll have limited memory left for 3D models if you don’t have enough. Animation software can consume a large portion of RAM, especially with complex models, so running other programs alongside it can further reduce memory availability.

If you multitask heavily, you may find that very little RAM is left for your 3D model.

RAM holds your 3D model’s data for the CPU to process, while VRAM stores graphics-specific data that the GPU processes.

How much RAM will I need?

It depends on your model size. However:

Anyone using 3D animation should have at least 16GB. Most beginner laptops for animation (with 2GB-4GB VRAM GPUs) come with 8GB of RAM, which might be enough, but upgrading to 16GB is recommended for a smoother experience.

• 16GB: Ideal for students. You’ll get smooth viewport performance and minimal lag when applying effects or drawing. This amount is generally sufficient for learning and typical smaller projects.
• 32GB: For professionals working with complex scenes or multitasking within animation software, 32GB improves performance and allows for more detailed scenes and high-resolution assets. Going beyond 32GB is rarely necessary unless you handle extremely large scenes (e.g., high-end VFX).

RAM vs. VRAM: VRAM stores textures, shaders, and graphics data, which are processed by the GPU, making it crucial for viewport performance. System RAM, meanwhile, is essential for managing large data files and multitasking. While more RAM prevents slowdowns, VRAM plays an equally important role in handling complex visuals smoothly.

Rendering in Animation (GPU vs. CPU): Rendering can rely on either the GPU or CPU, depending on the software and renderer. GPU rendering is common for real-time previews and can speed up workflows, especially in the viewport. CPU rendering is often chosen for high-quality final renders that require complex processing, such as advanced lighting and shading. Some software even supports hybrid rendering, where both GPU and CPU work together, combining GPU speed with CPU processing capabilities.

For final renders, VRAM is critical for GPU rendering, while system RAM is essential for scene management. To avoid hardware bottlenecks, it’s beneficial to have as much RAM as possible—unless you know your software is primarily GPU-dependent, in which case VRAM will be more impactful.

Here’s a table showing common animation software and whether viewport rendering and final rendering are generally GPU-dependent or CPU-dependent:

There are many types of storage.

However, virtually every decent laptop for heavy work will have an SSD (Solid State Drive) as the main storage.

If you’re buying refurbished laptops or building a desktop, you MUST upgrade and add or replace the current storage with an SSD.

The performance gains with an SSD over HDDs will be noticeable when:

• Booting up the system (takes seconds rather than minutes)
• Launching software (loads in seconds)
• Saving files
• Opening files
• Exporting/Importing data

Storage Size

High-storage SSDs (512GB-1TB) used to be limited to expensive laptops, but now even budget machines often include them. So, the choice becomes whether to go for a 1TB SSD.

• Students: You don’t need 1TB. 512GB is often standard on laptops with dedicated graphics, but 256GB is also sufficient for dozens of projects and 3-4 mainstream animation software applications.
• Professionals: 512GB is usually plenty for storing a library of old animation projects on the same laptop.

Using Two SSDs in the Same Machine

To maximize performance on a laptop, install two SSDs and set them up as follows:

1. Install Windows 11 or 12 and any animation software on the main SSD (usually a PCIe NVMe SSD) and avoid storing anything else here.
2. Use the secondary SSD for any other files or programs.

Check out my tutorial here on how to add a second SSD.

This setup can give you around a 3-5% performance boost in tasks like exporting/importing, which may not seem huge, but if you’re working on tight deadlines, those gains add up over a full day of work.

Storage Speed

In 2025, it’s no longer about storage size or simply choosing an SSD—most laptops already meet animation requirements. Now the question is whether to invest in the latest high-speed SSD. Higher speeds can make a big difference when moving/copying/transferring data in and out of your computer, but they don’t necessarily bring huge gains in software performance or the tasks mentioned above.

The latest SSDs, like PCIe NVMe 5.0, will give you major speed improvements for data transfers. I have a comprehensive post here: Laptop Storage Speed Comparison. Check the SSD speeds to see if it’s worth it for you—if you frequently handle large files that need to move between drives, it’s definitely worth considering a laptop with the latest SSD technology.

Display

The goal is to maximize workspace because the  bigger the workspace area the faster your workflow.

Thus when looking at display specifications focus on resolution , display size & type.

Resolution

If you have a small sized display (which is the case for laptops) the best way to maximize screen space without having to attach an external monitor is to buy high resolution displays by making the interface, toolbars and everything else slightly smaller (without compromising quality) this makes your canvas much bigger and allows you to throw in more ‘quick-action’ toolbars which reduces the needs to go to use drop-down menus. 

FHD is common and is the absolute minimum even for 2D animation. QHD is a HUGE plus and is now attainable on laptops under 800 dollars and more common on gaming laptops with 6GB vRAM GPUs (~1000 dollars).

4k resolutions: animation software is now fully compatible  4k (UHD). Though this will massively increase the screen space it is only found on very expensive laptops.

Color Gamut

This is one reason desktops are often preferred for professional 3D animation and film work: they usually support larger, higher-quality displays with more accurate color reproduction. However, some high-end laptops also feature excellent display options (like OLED and advanced IPS panels) that can come close to desktop monitors in color accuracy.

When comparing laptop display types for color quality, the general hierarchy is: OLED > IPS > TN. OLED panels offer the widest color gamut and contrast, while IPS provides solid color accuracy and better viewing angles than TN. For a more in-depth review of these differences and the technical details of display types on laptops, check out this post

Rendering

A recap on rendering for those exporting/rendering extremely large scenes. The following tips can help you reduce render times, so when building a desktop or buying a workstation or high-end gaming laptop, keep these in mind:

• Rendering involves intense computation and can be handled by both the CPU and GPU, depending on the rendering engine.
• Many modern render engines (like vRay, Octane, and Redshift) are optimized for GPU rendering and will perform faster with a powerful GPU that has a high CUDA core count. However, CPUs still play a role, especially for tasks not fully optimized for GPU processing.
• More CPU cores will improve render times, particularly physical cores rather than virtual (hyper-threaded) ones.
• RAM and GPU are also crucial; having enough RAM prevents bottlenecks, and a powerful GPU accelerates GPU-based render engines.
• Most GPU-based render engines work best with NVIDIA GPUs due to CUDA core optimization.
• For laptop rendering, consider a cooling stand to help maintain lower temperatures, especially if rendering is causing prolonged heat buildup. This can help preserve the laptop’s durability over time. 
  • Also, it’s super important to be aware of your laptop’s cooling mechanisms and ensure it has the appropriate cooling system for a given hardware set up.