Rendering in SketchUp

Performance and SketchUp 
No matter how many processors your computer has, SketchUp can use only one processor to 
process its work. In fact, most CAD applications function in a similar manner. 
A gazillion processors will not affect how fast you can model, nor will they allow you to 
work on larger models with SketchUp. Similarly, RAM does not affect SketchUp in any consid-
erable fashion. Having a high-tech computer loaded with processors and RAM is ideal only for 
the rendering part of your modeling work. 
SketchUp is affected by two factors: the processor speed and the video card. Processor 
speeds indicate how fast the processor can crunch calculations. The higher the processor num-
ber, the faster SketchUp can work. The same is true for video cards. The faster and better the 
video card, the faster SketchUp will work, pan, orbit, rotate, zoom, and create geometry.
This is particularly true when you’re working with large models. NVIDIA gaming cards, like 
the NVIDIA GeForce series, are strongly recommended when working with SketchUp. Con-
versely, the video card does not affect rendering process. 
Aiden Chopra, the product evangelist for SketchUp, wrote an excellent blog on how to opti-
mize SketchUp to work faster for modeling. It can be found at 
http://sketchupdate.blogspot 
.com/2011/10/speed-up-sketchup-use-fast-styles.html.
Desktops and laptops have become comparable in terms of performance and the type of 
hardware available, but, in general, desktops still have the edge over laptops when used for 
rendering (Fig. 4.5). 

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Part 1: Overview and Concepts
Fig. 4.5: 
Desktops have the edge for rendering.
First, you get more bang for your buck with a desktop. A laptop with comparable specifica-
tions to a desktop is usually 20 percent to 50 percent more expensive. You can purchase a more 
robust desktop for the same price. 
A rendering laptop will be heavier. You can still carry it around, but be prepared for the 
weight, which is usually around six to eight pounds. Laptop hardware is difficult or almost 
impossible to upgrade, too.
Because so many calculations are required, modeling and rendering puts particular stress 
on your computer. The computer will work harder and run hotter. The size of a desktop, rela-
tive to a laptop, allows it to more easily be designed to shed heat, making for less wear and 
tear on the hardware. The consequences of overheating include reduced performance and 
shortened lifespan of the computer.