ZBrush performance

Tanamu · July 3, 2019, 8:23am

Hi everyone!
I’ve just started to work with ZBrush and I have a question about performance.
The problem is when I try to make some objects (sphere, for example) with number of polygons more than 8 millions ZBrush displays error (that I should change maximum number of polygons in Preferences). But after I change MaxPolyPerMesh and HD Preview Max Poly to maximum and then again try to make more polygons ZBrush freeze for a while and then crashes.
I already went to Preferences and set up Mem->Compact Mem to maximum value (4096). I also reduce number of undo history to 100. It helps, but not as much as I expected.
Also when I add this “more than 8 millions” polygons, in Task Manager I see that CPU is busy for 99%, but only 2 Gb RAM used by ZBrush and I have ~50% RAM free.

My computer configuration:
Core i5 3570
8 Gb RAM
GTX 660 (but I’m not sure ZBrush use it).

How can I improve ZBrush performance on my PC?

shadowlich · July 4, 2019, 2:55am

Do you need more than 8 million polygons?

Doug_Jones · July 4, 2019, 2:55am

You’d be surprised what’s possible with 800 K points…

Tanamu · July 4, 2019, 2:56am

Thank you for answers, but I still don’t understand are this 8mil polygons normal for PC with that configuration or I could have more.

system · July 4, 2019, 2:56am

I think if you want more then 8 mil polys you have to use HD Geometry. It should be in the tools pallet as Geometry HD. To use it hover your cursor over the place where you want to sculpt then press A. You can check out the docs for more info

http://docs.pixologic.com/reference-guide/tool/polymesh/geometry-hd/

Doug_Jones · July 4, 2019, 2:56am

You should try to work your way up from a ‘low resolution cage’. While details can still be added, add them. When you no longer have points to shift about to refine your model, subdivide it. It’s much easier that way to drop to a lower level and ‘open the mouth’ or make the head bigger/shorter etc. Represent your model with fewer points until you near completion. Hope that helps.(FWIW, I have about the same specs and have a model at around ~14Mil active points, at level 6, performance is sluggish while entire model is displayed) Hide parts you’re not working on to have better performance. Happy ZBrushing.