When your workflow revolves around ZBrush, your desktop PC becomes your core creative tool It is the engine behind your clay-like modeling, mesh detailing, and high-poly sculpting.
This guide is tailored for 3D character artists, creature designers, VFX professionals, and game developers who rely on ZBrush to produce high-resolution assets and intricate digital sculpts.
Let’s address the frustration many users face. ZBrush starts smoothly. But as you increase subdivision levels, add layers, or push polycounts past ten million, the system begins to choke. Brushes lag. Viewports stutter. Undo stacks slow. We’ve worked with artists who had to decimate models mid-process just to keep working. That’s not productive. That’s disruptive.
The root of the issue is always the hardware. ZBrush has very specific system behavior. It’s CPU-bound, lightly threaded, RAM-dependent, and doesn’t lean heavily on the GPU. A system built for gaming or video editing may fall apart under ZBrush’s unique demands. That’s why we’ve built this guide around what ZBrush truly uses.
Our assessment focuses on five technical pillars: Processor Speed, RAM Capacity, Disk Performance, Viewport Responsiveness, and Thermal Efficiency. These directly shape sculpting performance and determine how far you can push your models.
Let’s start with the processor. ZBrush uses single-threaded CPU performance for most operations, including brush strokes, subdivision, and deformation.
A high clock speed matters more than core count. That’s why we recommend CPUs with at least 4.8GHz base frequency, such as Intel’s Core i7/i9 (K series) or AMD’s Ryzen 7/9 with strong boost clocks. Fast cores equal snappier brushes, smoother UI, and faster tool response.
Memory is next. We require at least 32GB of DDR4 or DDR5 RAM for high-resolution work. ZBrush loads full model geometry into memory. If RAM runs out, your system falls back on disk-based virtual memory which is slow. With sufficient RAM, you can keep large tools active, switch between SubTools, and handle undo-heavy workflows without slowdown.
Storage is often overlooked, but not by us. Every recommended desktop includes a 2TB or larger NVMe SSD. Why NVMe? Because it drastically reduces loading times for project files, base meshes, and interface assets. It also improves ZRemesher performance and speeds up quicksaves and autosaves, which can become sluggish on SATA drives.
Now let’s talk GPU and clarify a myth. ZBrush does not offload modeling or sculpting to the GPU. However, if you use ZBrush with other tools like KeyShot, Blender, Substance Painter, or render engines like Octane, a mid-range GPU such as the NVIDIA RTX 3060 or AMD RX 7600 is useful. These provide GPU acceleration for compositing, rendering, and texture painting, even if ZBrush itself is CPU-driven.
Thermal control is vital. High CPU frequency generates heat. We only recommend desktops with premium cooling solutions, multi-fan configurations, and well-ventilated cases. Thermal throttling cuts clock speed during extended sculpting sessions.
Silence matters too. If you record video tutorials, livestream your work, or just sculpt in a quiet environment, fan noise gets intrusive. Each selected machine runs quietly under load, using large low-RPM fans and acoustic dampening that makes them suitable for studio spaces.
With the right desktop, you should expect smooth sculpting across millions of polygons, instantaneous brush strokes, fast undo-redo operations, and stable multi-SubTool management.
These are the Best Desktop Computers for ZBrush Core:
Contents
- iBUYPOWER Y40 Black Gaming PC Computer Desktop Y40BA9R79XTX01 (Ryzen 9 7900x, RX 7900 XTX 24GB, 32GB
- MSI Aegis RS Gaming Desktop Intel Core i7-13700KF, RTX 4070, 32GB DDR5, 2TB
- Skytech Gaming Prism Gaming PC, Ryzen 7 7800X3D 4.2 GHz, RTX 4070 Ti, 1TB NVME, 32GB DDR5
- HP OMEN 45L Gaming Desktop, 13th Generation Intel Core i9-13900KF, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB Solid State Drive, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
- Alienware Aurora R16 Gaming Desktop - Intel Core i9-13900F, 32GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD + 1TB HDD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
- Alienware Aurora R10 Gaming Desktop - AMD Ryzen 7 5800, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
- Thermaltake Reactor 380 Liquid-Cooled PC (AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, RTX 3080, 16GB 3600Mhz
- Skytech Legacy Gaming PC, Ryzen 7 7800X3D 4.2 GHz, RTX 4080 Super, 2TB NVME Gen4, 32GB DDR5
- Corsair Vengeance a8100 Series Gaming PC - Liquid Cooled AMD Ryzen 9 7950X CPU - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 GPU
- Lenovo Legion T5 Gen 8 Gaming Tower Desktop, AMD Ryzen 7 7700, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, 64GB DDR5 RAM, 2TB
- Alienware Aurora R10 Gaming Desktop - AMD Ryzen 7 5800, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD, AMD Radeon RX 6600XT 8GB GDDR6
- HP Victus Gaming Desktop, AMD Ryzen 7-5700G Processor, Radeon RX 6600XT 8GB Graphics(Outperforms RTX 3060), 32GB RAM, 2TB PCIe SSD
iBUYPOWER Y40 Black Gaming PC Computer Desktop Y40BA9R79XTX01 (Ryzen 9 7900x, RX 7900 XTX 24GB, 32GB |
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| CPU | Ryzen 9 7900x |
| Processor Speed | 3.7 GHz |
| GPU | RX 7900 XTX |
| Graphics Card Memory | 24GB |
| RAM | 32GB |
| Storage Space | 2TB NVMe |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | 17.28 x 9.44 x 18.58 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Included |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Price, Value for money |
| Disadvantages | None |
MSI Aegis RS Gaming Desktop Intel Core i7-13700KF, RTX 4070, 32GB DDR5, 2TB |
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| CPU | Intel Core i7-13700KF |
| Processor Speed | 2.5 GHz |
| GPU | RTX 4070 |
| Graphics Card Memory | 12 GB |
| RAM | 32GB DDR5 |
| Storage Space | 2TB M.2 NVMe |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | 25 x 23.25 x 12.4 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Included |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Performance, Price, Storage |
| Disadvantages | n/a |
Skytech Gaming Prism Gaming PC, Ryzen 7 7800X3D 4.2 GHz, RTX 4070 Ti, 1TB NVME, 32GB DDR5 |
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| CPU | Ryzen 7 7800X3D |
| Processor Speed | 4.2 GHz |
| GPU | RTX 4070 Ti |
| Graphics Card Memory | 12 GB |
| RAM | 32GB DDR5 |
| Storage Space | 1TB NVME |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | 23.4 x 22.9 x 15.9 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Sold Separately |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Performnce |
| Disadvantages | n/a |
HP OMEN 45L Gaming Desktop, 13th Generation Intel Core i9-13900KF, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB Solid State Drive, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti |
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| CPU | Intel Core i9-13900KF |
| Processor Speed | up to 5.80 GHz |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti |
| Graphics Card Memory | 12GB |
| RAM | 32 GB DDR5 |
| Storage Space | 1 TB 1 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | 8.03 x 18.5 x 21.85 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Sold Separately |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Low power use, Looks good, powerful |
| Disadvantages | Quite expensive |
Alienware Aurora R16 Gaming Desktop - Intel Core i9-13900F, 32GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD + 1TB HDD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 |
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| CPU | Intel Core i9-13900F |
| Processor Speed | 5.6 GHz |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 |
| Graphics Card Memory | 12GB GDDR6X |
| RAM | 32GB DDR5 |
| Storage Space | 1TB SSD + 1TB HDD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | Compact |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Sold Separately |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Very good performance, size |
| Disadvantages | Price |
Alienware Aurora R10 Gaming Desktop - AMD Ryzen 7 5800, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 |
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| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 5800 |
| Processor Speed | 4.6 GHz |
| GPU | RTX 3080 |
| Graphics Card Memory | 10 GB |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 |
| Storage Space | 1TB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | 17 x 8.77 x 18.9 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Sold Separately |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Performance, Design |
| Disadvantages | None |
Thermaltake Reactor 380 Liquid-Cooled PC (AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, RTX 3080, 16GB 3600Mhz |
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| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 5800X |
| Processor Speed | 3.8 Ghz |
| GPU | RTX 3080 |
| Graphics Card Memory | 10 GB |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Storage Space | 1TB |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | 14 x 14 x 24 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Sold Separately |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Performance, Price |
| Disadvantages | Storage |
Skytech Legacy Gaming PC, Ryzen 7 7800X3D 4.2 GHz, RTX 4080 Super, 2TB NVME Gen4, 32GB DDR5 |
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| CPU | Ryzen 7 7800X3D |
| Processor Speed | 4.2 GHz |
| GPU | RTX 4080 Super |
| Graphics Card Memory | 16 GB |
| RAM | 32GB DDR5 |
| Storage Space | 2TB NVME |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | 24 x 23 x 13 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Sold Separately |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Value, Performance, Storage |
| Disadvantages | N/A |
Corsair Vengeance a8100 Series Gaming PC - Liquid Cooled AMD Ryzen 9 7950X CPU - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 GPU |
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| CPU | AMD Ryzen 9 7950X |
| Processor Speed | 4.5 GHz |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 GPU |
| Graphics Card Memory | 24 GB |
| RAM | 64GB |
| Storage Space | 4TB (2X 2TB) M.2 SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | 25.63 x 24.25 x 13.86 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Sold Separately |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Performance, storage |
| Disadvantages | n/a |
Lenovo Legion T5 Gen 8 Gaming Tower Desktop, AMD Ryzen 7 7700, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, 64GB DDR5 RAM, 2TB |
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| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 7700 |
| Processor Speed | 5.3 GHz |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 |
| Graphics Card Memory | 12GB |
| RAM | 64GB DDR5 |
| Storage Space | 2TB WD_Black SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | 16.77 x 15.62 x 8.07 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Sold Separately |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Very good performance, Great price |
| Disadvantages | None |
Alienware Aurora R10 Gaming Desktop - AMD Ryzen 7 5800, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD, AMD Radeon RX 6600XT 8GB GDDR6 |
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| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 5800 |
| Processor Speed | 4.6 GHz |
| GPU | AMD Radeon RX 6600XT |
| Graphics Card Memory | 8GB GDDR6 |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 |
| Storage Space | 1TB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | 17 x 8.77 x 18.9 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Sold Separately |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Design, Build Quality, Performance |
| Disadvantages | Na |
Also see: best desktop computers for Octane Renderer in addition to the best desktop pc for Blender.
HP Victus Gaming Desktop, AMD Ryzen 7-5700G Processor, Radeon RX 6600XT 8GB Graphics(Outperforms RTX 3060), 32GB RAM, 2TB PCIe SSD |
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|---|---|
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| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7-5700G |
| Processor Speed | up to 4.6 GHz max boost clock, 16 MB L3 cache, 8 cores, 16 threads |
| GPU | Radeon RX 6600XT 8GB Graphics |
| Graphics Card Memory | 8GB |
| RAM | 32GB RAM |
| Storage Space | 2TB PCIe SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | 19 x 15.5 x 12 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Included |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Good performance, Value for money |
| Disadvantages | None |
