Best Cloud Rendering for Architecture: Upload Speed Guide for Cloud Farms
On IaaS farms, every minute spent uploading is billed at the full hourly rate — so a slow upload directly increases your rendering cost. Lumion project files range from 1–30 GB depending on assets. At 20 Mbps upload (common home connection), a 10 GB Lumion file takes roughly 70 minutes to transfer — that’s $9.50 in iRender billing before you even start rendering. At 100 Mbps, the same file transfers in about 14 minutes. iRender’s Transfer Data tool helps by syncing only changed files after the first upload. On SaaS farms (GarageFarm, RebusFarm), upload happens before billing starts — you’re not charged during transfer.
| Software | Typical File Size | Upload at 20 Mbps | Upload at 50 Mbps | Upload at 100 Mbps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SketchUp | 50–500 MB | ~20 sec – 3 min | ~8 sec – 1.3 min | ~4 sec – 40 sec |
| D5 Render | 200 MB – 3 GB | ~1.5 – 20 min | ~30 sec – 8 min | ~16 sec – 4 min |
| Revit / 3ds Max | 100 MB – 5 GB | ~40 sec – 35 min | ~16 sec – 14 min | ~8 sec – 7 min |
| Lumion (light scene) | 1–5 GB | ~7 – 35 min | ~3 – 14 min | ~1.5 – 7 min |
| Lumion (heavy scene) | 10–30 GB | ~70 – 200 min ⚠ | ~28 – 80 min | ~14 – 40 min |
How Can You Minimize Upload Time and Cost?
Use iRender’s Transfer Data tool — it syncs only changed files after the first upload. A 10 GB Lumion project takes 70 minutes initially, but repeats drop to 2–10 minutes. This is the single biggest time-saver for regular users.
Other tips: purge unused assets via Lumion’s Cleanup before uploading (shrinks file size). Use wired instead of WiFi. If your office has slow upload, do the initial transfer overnight — first session only.
Does Upload Matter on SaaS Farms?
Less so. On GarageFarm and RebusFarm, upload happens before billing starts — you’re not charged during transfer. Large 3ds Max scenes can still take 20–40 minutes to upload, which delays results, but it doesn’t cost you extra.
See more: Upload your first project to iRender — Transfer Data makes it faster → Upload your first project to iRender — Transfer Data makes it faster → View GPU servers & pricing
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long does it take to upload a Lumion file to a cloud farm?
It depends on file size and your upload speed. A 10 GB Lumion project at 20 Mbps takes roughly 70 minutes. At 100 Mbps, about 14 minutes. iRender’s Transfer Data tool syncs only changed files after the first upload, cutting repeat transfers to 2–10 minutes. Purging unused assets via Lumion’s Cleanup can reduce file size significantly.
2. Am I billed during upload on IaaS farms?
Yes — on iRender and Xesktop, the billing timer starts when you connect, not when you start rendering. Every minute spent uploading costs ~$0.14/min on iRender. A 70-minute upload on a 10 GB file costs ~$9.50 before your first render begins. On SaaS farms (GarageFarm, RebusFarm), upload happens before billing starts.
3. What upload speed do I need for comfortable cloud rendering?
For SketchUp, Revit, and D5 Render files (under 5 GB): 20+ Mbps is workable. For Lumion heavy scenes (10–30 GB): 50+ Mbps is strongly recommended to avoid 1–3 hours of billable upload time. 100+ Mbps makes even large Lumion scenes practical, with transfers under 40 minutes.
Related post: Best Cloud Rendering for KeyShot Architecture: Product-Focused Arch-Viz on Cloud
