Our verdict: Cinebench is the standard free benchmark for comparing CPU rendering speed, and its longer runs are a quick way to check cooling and stability. It now tests GPUs too. The download is very large, and scores cannot be compared with older Cinebench versions.
About Cinebench
Cinebench is a free benchmark from Maxon, the maker of Cinema 4D. It renders a demanding 3D scene with the Redshift render engine and reports scores for single-thread, single-core with SMT and multi-thread CPU performance, plus a GPU test on supported NVIDIA, AMD and Apple hardware.
Besides comparing processors, Maxon positions it as a stability and cooling test: a minimum runtime is on by default, and the advanced benchmark lets you run the test for longer. Scores in Cinebench 2026 use a new scale and should not be compared with Cinebench 2024 or R23. Command-line options run individual tests for scripted benchmarking.
What it does well
- CPU single and multi-thread tests. Scores one thread, one SMT core and all threads.
- GPU benchmark. Redshift GPU test on supported NVIDIA, AMD and Apple GPUs.
- Stress testing. Set a minimum runtime to check cooling and stability under load.
- Real 3D workload. Based on Cinema 4D 2026 and Redshift code.
- Command line. Run specific tests from scripts and read results in the console.
Who it is for
Good fit
PC builders, overclockers and reviewers comparing CPUs or checking cooling under sustained load.
Look elsewhere
PCs with less than 8 GB RAM or CPUs without AVX2; and anyone with limited bandwidth, given the multi-gigabyte download.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free, widely used reference benchmark
- CPU and GPU tests in one tool
- Adjustable minimum runtime for stress tests
- No installation needed
Cons
- Download is about 2.7 GB
- Needs 16 GB RAM for best results and an AVX2 CPU
- Scores are not comparable with older Cinebench versions
How to install Cinebench
Download the ZIP, extract it and run Cinebench.exe; no installation is needed. Close other programs and pause antivirus scans or indexing before testing, as background tasks change the results.
Questions about Cinebench
Is Cinebench free?
Yes. Cinebench is a free download from Maxon.
How much RAM does Cinebench need?
Maxon lists 16 GB as the minimum for best results. The CPU test runs with 8 GB, but paging lowers the score.
Can I compare Cinebench 2026 scores with R23 or 2024?
No. Maxon readjusted the score range in Cinebench 2026, so results should not be compared with earlier versions.
