Buying a laptop as a 3D or an architecture student can be challenging. They certainly need laptops to do a lot more than average ones. But this introduction here leaves room for a very evident question:
Why would the best laptops for architecture students be any different?
Architectural design has gone more complex over the years, and now uses various software to meet different needs. Sure, you might say that you’ve been using architecture apps on low performance devices and you pulled it out pretty nicely. However, you can’t simply deny that modern architecture and its expansion would settle at just that. It includes the use of plenty of heavy-duty software and programs such as Rhino, 3ds Max, AutoCAD, Revit, Cinema 4D, and ArchiCAD.
These are very resource-intensive pieces of software that need powerful laptops with the right configuration. Even the right and suitable monitor can be a crucial factor in how well you do in school or at work.
As a result, companies are now coming up with mobile ‘workstations’, which in theory are super-powerful laptops that can handle whatever you throw at them.
This article will present 10 of the most powerful laptops for architecture students and architects, to help you get a clearer idea about which one to purchase. Let’s get started!
1. DELL XPS 15
Key Features
- Processor (CPU): Core i7-10750H Storage: 512GB-2TB SSD PCIe NVMe Processor speed: Up To 4.5GHz Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 – 2060RTX 4GB vRAM
- Memory (Ram): 16GB- RAM DDR4/32GB Weight: 4.5lb
- Screen: 15.6” 4k UHD Infinity Edge Touchscreen IPS Battery life: up to 8 hours
This laptop is considered one the best laptops for architecture students. It has one of the most lightweight 15-inch laptops with a 4k resolution atm and mid-range dGPU. You can choose between a 1650GTX (suitable for students) and a 2060RTX (foolproof for architects).
Performance is mainly dictated by its 10th Core i7 CPU, which has nearly 5GHZ, which is 5000 MHz, for clock speed. Pretty close to what workstation laptops offer. With six cores (12 threads) for ultra-fast rendering. It’s got a PCIe NVMe SSD, which is the fastest of its kind. However, you can choose the size according to your budget and needs.
Graphics of this laptop can be configured between a 1650GTX and a 2060RTX. The latter GPU has been shown to have the biggest performance/money ratio for rendering.
This investment also comes with a 4k resolution, which helps to double the amount of workspace area to accommodate several ready-to-click pallets/interfaces. Older versions of CAD software may not scale up well, though.
Pros
- Optimal storage
- i7-10750H quad-core Intel processor
Cons
- The laptop’s weight may cause a problem for some users.
Price: Starting at $1,099.99
2. ASUS ROG Strix ZX553VD 17 inch – GC266T
Key Features
- Processor (CPU): Intel Core i7
- Processor speed: 2.8 GHz
- Memory (Ram):8GB
- Graphics Card: 4GB NVIDIA GRX1050 GDDR5
- Screen resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Storage: Hybrid 128GB SSD and 1TB HDD
This ASUS ROG Strix should be part of our list of great laptops for architecture students, as quad-core processors power it with hyper-threading and a powerful GPU. Besides, it has a great storage capacity, featuring both a solid-state drive and a hard disk.
Let’s start with the CPU, which is the Intel Core i7-7700HQ in this ASUS ROG. It is a quad-core chip using hyper-threading technology. The i7-7700HQ has a base frequency of 2.80 GHz, while its maximum turbo boost is at 3.80 GHz, which is impressive.
In other words, this processor can easily handle the most powerful software used by architects. The ZX553VD-DM641T has the all-new NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050, a powerful dedicated video card from the GeForce 10 series. We can of course agree that using laptops for architecture school includes very demanding visuals, especially when it comes to VR and AR.
Even if 1050 is a dedicated video card, it is the slowest in the GeForce 10 series for laptops. However, it will do a great job. The ASUS FX502VM-AS73 comes with enough RAM (8GB DDR4) for most users and a nice hybrid storage setup of 128 GB SSD and 1TB HDD.
Pros
- Great value for the money
- Optimal storage with an SSD and an HDD
Cons
- More RAM would be ideal.
- It doesn’t come with an ultra HD resolution feature.
Price: 899, 00$
3. Lenovo ThinkPad P71
Key Features
- Processor (CPU): i7 processor Screen resolution: 1920 x 1080 GPU: NVidia 2GB Memory (Ram):16GB Weight: 7.3 Lb. Storage: 128GB SSD+500 GB HDD
This ThinkPad comes with a scratch-proof matte-finish design, and the full numeric keyboard makes it easy to use to fit the dimensions of your designs, which made it one of the selected Laptops for Architecture Students.
The laptop is powered by a high-end kaby lake i7 processor and 16 GB RAM capable of launching Revit, VectorWorks, and other architecture design software. The high-speed 128GB SSD allows faster booting and lightning-fast file access and downloads, whereas the 500GB SATA HDD takes care of your data files.
The FHD screen is powered by the latest IPS technology to view angles much needed by professional architects.
Pros
- Optimal storage with an SSD and an HDD
Cons
- Some users may find it too heavy.
Price: $1,856.90
4. Microsoft Surface Book 2
Key Features
- Processor (CPU): i7 processor
- Screen resolution: 3000×2000
- GPU: NVidia 2GB
- Weight: 3.6 Pounds
- Storage: 512 GB SSD
- Memory (Ram):16GB
- Battery Life: 17 hours
Microsoft Surface book is one of the mostly purchased laptops for architecture school right now. This laptop is preferred, thanks to a powerful Intel i7 8th generation processor and detachable PixelSense touch screen with a high resolution of 3000×2000 pixels.
The display is pepped to display designs that even Apple MacBooks cannot do. The enhanced graphics is powered by a dedicated NVidia graphics chip with a 2 GB VRAM.
Pros
- High screen resolution.
Cons
- The storage could be higher.
Price: $1,679.00
5. Dell Inspiron G5587 Laptop
Key Features
- Processor (CPU): i7 processor Screen resolution: 1920×1080
- GPU: NVidia 4GB Memory (Ram):16GB
- Weight: 6.28 Pounds Storage: 128GB SSD+1TB SATA
This laptop is packed with media-focused features and comes with an attractive design. There is a built-in media card reader for instant access to different 2D and 3D architectural designs. An amazing choice among Laptops for Architecture Students.
Simultaneously, the NVidia GeForce 1050Ti GPU allows you to use graphics-hungry software without any lags. The screen also exhibits a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels backed by In-Plane Switching technology for enhanced sharpness and wide viewing angles.
Pros
- Supports attractive design.
- A good GPU that facilitates your designing tasks.
Cons
- It may seem heavy to some users.
Price: $1,299.00
6. Lenovo 330 Ideapad
Key Features
- Processor (CPU): i7 processor Screen resolution: 1920×1080 GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1050 2GB Memory (Ram):12GB Weight: 6.16 Pounds Storage: 1TB + 16 GB Optane Memory
It is a new model from Lenovo with the right components required for running the programs required on the Laptops for Architecture Students The NVIDIA GTX 1050 is a plus feature that helps architects to complete their CAD designs effectively.
The laptop has speed, vibrant graphics, an attractive metallic finish, and five battery backup hours. You can enjoy the nice sound, thanks to Dolby audio, dual audio speakers. You can work for a longer duration since it has an anti-glare screen to protect your eyes from screen radiation.
Pros
- A good GPU that facilitates your designing tasks.
Cons
- It may seem heavy to some users.
Price: $1.267,00
https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/c/LAPTOPS#type=TYPE_ATTR1
7. MSI WE73
Key Features
- Processor (CPU): i7 processor Screen resolution: 1920×1080 GPU: NVIDIA Quadro P 2000(4GB) Memory (Ram):16GB Weight: 5.95 Pounds Storage: 256 GB SSD
If you are looking for a pretty lightweight but high-performing laptop, this laptop model needs a mention in this list of best Laptops for Architecture Students.
The powerful hardware configuration and robust design of this laptop are perfect for architecture students who want durability and performance at the same time. This laptop is wrapped with 8th gen, Intel i7 processor, 16 GB RAM, and 256 GB SSD.
It has a user-friendly full-size keyboard with a numeric pad, and the keyboard comes with backlit keys to let you work in dimly lit areas.
Pros
- A good GPU that facilitates your designing tasks.
Cons
- It may seem too expensive, especially for students.
- The storage could be better.
Price: $3,999.77
8. Lenovo ThinkPad P72 Mobile Workstation
Key Features
- Processor (CPU): 8th Gen Intel Xeon E-2186M vPro
- Screen resolution: 1920×1080
- GPU: NVIDIA Quadro P5200 Max-Q 16GB GDDR5 VRAM
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Memory (Ram): 16GB DDR3 SDRAM
This laptop bears the traditional design of a ThinkPad, which means it has a fibre lid, a black soft-touch finish, and a lower chassis made of magnesium. It doesn’t slide out of your hands when you hold it.
It’s also pretty sturdy and can hold up to abuse. Both the back and the sides of the laptop have several ports. This Lenovo ThinkPad is equipped with a 17.3-inch 4K display. The vivid colour screen completely supports a 100% Adobe RGB colour gamut and has a colour depth of 10-bit.
You can bump up its performance even more by upgrading the RAM to 128GB (it initially comes packaged with just 16GB). It also comes with NVIDIA Quadro P5200 with 16 GB DDR5 RAM.
This is one of the most sophisticated graphics cards money can buy and can easily match up to the most demanding software and programs, like the ones needed to be on Laptops for Architecture Students.
Pros
- Super-Fast Processor
- NVidia Quadro Graphics Card
- Comfortable trackpad
Cons
- Big and heavy
- Battery drains out fast
Price: $2,529.00
9. HP ZBook Studio 15 G5 Mobile Workstation
Key Features
- Processor (CPU): Intel Core i7-8850H
- Screen resolution: 1920×1080
- GPU: NVidia Quadro P1000
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Memory (Ram): 16GB DDR4 RAM
This one from HP is one of the most friendly Laptops for Architecture Students. It is very well-performing, but it uses slightly obsolete models of all the processors to keep the price tag affordable.
The 15.6-inch screen lets it stay fairly lightweight, unlike the previously listed ones, which were heavier. It comes with the Intel Core i7-8750H, which is extremely powerful with 6 CPU cores making it a hexa-core chip.
When it comes to RAM, you can upgrade it to a maximum of 64GB. The HP ZBook Studio 15 G5 laptop can be outfitted with 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB/ 2 TB in SSD. The good news is that the CPU doesn’t even heat up excessively when working on it. HP makes no compromises for the graphics and has equipped its laptop with a powerful CAD-optimized NVidia Quadro P1000.
It is slower than the fastest Quadro cards on the market, but it is still very efficient in running CAD software.
Pros
- Very Upgradeable
- Hexa-core CPU
- CAD-optimized NVidia Quadro Graphics Card
- 4K display
- Less heat emission
Cons
- The screen might be small for some
- Slightly outdated graphics card
10. MSI WE63 8SJ-235 15.6″
Key Features
- Processor (CPU): Intel Core i7-8750H
- Screen resolution: 1920×1080
- GPU: NVIDIA Quadro P2000 4GB DDR5
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Memory (Ram): 32GB (16G X 2) DDR4
- Weight: 3.8 Pounds
This laptop is powerful yet manages to stay relatively lightweight. It is a super-fast workstation but is still fairly inexpensive. It is pretty light at only 3.8kg and super thin. The 15.6-inch screen is supplied with a 1920 X 1080 display. This laptop has a lot going for it that is upgradeable.
You can upgrade the ram to a total of 32 GB, and the storage SSD goes up to 1TB. The Hexa-core processor can speed up to a maximum of 4.1 GHz when required. The NVIDIA Quadro P2000 graphics card is one of the greatest graphics cards available on the market today, and this laptop also happens to be ISV-certified.
This means that it has been designed to run many applications like Autodesk, Siemens, and Adobe. This laptop is also VR-equipped, which means it can design and execute VR applications. Which gives him a place on the of best Laptops for Architecture Students.
You get about 3.5 hours of battery life at the max but if you are using the NVIDIA Quadro card, expect it to last less than an hour.
Pros
- NVIDIA graphics card
- Upgradeable configurations
- ISV certification
- Lightweight
Cons
- Low Battery Life
- Display is not 4K
Final Thoughts
Well, there we are at the end of this review post. That concludes our picks for 10 of the best Laptops for Architecture Students.
Always remember that every machine has different configurations catering to a different set of needs. It is advisable to thoroughly go through the specs and features to determine which one fulfils your needs most properly without breaking your bank.
We hope you have found this article useful and informative. We included the prices to help you determine the budget of laptops for architecture school in general before shopping .
