Designing 3D models used to be pretty tough back in the days. But now with various software and high performance applications, it is now easier to design 3D structures and models.
Students and professionals of Architecture, Auto-mobile and various other fields require a good laptop to do such designing on. With so many laptop brands and models available in the market, it can be pretty confusing which ones are the perfect choice for using Solidworks on.
As Solidworks requires high specifications, the prices may be on the higher end. Assuming that you are prepared to spend a few bucks on a high-quality laptop for using Solidworks, we are going to guide you through the process of finding the right laptop for your needs.
About Solidworks
Solidworks is a 3D model designing application that is available for computers and laptops only (no mobile version). It is a powerful tool for building various 3D structures, planning and preparing a blueprint for manufacturing or building various things.
Solidworks allows you to design and edit your 3D models. The Real View graphics on the app allows you to design your structure just as you want, that too in real time, and Photo View 360 enables you to render realistic looking designs.
What features should you look out for?
Solidworks, being the powerful software it is, requires a powerful computer. How powerful exactly? We are going to show you the minimum requirements and the recommended requirements for a laptop to be powerful enough to run Solidworks.
Minimum Requirements
If you are on a budget you might just want to stick to the minimum requirements, as the laptops that will ensure these features would usually not be too high priced and will get the job done.
For a laptop to be able to even run Solidworks, it needs to come with a 9th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, an 8 GB DDR3/DDR4 RAM, an SSD storage of 256 GB, a full HD display, a GPU of at least 2 GB (NVIDIA GeForce MX150), and a battery life of at least 4 hours.
Recommended Requirements
The laptops that fulfill these requirements are sure to be able to run Solidworks smoothly. There are definitely powerful laptops and are at a low risk of lagging while using the software.
We recommend you go for a laptop that offers a 10th Gen Intel Core i7 processor or higher, a RAM of 16 GBs, an SSD of 1TB or possibly dual storage, a full HD or UHD display, a powerful graphics of 2 GB + NVIDIA Quadro or 4GB + NVIDIA RTX, and a powerful battery that will last up to 8 hours at least.
Now you might be thinking, there are so many laptops that might meet these requirements, be it the minimum ones or the recommended ones. How am I going to select the right one for me? Well worry not, we have got you covered.
We are going to review the 10 best laptops for Solidworks that are best for certain criteria. So without further ado, let’s look at the best laptops for Solidworks!
Best Laptop For Solidworks
Best for Solid Works: MSI WE72 7RJ
Speed
When we talk about a laptop’s speed we usually talk about how well the laptop’s the processor, RAM and the Graphics card is. This laptop stands out among all the laptops on this list in terms of speed. It uses a 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7-7700HQ processor that ensures high performance and speed.
Memory
If you want a laptop to run Solidworks on, it better pack a powerful RAM. The MSI WE72 features a massive 32 GB RAM. This is what makes this laptop stand out.
Storage
You want a good storage on your laptop? You got it! The MSI WE72 7RJ offers 512 GB SSD. This storage is not only enough, but also fast performing and does not slow you down with time.
Graphics
For the GPU you get a 4GB NVIDIA Quadro M2200 graphics chipset.
Why is this laptop good for Solidworks?
The main two things we love about this laptop is that it is powerful, equipped with a powerful processor and RAM, and it is very durable. The GPU is great for using any CAD software, which is why it qualifies as the overall best laptop for Solidworks.
Pros
- Great processor
- Remarkable RAM
- Perfect GPU
- Durable.
Cons
- Battery isn’t satisfactory.
Best Runner Up: Lenovo ThinkPad P50
Speed
Did anyone say speed? The Lenovo ThinkPad P50 is your best bet when it comes to speed. While it can’t beat the MSI WE72 in terms of speed, the competition was pretty head to head. This is why we chose this laptop as the runner up for overall best laptop for Solidworks.
Memory
You get exactly what you need on this laptop in terms of RAM. The ThinkPad P50 offers a 16 GB RAM that should be enough to run the software smoothly.
Storage
While it’s not much, it should be enough and provide enough speed. You get a 256 GB SSD with this laptop.
Graphics
In terms of GPU, Lenovo does not disappoint you at all. You get a 4 GB NVIDIA Quadro M2200M graphics card that is very powerful.
Why is this laptop good for Solidworks?
Because it’s Lenovo and they produce the best laptops in the world! Okay, not just because of that, but because of the smoothness it provides when using Solidworks because of its amazing GPU.
Pros
- Great CPU
- Great RAM
- Amazing GPU
- Good battery.
Cons
- Storage isn’t enough.
Best Workstation: HP Zbook 15V G5
Speed
HP laptops never fail to impress us in terms of speed. You get an Intel Core i7-8750H processor with the Zbook 15V. This processor ensure high speed performance and almost zero lags.
Memory
The HP Zbook delivers you the kind of memory you need to run Solidworks. You get a 16 GB RAM which is perfect for running the software smoothly.
Storage
You not only get a 1 TB HDD, but also a 256 GB SSD with that. With all the storage this laptop provides you can save a large number of Solidworks files without having to worry about running out of space.
Graphics
You get a powerful graphics card with this laptop as well. The laptop features a 4GB NVIDIA Quadro P600 GPU which is great for running Solidworks on.
Why is this laptop good for Solidworks?
Like we mentioned before, the feature that appealed to us was the huge storage you get with this laptop. Other than that, all other features are great too, so this is a great workstation for using Solidworks.
Pros
- Amazing storage
- Great CPU and GPU
- Great RAM
- Satisfactory battery.
Cons
- StiffEthernet port.
Best budget: Acer Aspire E15
Speed
This laptop by Acer ensures enough speed to run Solidworks. It comes with an Intel Core i7-8550U processor for high performance graphic work.
Memory
On a budget, you get a pretty decent RAM; you get an 8 GB RAM with the Acer Aspire E15. As this is the minimum requirement for Solidworks, you can run the software on this laptop.
Storage
The laptop offers you a 256 GB SSD for storage space.
Graphics
And in terms of GPU you get a pretty decent 2 GB NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics card.
Why is this laptop good for Solidworks?
This laptop is not necessarily the best laptop for Solidworks, but it lets you use the software while not breaking the bank for a laptop. The price is what makes this laptop stand out.
Pros
- Low price
- Decent specs
- Fulfills minimum requirements.
Cons
- Not the best choice for performance.
Runner Up for Budget: Acer Nitro 5
Speed
You can’t really expect much speed from a budget laptop, but this laptop ensures you speed and performance that’ll be enough to run Solidworks. It is powered by an Intel Core i5 processor, which is pretty decent if you ask us.
Memory
You get an 8 GB RAM with this laptop, which is enough to run the software.
Storage
Similar to the Acer Aspire E15, this laptop also offers only 256 GBs of SSD for storage.
Graphics
You get a pretty decent graphics card with this laptop, which makes it a good choice for using Solidworks on. You get the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU with this laptop
Why is this laptop good for Solidworks?
It’s not the best choice for a laptop for Solidworks, but it gets the job done at an affordable price.
Pros
- Affordable
- Decent specs
- Good GPU.
Cons
- Not enough storage
- Not the best choice overall.
Students’ Choice: Dell Inspiron i5577
Speed
As this one is also pretty much a budget laptop, you cannot expect anything extravagant in terms of speed. The Dell Inspiron i5577 comes with an Intel Core i5 processor for good performance.
Memory
As a student, you want something to get the job done without having to go into debt. In such a case, you get only what you need, and this laptop does just that. You get an 8 GB RAM which is the minimum requirement for the software.
Storage
Can’t really expect much from a budget laptop. It offers a 256 GB SSD for storage, which isn’t much, but it’s better than nothing.
Graphics
While the other features are not so impressive, the GPU on this bad boy is pretty good, you get a 4GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 which makes this laptop stand out.
Why is this laptop good for Solidworks?
This laptop is great for Solidworks for students as it is affordable and gets the job done pretty good. On top of that you get a good GPU, so that’s a bonus.
Pros
- Impressive GPU
- Decent specs
- Affordable.
Cons
- Not the best overall choice.
Best Design: Microsoft Surface Book 2
Speed
This amazing laptop ensures high speed performance while using Solidworks. The laptop is powered by an Intel Core i7 processor and was built to ensure speed.
Memory
Microsoft ensures exactly what you need to run the software very smoothly. You get a 16 GB RAM with this incredible laptop and it makes the software run as smooth as butter.
Storage
The massive 1 TB SSD is not only spacious but also super-fast and prevents lags due to low storage.
Graphics
Here’s where the honey lies. You get a whopping 6 GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 GPU with this laptop, which makes it stand out from the crowd.
Why is this laptop good for Solidworks?
Everything about this laptop is amazing, starting from the specs to the design and not to mention the huge battery life of 17 hours. This is overall by far one of the best laptops for Solidworks.
Pros
- Amazing specs
- Great GPU
- Sleek design
- Great battery life
Cons
- RAM can’t be upgraded.
Best for Gaming: ASUS ROG Zephyrus GX501
Speed
This laptop was built for gaming, so you can tell that it is sure to be fast. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus is powered by an Intel Core i7 processor that offers great speed while gaming or using Solidworks.
Memory
The laptop offers a 16 GB RAM for using Solidworks, games, and various high performance applications.
Storage
You get a decent amount of storage with this laptop. The ASUS ROG laptop features a 512 GB SSD for storing your large game files and/or Solidworks drafts.
Graphics
As a gaming laptop you would expect it to have a powerful GPU, and the ASUS ROG Zephyrus doesn’t disappoint you there. You get a whopping 8 GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 graphics card.
Why is this laptop good for Solidworks?
Any gaming laptop qualifies for being great for Solidworks. Besides, this laptop offers a crazy good GPU.
Pros
- Great specs
- Incredible GPU
Cons
- Not the sleekest design.
Runner Up for Gaming: Acer Predator Helios 300
Speed
Another gaming laptop made it to our list and as we mentioned before, these laptops never seem to disappoint in terms of speed. The Acer Predator offers the same processor as the ASUS ROG one, so you know it’s good.
Memory
Similar to the ASUS ROG, you also get a 16 GB RAM on the Acer Predator laptop, which is great!
Storage
For storage you get a 256 GB SSD. The storage is a little disappointing, but still gets the job done.
Graphics
This is another factor where the Acer Predator lost to the ASUS ROG, but not by too much. The Acer Predator Helios 300 rocks a 6 GB NVIDIA GTX 1060 GPU.
Why is this laptop good for Solidworks?
This gaming laptop offers everything you need in a good laptop for using Solidworks and more. In our opinion, the GPU stands out from a lot of laptops on this list.
Pros
- High performance
- Great GPU.
Cons
- Not enough storage.
Most Expensive: Dell XPS 5 9570
Speed
If having a good processor means more speed, then this laptop is definitely the fastest of them all. It is equipped with the Intel Core i9 processor to ensure maximum speed and performance.
Memory
Spending more than $3000 surely will ensure that you get a good RAM. This laptop offers a huge 32 GB RAM for running Solidworks smoothly.
Storage
The storage isn’t disappointing either. You get a 1 TB SSD storage which is great! However, for the price you’re paying, you should be getting more storage.
Graphics
You get a pretty good 4 GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU, which again is not worth the money.
Why is this laptop good for Solidworks?
It’s good for Solidworks because it fulfills all the requirements the software needs and more. But we wouldn’t recommend this laptop if you want maximum efficiency from a laptop without spending more than what you are getting.
Pros
- Decent battery
- Great Processor
- Huge RAM
Cons
- Not worth the price.
Testing Criteria
If your laptop fulfils the minimum requirements, it can be considered powerful enough to run Solidworks. But that does not necessarily mean the application will run super-smooth on your laptop. There’s a high chance your laptop might become slow after a couple of years of using the software.
You need to keep in mind that the laptops offering the recommended specs will also be slightly expensive. So if you are okay with that and prefer quality over budget, these aim for the ones that meet these requirements.
We tested all the laptops in terms of quality, requirement fulfillment, design and portability, and price. Some fit all these criteria, some fit a few. But we assure you, all the laptops are high quality and are great for Solidworks.
Conclusion
We hope we were able to help you find the right laptop for using Solidworks on. Design what your requirements are, and fix your budget. That should help you further choose the right laptop. We hope you enjoyed reading this article.