Gone are the days, when you had to struggle to draw 3D structures on paper using a pen and other physical instruments. There are various software that allow you to render 3D models and structures with precise detail in your computers.
There are many such software available that are the perfect tools for engineers, architects, designers and many other professionals. Many students of such fields tend to use these software as well. Which is why they are growing so popular.
Some of the most popular 3D model designing software are SolidWorks, Adobe Dimension, and AutoCad. While the rest of those are pretty popular, a lot of people have their trust on AutoCad.
These software are pretty heavy and require high specifications in a computer to run properly. There are certain minimum requirements that a laptop must fulfill in order to be considered powerful enough to run AutoCad.
Many people are tired looking for the best laptop for running AutoCad on. If you are one of them, you are surely in the right place. In this article we will discuss everything about laptops that can properly support AutoCad. So if that sounds interesting, let’s hop into it!
Before we dive into our list of the best laptops that are perfect for running AutoCad on, let’s talk a bit about the software itself. AutoCad is a brilliant 3D model designing software that is used by professionals for designing architectural structures, cars, game designing, and more.
AutoCad is an app that was made by Autodesk for drawing and designing 3D models. The company was formed back in 1982 and is currently one of the best 2D and 3D designing software.
You are able to draw and render amazing 3D models that are pretty realistic looking and apply realistic lighting, shadows and more to give it a lifelike look.
On top of being so amazing at letting you design stuff, AutoCad also offers cloud storage, multi-device support, file progress history and more! Make amazing quality graphic designs for both 2D and 3D models, and excel at it using AutoCad.
Now in order to actually excel in it, you need a proper device that will allow you to run AutoCad smoothly. Before we suggest some possible options to choose from, let’s take a look at the features that you might want to look out for in a good laptop for AutoCad.
What Features Should You Look Out For?
AutoCad being a high performance software, has some minimum requirements and some recommended requirements. The laptops that meet only the minimum requirements will be able to run the software, but probably not as smoothly as the ones that offer higher specs, or in our words, the recommended requirements.
Let’s have a look at both.
Minimum Requirements
- 7th Gen Intel Core i5 processor
- 8 GB DDR4 RAM
- 256 GB SSD
- 15.6 inch HD display
- 2 GB NVIDIA GeForce MX350 Graphics Card
- Up to 4 hours of battery life.
If a laptop does not meet the above requirements, it is underqualified for using AutoCad on.
Recommended System Requirements
- 9th Gen Intel Core i7
- 16 GB DDR4 RAM
- 512 GB or higher SSD storage
- 4 GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 or higher
- Up to 7 hours of battery life.
If the laptop you are going for offers the above features, rest assured that laptop is an amazing one and will be perfect to run AutoCad on. Any laptop featuring the above features is surely qualified to be a potential option.
Best Laptop for AutoCad
Now that we know what to expect in a good laptop for AutoCad, let’s have a look at the 6 best laptops of AutoCad, in our opinion.
MSI WP65
Key Specifications
- 10th Gen Intel Core i7 Processor
- 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4 RAM
- 512 GB SSD + 1 TB SSHD (flash enhanced HDD)
- 15.6 inch full HD IPS display
- NVIDIA Quadro T1000 4 GB Graphics Card
- Over 7 hours of Battery life
Why is this laptop good for AutoCad?
Starting off our list with this amazing laptop by MSI. We all know MSI to be a laptop and PC manufacturer that produces amazing computers that provide high performance and speed. So does the MSI WP65!
The MSI WP65 comes with great processor and enough RAM to let you run and use AutoCad with ease. The Core i7 processor combined with 16 GBs of RAM ensures enough speed and performance for high graphic rendering. On top of that it comes with an NVIDIA Quadro T1000 graphics card, which is a pretty good GPU spec to have in a laptop.
We definitely recommend this laptop to any AutoCad user.
Pros
- Great performance and speed
- Good graphics
- Good choice for a workstation
Cons
- Bulky design.
Lenovo ThinkPad P71
Key Specifications
- 7th Gen Quad-Core i7 Processor
- 16 GB RAM
- 2 TB HDD + 1 TB SSD storage
- 17.3 inch Full HD matte IPS display
- NVIDIA Quadro M620M with 2 GB GDDR5 VRAM
- 6 hours of battery life.
Why is this laptop good for AutoCad?
We all know Lenovo to be one of the leading laptop brands in the world, so it is kind of natural that one of their laptops would make this list.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P71 is one of the best laptops out there for an overall good laptop. This laptop come with impressive features in terms of performance and speed, and is a pretty good workstation for 3D model designers to work on.
The display size on this laptop is exceptionally large which makes it a pretty good option if you are someone who wants to see their 3D model in a larger screen but in a laptop.
The ThinkPad covers almost all the recommended requirements, and is most certainly a good option for purchasing. Do check it out!
Pros
- Great performance
- Pretty big display
- Massive storage
Cons
- Bulky design.
ASUS ROG Zephyrus M
Key Specifications
- Intel Core i7 Processor
- 16 GB DDR4 RAM
- 1 TB SSD Storage
- 15.6 inch Full HD IPS display
- 8 GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Graphics Card
- 6 hour of battery life.
Why is this laptop good for AutoCad?
ASUS is surely another one of the best brands for buying laptops from when it comes to laptops that mean performance. The ASUS ROG series of laptops are mainly filled with gaming and 3D model designing laptops.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M is definitely an amazing laptop for AutoCad users as this laptop features everything you need in a powerful laptop. The ASUS ROG features a powerful processor, a good RAM and a pretty good graphics card.
We can confidently say that you can perform high graphic 3D model designs on this laptop with ease! We highly recommend this laptop to all the designers and engineers out there who want a great laptop for AutoCad.
Pros
- High performance and speed
- Great graphics
- Lots of storage space
- Looks like a gaming laptop but is pretty sleek.
Cons
- Pretty expensive.
Acer Predator Helios 300
Key Specifications
- Intel Core i7 Processor
- 16 GB DDR4 RAM
- 512 GB SSD Storage
- 15.6 inch Full HD IPS display
- 6 GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Graphics Card
- 6 hour of battery life.
Why is this laptop good for AutoCad?
When we talk about gaming or 3D designing laptops, the Acer Predator certainly makes the list. The Acer predator Helios 300 fits the criteria of being one of the best laptops for AutoCad perfectly.
While the storage space is slightly low on this device compared to most of the laptops on this list, it definitely does not disappoint in terms of speed, performance and high graphics. It is a great choice for graphic designers, game developers, engineers and anyone looking to use AutoCad.
If you happen to be in the market, looking for a great AutoCad laptop, be sure to check out the Acer Predator Helios 300.
Pros
- Impressive speed and performance
- Great graphics
- Great display
- Mid-range price.
Cons
- No thunderbolt 3
- Underwhelming storage.
Razer Blade 15
Key Specifications
- Intel Core i7 Processor
- 16 GB DDR4 RAM
- 256 GB SSD Storage
- 15.6 inch Full HD IPS display
- 6 GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Graphics Card
- 6 Hour of Battery Life.
Why is this laptop good for AutoCad?
The Razer Blade 15 is essentially the same laptop as the Acer Predator Helios 300, but with slightly lower storage but a better, sleeker design.
The reason we think this laptop is a great option for AutoCad is because it offers all the recommended requirements at a reasonably affordable price. Although paying $1400 is not too affordable, it is pretty inexpensive compared to many laptops on this list?
In terms of quality features, the Razer Blade 15 definitely qualifies as one of the best laptops for AutoCad and is most certainly a great option.
Pros
- Impressive performance and speed
- Great graphics
- Sleek design
- Mid-ranged price.
Cons
- Considerably low storage space.
Acer Aspire 5
Key Specifications
- Intel Core i5 Processor
- 8 GB DDR4 RAM
- 512 GB SSD Storage
- 15.6 inch Full HD IPS Display
- 2 GB NVIDIA GeForce MX350 Graphics Card
- 8 hour of battery life.
Why is this laptop good for AutoCad?
And to end this list of best laptops for AutoCad, we have the Acer Aspire 5. We couldn’t build this list without including a budget friendly option that would still get the job done. This one is a great option for students who don’t have a lot of money to spend on a laptop.
This amazing laptop features all the essential minimum requirements to run AutoCad, and comes at an affordable price. This laptop costs something around $650, which is pretty affordable. And the laptop is pretty impressive for the price. You get highly satisfactory performance and speed, and a pretty long battery life on this laptop. So, be sure to check it out!
Pros
- Decent performance and speed
- Great battery life
- Affordable
- Perfect for engineering, architecture, and CSE students.
Cons
- Not the best workstation
- Not perfect for professionals.
Testing Criteria
In order to make sure that you are getting the best laptop where you can smoothly run AutoCad on, we tested the laptops based on a few key factors.
First of all, the most important thing to have in a laptop for AutoCad is high speed and performance. We tested the laptops on their processor power, RAM, and graphics cards. These are some elements that determine that the laptop indeed is a high quality one.
Other than that, we made sure these laptops are also portable, good looking and can be used on a daily basis in your life. So in terms of looks, display type, display size and everything else you expect in a laptop’s body, the above laptops surely don’t miss the mark.
While buying a laptop for AutoCad make sure that it is not only a good laptop for the job but also a good laptop that you can use on a regular basis. So while ensuring the performance and speed needed for designing 3D models, the laptop should look the part as well.
We have tested and checked that the above laptops do indeed fulfill said criteria.
Conclusion
In conclusion we can say that the above 6 best laptops for AutoCad surely live up to their reputation. The laptops are very high quality, and most of them meet the recommended specifications for a good laptop for AutoCad.
What do you think? Are the above laptops appropriate for the architects, engineers, and designers who need a high performance workstation do design 2D and 3D structures on? Be sure to check out the laptops we have reviewed and see for yourself if you would make the purchase.
We hope you had a fun time reading this article. That’s all for this article about the 6 best laptops for AutoCad, see you next time!