Previously most of the architectures used to draw the designs manually, but now, unfortunately, today’s architectures are using laptops to make a draft of the latest designs which they are making. But to do so you need to run some heavy software such as Revit, AutoCAD, 3Ds Max, Solidworks, Adobe Creative Suite, Rhino 3D, Sketchup, etc.
But to run this software smoothly you would need a powerful computer or a laptop with great specs. Most of you have a misconception that heavy laptops are the ones which is going to be powerful, but that’s not the situation.
Also, it is not that you would need an expensive laptop to run all this software, hence I have personally handpicked a few best laptops which I personally thought could be the best for you. You are probably out of all the laptops I’ve selected, I had made a point that I will only be listing out the best laptops for architects which are available in the market.
Though there are many market leaders out there, we are not going to suggest you the laptop-based own the brand value. Instead, I will be suggesting only those laptops which are worth your entire money.
But before we check out the laptop’s list, I advise you to check the things which you should consider while you are going to buy a laptop as an architect. Let’s take a look…
How To Choose A Right Laptop For Architects?
Before I choose the laptops to add to this list, first I have done research on what specs architects actually need and for that, I have taken the reference from the uwm.edu website. And then I have chosen the laptops and added them here.
The following information is really very important which you need to consider it when you are going to buy a laptop for your architecture profession.
1. Processor:
To run all your software efficiently, you’ll need the right processor that can be able to handle it. When it comes to CPUs or processors, first you need to consider which software or apps you’ll use for your architecture design.
As per the research, you’ll need at least an intel core i7 or equivalent AMD processor which can handle almost all the apps smoothly. But the recommended processor for an architects laptop is an intel core i9 or equivalent AMD processor which is powerful enough to handle any kind of work very smoothly, without any lag.
So, if the budget does not matter to you then you should go with an i9 CPU because the performance you would get you have had experience never before.
2. RAM:
Multi-tasking or how many programs you can run without lagging is depending on how much RAM do you have. So, for that, it is good to have at least 16GB of RAM but 32GB or more is recommended.
Hence, it is always recommended that if budget is not a concern then always go for more than what you want. By doing this, you will get a buttery smooth performance for any kind of work without facing any lagging issues.
3. Graphics Card:
A Graphics card is also required for architecture work as you will use 3D software and it helps to render the 3D files without giving a burden to the CPU. As a result, it improves the overall performance and gives you smoother and faster performance.
It is good to have at least 4GB of a dedicated graphics card to render your 3D project models, etc. But again, if budget is not a matter then go with 8GB GPU because it is recommended.
4. Stroage:
For the storage, firstly I want to tell you that these days laptop comes with two types of storage such as HDD and SSD. Most professionals recommend SSD drives because it is faster as compared to HDD drives. For instance, it boot the system fast and also loads the applications quicker.
Coming to the storage space, as per the reference minimum you’ll need 500GB of space but the recommended is 1TB.
So, these are very important things that definitely should check when you buy a brand new laptop for yourself. I hope that after going through this, now you may have got a better idea and be able to understand which laptop is good for your profession and which is not. Ok so now, let’s get started without further ado.
In A Hurry? Here’s Our Top 8 Picks
Best Laptops For Architects – Top 8 Picks
1. Dell G5 15 Gaming Laptop
Hardware Specifications
- Intel Core i7-10750H Processor
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 8GB
- 15.6 Inch Full HD Anti-Glare LED Backlit Display
- Up to 3.5 Hours Battery Life
Review:
Let’s begin this list with the Dell G5 15, this is a killer laptop when its amazing display is combined with top-notch specs. This is a dedicated gaming laptop from dell’s most popular G series which is specially launched for gamers only. Due to being a gaming laptop, it has powerful specs which make it the perfect laptop for any architecture out there.
Display:
When it comes to display it features a 15.6-inch full HD display with anti-glare panel and 300nits brightness. On top of that, it has a 144Hz refresh rate which offers smooth and crisp visuals.
Specs:
This laptop comes with the latest 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H processor which is coupled with a powerful NVidia GeForce RTX 2070 GDDR6 graphics card with 8GB dedicated memory.
This is a really good combination because it is eventually going to help you out running all your software smoothly. 16GB of RAM is going to make sure that the laptop doesn’t lag when you are multi-tasking between two different apps.
Apart from all these, this laptop also features a 512GB of SSD drive wherein you can store all your client’s data, this is important because the architecture software consumes a lot of data. This SSD storage helps to boot the system fast and also loads the application faster.
Other Features:
Apart from this, it has got a cooling system which keeps the system cool during heavy workload and provide you a stable performance. Further, if you like gaming on a laptop then its RGB Backlit Keyboard gives you an amazing gaming experience and adds a perk to this machine.
Regarding connectivity, it comes with the latest Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity.
Pros- Good display quality
- Powerful CPU & GPU combo
- Latest Wifi 6 & Bluetooth 5.1
- Little bit pricey
2. ASUS TUF Dash 15 – Best Value For Money
Hardware Specifications
- Intel Core i7-12650H Processor
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti 4GB
- 15.6 Inch Full HD IPS Display
- Up to 3 Hours Battery Life
Review:
When it comes to the entry-level laptop market, Asus is one such brand which is always considered to be underrated. But then this ASUS TUF Dash 15 is one such laptop which has to be mentioned especially for the specs which it is offering at this price.
Design:
This laptop looks a lot more premium too, thanks to the Military-Grade toughness which is offered. On top of that, the MIL-STD-810H laptops are tested against drops, vibration, and extreme temperatures to ensure their reliability.
Display:
This ASUS laptop sports a 15.6 inches of full HD display with IPS technology which provides a wide viewing angle. Thanks for providing a fast 144Hz refresh rate screen, it’ll give you a good experience while watching movies or playing games.
Specs:
This ASUS notebook offers 512GB of SSD which is useful because it is going to help you in boosting up your laptop quickly, you can store all the designs which are related to your architecture work too.
The core CPU of this laptop is the latest Intel Core i7-12650H processor which gives tough competition to some of the expensive laptops out there in the market. With GeForce RX 3050 Ti graphics with a 4GB dedicated graphics card and 16GB of RAM, this laptop is a total all-rounder.
It runs on the latest Windows 11 Home operating system and it is very easy to use and user-friendly. Further, what I liked about this laptop is it offers you an empty slot for RAM and storage for future upgrades.
Other Features:
Moreover, it has fast charging feature that charge the battery up to 50% in just 30 minutes, which is really fast than usual. Besides this, it features dual fans with anti-dust technology that keeps the internals cool and also it helps to extend the system’s lifespan.
Pros- Powerful specs for the price
- RAM & Storage easy upgradable
- Military standard outer body
- Latest Wi-Fi 6 connectivity
- Fast charging
- Mediocre battery life
3. Acer Nitro 5 – Best Affordable Laptop
Hardware Specifications
- Intel Core i7-11800H Processor
- 16GB RAM
- 1TB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti 4GB
- 17.3 Inch Full HD IPS Display
- Up to 4 Hours Battery Life
Review:
If you are looking for an affordable laptop, yet the best in performance then I would recommend the Acer Nitro 5. Though this laptop is affordable in terms of pricing, this can easily run software such as Maya, 3Ds Max, and also Revit too.
Display:
When it comes to display, it features a whopping 17.3 inch Full HD IPS display which is useful if you want to showcase your designs to clients. Also, this 17-inch screen looks stunning while working on its 80% screen-to-body ratio.
Specs:
Talking about the performance of this laptop, this device is pretty powerful and comes with a clock speed of up to 4.6GHz, and the CPU of this laptop is powered by the intel core i7-11800H processor. Though this laptop comes with 16GB of RAM and huge 1TGB of NVMe SSD, both of these can be easily doubled by adding an extra one.
Thanks to the 4GB of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti dedicated graphics card, this will make sure that all your renders would happen smoothly and you wouldn’t face any sort of lag.
Other Features:
Apart from this, you can expect up to 4-hours of battery life on a full charge, which is decent being a gaming laptop. Furthermore, it features Acer CoolBoost technology which gives a performance boost under extreme pressure by keeping inside components cool.
Pros- Empty slot for memory & storage
- Cooling technology
- 17 inch big screen
- Good set of ports
- Slightly heavy
4. MSI Pulse GL66 Gaming Laptop
Hardware Specifications
- Intel Core i7-11800H Processor
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB
- 15.6 Inch Full HD Display
- Up to 3 Hours Battery Life
Review:
MSI is one such laptop company which is usually involved in making gaming laptops, these are quite popular because everyone knows about the real potential of these laptops.
MSI has recently collaborated with a couple of professional esports organizations such as the Fnatic and Team method and now are involved in producing machines which can deliver high performance. MSI Pulse GL66 11UGK-001 is one such laptop that comes with top-notch specs and yet is available at a reasonable price.
Display:
As far as the display is concerned, it has got 15.6 inches of full HD display with 1920 x 1080 pixels of resolution which delivers true-to-life visuals.
Specs:
You would face no issues while running any architecture software in this laptop, thanks to the latest 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11800H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 graphics 8GB GDDR6 VRAM which made it possible. Multitasking on this laptop is pure bliss as it has got 16GB of RAM, you would not experience any sort of lag while you are using two different software simultaneously.
No matter how powerful the laptop is, in the end, storage is something that cannot be ignored, and fortunately, this laptop comes with 512GB of SSD which is more than sufficient for architecture. Having an SSD is the greatest perk because you can have faster boot speeds.
Other Features:
With continuous usage, this laptop is reported of giving up to 3 to 4 hours of battery life which is decent enough for any high-performance laptop. It has a few interesting features like RGB backlit keyboard, Cooler Boost 5 technology, and a Nahimic audio system.
Moreover, if you are a traveler then this laptop is just for you as it weighs 4.63 pounds, which is lighter on this entire list and you can easily carry it around with you.
Pros- Latest RTX 3070 GPU
- Fast 144hz refresh rate screen
- Cooling system works well
- Doesn’t have a SD card reader
5. Dell G15 5520 Gaming Laptop
Hardware Specifications
- Intel Core i7-12700H Processor
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB SSD
- Nvidia GeForce GTX 3060 6GB
- 15.6 Inch Full HD Anti-Glare LED Backlight Display
- Up to 4.5 Hours Battery Life
Review:
The all-new Dell G15 5520 is the latest improved design of the previous version. Firstly, it looks premium in its dark shadow Grey finished chassis and it is durable. This laptop is a little bit thick and bulky which you can’t easily carry with you.
Display:
The display is something which has to talk about, the G15 5520 comes with a 15.6-inch FHD display which is three times more colorful than the previous one. On top of that, it has an Anti- Glare panel which will never distract you from the direct light on the screen while working.
Specs:
There are a lot more changes both in terms of looks and performance too than in the previous versions. This all-new laptop comes with the latest Intel Core i7-12700H 12th gen processor, which means you can throw anything at this processor and it will still run smoothly.
This coupled with 16GB of RAM is all you need for heavy tasks, in simple terms, you can open multiple chrome tabs and switch between two heavy software’s, and the laptop still wouldn’t lag. The data transfer speeds are high too because of the faster 512GB of SSD which is present in this laptop. And to store all your design files and other data it is good enough for many.
Thanks for providing the newest NVIDIA Geforce RTX 3060 graphics with 6GB GDDR6 memory to tackle the graphics related tasks on this machine. Out of the box, this laptop comes with the latest version of Windows 11, which means this laptop is both faster and secure too.
Other Features:
Apart from this, it has a dual-fan cooling system with an advanced thermal design feature that keeps the system stays cool during heavy working sessions. Furthermore, it has got all the required port options including Thunderbolt 4, USB Type-C, and DisplayPort.
Pros- Newest 12th Gen i7-12700H CPU
- With Thunderbolt 4 port
- Innovative dual fan cooling system
- No extra slot for SSD storage upgrade
6. Acer Predator Helios 300 – 17 Inch Laptop For Architects
Hardware Specifications
- Intel Core i7-12700H Processor
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB
- 17.3 Inch Full HD IPS LED-backlit Display
- Up to 4.5 Hours Battery Life
Review:
This Acer Predator Helios 300 is indeed a true Premium flagship laptop from Acer, and you will agree with this statement too as you keep reading.
Display:
The biggest asset of this Predator Helios 300 laptop has got to be the huge 17.3-inch full HD IPS display, this is something which is going to help all the architectures out there. With this huge and vivid display, it is going to be very easy for both architects and clients to view everything in a better manner.
Specs:
This laptop from Acer comes with the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB dedicated graphics card, the intel core i7-12700H processor, and 16GB of RAM. This laptop is so powerful that it can run any software which you throw at it, right from the very basic software to the most advanced rendering software it can handle them all.
It is a future-ready gaming machine, as it has got an empty slot for both storage and RAM, so when you feel it’s not sufficient then you can upgrade it. Coming to the storage, this laptop packs in 512GB of SSD which should be sufficient for an architecture.
Other Features:
Apart from all these things, it also features a USB Type C, HDMI port, display port, Wi-Fi 6, and Windows 11 out of the box. As far as the keyboard is concerned, it comes with a full-size RGB backlit keyboard along with a numeric keypad, which looks stunning while you are working in a dark place.
Regarding the battery, being a gaming machine you can expect around 4.5 hours of battery backup, but it might vary on your usage also.
Pros- Big 17.3-inch screen
- Latest i7-12700H 12th gen processor
- Empty slot for easy upgrade
- AeroBlade 3D fan cooling technology
- Heavy
7. Apple MacBook Pro 13 (Latest Model)
Hardware Specifications
- Apple M2 Chip Processor
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB SSD
- Apple M2 Chip GPU
- 13 Inch Retina Display
- Up to 15 Hours Battery Life
Review:
Brace up yourself, here is a change in the OS. Hands down the best laptop in the entire list is out here, the all-new Macbook Pro 13. Mac OS is always known for its speed and security, and the Macbook Pro is no exception.
Display:
This laptop from Apple features a 13-inch retina display which gives unbelievable and more vibrant colors than ever before.
Specs:
any creator out there who loves to work with a lightweight, compact, yet powerful laptop. When compared to Windows laptops, the Macbook tends to perform a lot better in terms of multitasking.
With ultra-fast 512GB SSD, you can make wonders with this laptop if you are in the creative field. To render your 3D files smoothly on this MacBook, it comes with its own in-built 10-core M2 pro chip GPU which can tackle any graphics-intensive apps. Though this is a little costlier when compared to other Windows laptops, this is worth your money.
Other Features:
For all the architectures out there you can customize the Touch Bar according to the needs of the software you use, and the touch ID is an added perk. You are not going to regret the battery life too, as it provides you with 15+ hours of battery life.
Pros- Thin & lightweight
- With ultrafast SSD
- Impressive battery life
- Amazing display
- Only Thunderbolt ports
8. Acer Predator Triton 500 SE – High Performance Laptop
Hardware Specifications
- Intel Core i9-12900H Processor
- 32GB RAM
- 1TB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti 16GB
- 16 Inch WQXGA IPS Display
- Up to 3.5 Hours Battery Life
Review:
This is another laptop from Acer’s predator series but this Acer Predator Triton 500 SE is the beast machine of this entire list. If anyone of you are looking for a high end machine then need to consider this option because this machine is overall powerful.
Display:
Speaking about the display, it sports an amazing 16 inch of WQXGA with 2560 x 1600 pixels of resolution and 500-nit brightness, which is perfect for designer, creator or for those who requires the best possible visuals.
On top of that, this 16 inch panel has a blazing fast 240Hz of resfresh rate that offers blur free vieiwng experience while watching movies or playing high graphics games.
Specs:
When it comes to the specs then no one can beat this machine in performance wise. The reason is that it has inside the most powerful Intel Core i9-12900H processor which has 14-cores and 20 threads, it can easily conquer any kind of heavy tasks.
In addition, this i9 CPU is coupled with a whopping 32GB RAM to tackle extreme intensive task on this machine and this combo works very efficiently. If any of you thinking about the future upgrade in RAM then it may disappoint you because it is further not upgradable.
On the storage front, you have not to worry about storage full issue with this laptop because it houses with a huge 1TB SSD storage space, it enough for all. Regarding the graphics, it will give you an ultimate grahics performance through its NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti graphics with 16GB of dedicated memory.
By using this laptop you’ll may notice that your all the works are done very faster whether it was render your 3D files or any other heavy tasks. So, it is just because of its powerful and perfect combination of specs.
Other Features:
Apart from the specs, this laptop has Vortex Flow optimization which is an advanced cooling technology that you’ll get to see in very few high-end laptops and this is one of them. What’s more, it has an Intel Killer DoubleShot Pro, an RGB backlit keyboard, and plenty of port options.
Pros- Powerful internals
- Amazing 16 inch WQXGA display
- Vortex Flow
- Strong metal body
- Bloated with unneeded software
Final Verdict
Well so we’ve reached the end of this article and these are our recommendations on the best laptops for architects. If you would ask me personally on which is the best laptop which I would recommend, firstly it would be the latest MacBook Pro 13 for it’s OS, speed, and reliability which it offers.
My second laptop of choice has got to be the ASUS TUF F15 laptop for the reason being this is a budget laptop still it has got top-notch specs. Do let us know in the comments section down below which is your favorite laptop.
