If you have just started out with your college, there is no way you can make your way through all of those years without a laptop. Since you are a computer science student, there are some basic requirements you need to pass through before purchasing a laptop.
I am an engineering student myself and well aware of everything you need to work on every semester. So, we have created a list of the best laptops for computer science students that are well reviewed and everything has been taken into consideration so that you do not need to look anywhere else. Some of the major aspects you need to look into in a laptop for your college is the Processor, RAM, Storage, and Graphics.
Since you will be dealing with the basics and advanced level programming languages, coding, and other major software to learn how to code, you need a strong yet portable machine that you can take to college as well. We have also made sure all the options are within budget since we know as a student you may not be able to spend a lot overall.
Here is a list you can look at and also a perfect buying guide to help you understand more.
Quick Comparison Of Best Laptops For Computer Science Students
Dell Inspiron 15 5510
- Intel Core i5-11300H
- 8GB RAM
- 512GB SSD
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Lenovo IdeaPad 3
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600H
- 8GB RAM
- 256GB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB
Acer Swift X
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800U
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti 4GB
ASUS ZenBook 15
- Intel Core i7-10750H
- 16GB RAM
- 1TB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti 4GB
MSI Stealth 15M
- Intel Core i7-11375H
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB
Razer Blade 15
- Intel Core i7-10750H
- 16GB RAM
- 256GB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB
Acer Nitro 5
- Intel Core i7-11800H
- 16GB RAM
- 1TB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti 4GB
MSI GE75 Raider
- Intel Core i7-10750H
- 32GB RAM
- 1TB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB
Best Laptops For Computer Science Students – Top 8 Picks
1. Dell Inspiron 15 5510 – Best Affordable Laptop For Computer Science Students
Quick Overview Of Hardware Specifications- Intel Core i5-11300H Processor
- 8GB RAM
- 512GB SSD
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- 15.6 Inch Full HD Anti-glare LED Backlight Display
- Up to 5 Hours Battery Life
The first one in our list is Dell Inspiron 15 5510. It is without a doubt the best laptop for computer science majors. Dell has always been a highly reliable and amazing-built brand. In fact, if you are looking for something that might fall under your budget, it is the right option for you. To start with, as a student, you will need a powerful processor.
This laptop runs on the latest 11th gen Intel Core i5-11300H processor with turbo boost technology gaining speed up to 4.4GHz. It has an incredible design with Platinum Silver Aluminium on the top cover giving it a shiny look. Moving on, the laptop features 8GB RAM and has 512GB SSD storage that is quite enough to save all your files and software required for you in your college.
Next up, we have an incredible 15.6 inches full HD narrow border display that brings in a stunning viewing experience all day long. You might also love the fingerprint reader that allows you to log in to the system much more securely. Moving on, the laptop features voice assistant Alexa through which you can improve your productivity. Simply ask Alexa to set your calendar, make a to-do list, set alarms, and do many more similar activities.
Check Latest Price On Amazon2. Lenovo IdeaPad 3 – Best Budget Laptop For Computer Science Students
Quick Overview Of Hardware Specifications- AMD Ryzen 5 5600H Processor
- 8GB RAM
- 256GB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB
- 15.6 Inch Full HD IPS Display
- Up to 8 Hours Battery Life
Here we have another budget laptop that is highly affordable for anyone having a low amount to spend. Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is a powerful machine built especially for gamers who are looking for an in-budget high-end system. Well, you can use it for your computer science work in college since it has all the features you need.
It features AMD Ryzen 5 5600H H-Series with superb 6-cores allowing the system to run smoothly. Well, this Lenovo laptop is equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics unit that brings in the best visuals. In fact, you will find a 15.6 inches display with a 120Hz refresh rate for a picture-perfect quality on the screen. Unlike this, we also have a stable 8GB RAM that can easily allow all the software to run efficiently at all times.
You can make the best use of the 256GB SSD storage for the smooth transfer of files much faster. To keep the performance pressure in check, this laptop has an improved and advanced thermal system keeping out all the heat during extensive coding sessions and working on multiple assignments all day long. Since it is a gaming laptop, it might not be the most portable option out there but surely is a fabulous machine.
3. Acer Swift X – With Good Battery Backup
Quick Overview Of Hardware Specifications- AMD Ryzen 7 5800U Processor
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti 4GB
- 15.6 Inch Full HD IPS Widescreen LED-backlit Display
- Up to 12 Hours Battery Life
If you are in search of a lightweight machine and prefer Acer laptops, Acer Swift X is something that we would surely recommend. It is a highly portable machine and only weighs 3.06lbs. Speaking of performance, it runs on a powerful AMD Ryzen 7 5800U processor that is perfect for thin laptops.
Along with this, we have the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics unit that enables ray tracing bringing in quality on the screen. When we speak of the display, this laptop stands out among all. For everyone who would like to have a smaller screen, you can choose this machine overall. The laptops feature a 14 inches full HD IPS display with 300 nits brightness giving the best visual experience to all the students.
Moreover, the 16GB RAM serves to be an excellent capacity for handling all your programming software smoothly. Furthermore, with 512GB SSD storage not only can you get faster boot time on your laptop but have more than enough space to store all your college data. For better security, you can make use of the Windows Hello with fingerprint reader.
Check Latest Price On Amazon4. ASUS ZenBook 15 – Best Ultra Slim Laptop For Computer Science Students
Quick Overview Of Hardware Specifications- Intel Core i7-10750H Processor
- 16GB RAM
- 1TB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti 4GB
- 15.6 Inch Full HD Display
- Up to 7 Hours Battery Life
ASUS ZenBook 15 is one of our personal favorites while looking for the best laptops for computer science students. The design is beyond incredible and has every feature that you might need in your laptop. It is a super slim machine and runs on the latest Intel Core i7-10750H processor giving you the speed and power your laptop needs.
Along with this, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti graphics is what you need for high quality graphics. Moving on, the main aspect of this laptop is the innovative 5.65 inches touch ScreenPad. You can add multiple apps on this small screen and use them efficiently. It allows you to make phone calls through it by connecting your phone to the laptop. Also, it acts as a touch number keypad to make it more interactive.
There is a lot more that makes the laptops worth every penny. Apart from this, you will find a massive 16GB RAM to ensure multitasking at its finest. Also, you get 1TB SSD storage that gives way to more and more possibilities and speeds up the system too. Furthermore, the advanced cooling system on this machine makes sure that you never stick up with any software even during extensive activities.
Check Latest Price On Amazon5. MSI Stealth 15M – Best Gaming Laptop For Computer Science Students
Quick Overview Of Hardware Specifications- Intel Core i7-11375H Processor
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB
- 15.6 Inch Full HD Display
- Up to 4 Hours Battery Life
MSI laptops are worth every penny spent on them even though they might be a little expensive. The MSI Stealth 15M is a gaming machine and as we know such laptops are tough and highly efficient in the long run. To ensure that all your apps and games work smoothly and with ease, this laptop comes with the latest 11th gen intel i7-11375H processor.
For further performance enhancers, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 takes charge of the graphics unit. Even though it is meant for gamers, the laptop is competitively lighter and thin as well. You get 16GB RAM with 512GB SSD storage to cater to all you need. To get the most vibrant visuals, the laptops bring to you 15.6 inches full-HD display with a 144Hz refresh rate.
With the help of Cooler Boost 5 technology, the system stays cool at all times with the use of 2 fans and 6 pipes. Other than that, you can enjoy the RGB lighting on the keyboard whilst you play the high-end games along with working for the college. Furthermore, it features the latest Wifi 6 that is faster than the previous versions. You can even find tons of connectivity options including one Thunderbolt 4 port.
Check Latest Price On Amazon6. Razer Blade 15 – With Premium Build Quality
Quick Overview Of Hardware Specifications- Intel Core i7-10750H Processor
- 16GB RAM
- 256GB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB
- 15.6 Inch Full HD Display
- Up to 3.5 Hours Battery Life
Razer Blade 15 is yet another one of the best laptops for computer science students. It has an incredible design and is pretty thin & compact. It is powered by the latest 10th gen intel core i7-10750H processor with turbo boost technology up to 5.0GHz for better speed and high performance. The laptop also features the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics unit that ensures excellent graphics.
Moving on, the laptop is equipped with 16GB RAM that ensures all your applications run smoothly altogether. Also, you have 256GB of storage for faster file transfer and enough space for all your work. In fact, you can also choose to upgrade the storage and increase the capacity. Adding more here, Razer Blade 15 features a 15.6 inches full HD thin bezel display with a 120Hz refresh rate.
This laptop has a great battery life with power saving settings that can easily give you a good running time. It even has an RGB backlit keyboard that gives a great aesthetic value. You can easily carry it around with you to your college and learn more each day.
Check Latest Price On Amazon7. Acer Nitro 5 – Best 17 Inch Laptop For Computer Science Students
Quick Overview Of Hardware Specifications- Intel Core i7-11800H Processor
- 16GB RAM
- 1TB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti 4GB
- 17.3 Inch Full HD IPS LED-backlit Display
- Up to 8 Hours Battery Life
Another gaming laptop that might be of good use to you and serve your purpose well. Acer Nitro 5 is a solid and well-built machine that weighs 5.95lbs which might not be a very lightweight system for your everyday work at college. To start with, the laptop is powered by a heavy-performing intel core i7-11800H processor with 8 cores that gives a much smoother performance than six cores.
Since it is a gaming laptop you get a brilliant NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics card with state-of-the-art Ray tracing cores enabling a great visual experience. Also, if you are a fan of a massive screen, the 17.3 inches FHD display might just do the job for you with a 144Hz refresh rate and 80% screen-to-body ratio. Next up, the 16GB RAM is great that can be upgraded to 32GB at the most. Similarly, we have 1TB SSD storage that is a massive space for all your work.
Under heavy usage, the Acer CoolBoost technology keeps the system cool by increasing the fan speed and bringing in better overall performance up to 25%. You can find tons of connectivity and port options including Thunderbolt 4, Type-C, and multiple others to connect as many devices as you like.
Check Latest Price On Amazon8. MSI GE75 Raider – With 32GB RAM
Quick Overview Of Hardware Specifications- Intel Core i7-10750H Processor
- 32GB RAM
- 1TB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB
- 17.3 Inch Full HD Display
- Up to 3 Hours Battery Life
Lastly, we have an MSI GE75 Raider laptop that runs on a powerful 10th gen intel i7-10750H processor. Coupled with the CPU, the laptop features an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 graphics unit with 6GB VRAM bringing in not only an excellent visual experience but also overall performance.
MSI GE75 has an amazing design too but a heavy body making it not a portable machine for carrying it every day to your college. You might love the 17.3 inches full HD display with an incredible 144Hz refresh rate that displays images pretty smoothly on the screen. It features the best-in-class 32GB RAM capable of running multiple high-end programming software as well as games that you might enjoy.
The laptop brings in a Steelseries RGB Backlight keyboard that looks stunning. Other important aspects and features found on this laptop are Wifi 6 technology, the latest Bluetooth technology, multiple ports such as Type C for faster data transfer, and much more to go.
Check Latest Price On AmazonThings To Consider Before Buying A Laptop For Computer Science Students
Before you can consider buying a laptop from the list we have mentioned here, you might need to look at certain aspects that will help you select the perfect option for you.
1. Processor/CPU
When we speak of processors, you might wish to go with at the most an Intel i5 processor or equally good AMD Ryzen series that might give good speed and smooth performance overall. With a good amount of money, you can get the best processor that ensures multi-tasking too. It all entirely depends on the amount of money you spend on the laptop.
We have listed a highly extensively reviewed list of laptops with both i5 and i7 Intel processors with turbo boost technology. Similarly, the AMD Ryzen series has proved to be a lot better on multiple occasions for better speed and functionality.
2. RAM
The more RAM you have, the better the system works with multiple applications running altogether. If you do not have enough budget, you can easily get 8GB RAM that is the least you should go for. However, with the budget being no bar, 16GB RAM might be just enough for a brilliant performance.
Like we said, the more the better. So, you can easily pick up 32GB as well on high-end machines that might be a little higher on your budget but worth spending every penny for best performance. All your apps and games will run smoothly without any lag whatsoever.
3. Graphics Card
Whether or not you are playing high-end games, having a decent graphics card always comes in handy. For a smooth graphics performance as well as a good visual experience you might need NVIDIA or AMD on your laptops. Some laptops might also have Iris Xe graphics that aren’t the best but are surely good enough.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Which laptop is best for computer science students?
As per our list, it depends on multiple factors that need to be taken into account. If you have a small budget, you might simply go with the Dell Inspiron 15 5510 and Lenovo Ideapad 3. Moving on, you might love the AMD processor more than Intel which is why you can choose Acer Swift X or even the Lenovo laptop for better speed and good performance.
Also, for a massive display size screen, you can choose between Acer Nitro 5 and MSI GE75 Raider. These are among the best laptops for computer science students that we have reviewed and found to be worth spending money on.
2. How much RAM do I need for computer science?
To start off, you need at most 8GB RAM for all your basic college work. Yes, you can run certain programming software but surely might not be a great option if you are looking for multiple purposes.
With 16GB, you might be able to ensure multitasking at its best and have a smooth performance. Some laptops even feature 32GB RAM that might simply be the best but only for high-end purposes or else you can upgrade from 16GB RAM found in multiple laptops.
Final Verdict
Here we are with the list of the best laptops for computer science students. We have made sure that all the reviews and information provided are to the best of our knowledge and understanding so that you need not look anywhere else whatsoever. All you need to do is make sure you go through all the options we have listed here so that you can make the right choice.
To make things a lot easier, you can simply sort out the laptops based on your budget and then start going through the filtered options one by one. If at all you are unable to pick one for yourself, let us know in the comment section below.