Best laptop for CAD and SolidWorks | Selecting the optimal laptop for CAD and SolidWorks tasks requires a delicate balance between computational prowess and efficient design capabilities. Given the resource-intensive nature of these applications, a laptop that seamlessly melds robust processing power, high-end graphics performance, ample RAM, and responsive storage becomes imperative. The ideal device should empower engineers, architects, and designers to navigate complex 3D models and intricate simulations with ease. This guide delves into the intricacies of identifying the best laptop tailored to the demands of CAD and SolidWorks, enabling professionals to make informed decisions and enhance their productivity in the realm of computer-aided design.
What are the best laptops for CAD and SolidWorks in 2023
- ASUS TUF Gaming F17 (2023) Gaming Laptop
- LG 2023 Gram Ultralight Laptop
- HP Envy 17-CR100 2023 Business Laptop
- Lenovo ThinkPad P16 G1 Mobile Workstation (2023)
- Dell XPS 9530 Laptop (2023)
1. ASUS TUF Gaming F17 (2023) Gaming Laptop
ASUS TUF Gaming F17 (2023) Gaming Laptop, 17.3” FHD 144Hz Display, GeForce RTX 4050, AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS, 16GB DDR5, 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, Wi-Fi 6, Windows 11, FA707NU-DS74,Mecha Gray
| Screen Size | 17.3 Inches |
| Hard Disk Size | 1 TB |
| CPU Model | Ryzen 7 |
| Ram Memory Installed Size | 16 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| Graphics Card Description | Dedicated |
| Graphics Coprocessor | AMD Radeon Pro 560 |
About ASUS TUF Gaming F17
- READY FOR ANYTHING – Jump straight into the action with Windows 11, AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS processor, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU at 140W Max TGP.
- FAST MEMORY AND STORAGE – Multitask quickly with 16GB of DDR5-4800MHz memory and speed up loading times with 1TB of PCIe 4.0. Upgrading the storage is a breeze with the addition SSD slot.
- NEVER MISS A MOMENT – Keep up with the pros thanks to its FHD 144Hz display. With Adaptive-Sync the display synchronizes with the GPU’s output to reduce lag, minimize stuttering, and eliminate visual tearing for ultra-smooth gameplay.
- BLOW AWAY THE COMPETITION – High core count CPUs create more heat when at full load. The TUF Gaming A17 is equipped to handle its high-power CPU with an upgraded pair of 84-blade Arc Flow Fans.
- MUX SWITCH WITH ADVANCED OPTIMUS – A MUX Switch increases laptop gaming performance by routing frames directly to the display, while Advanced Optimus optimizes battery life by switching between GPU modes automatically depending on the task.
2. LG 2023 Gram Ultralight Laptop
LG 2023 Gram Ultralight Laptop 17″ WQXGA IPS LGD Intel Evo 12-Core i7-1260P 16GB LPDDR5 4TB(2+2TB) SSD Iris Xe Graphics HDMI WiFi 6E Thunderbolt4 Backlit FPR Full Day Battery Windows 11 Pro w/RE USB
| Screen Size | 17 Inches |
| Hard Disk Size | 4 TB |
| CPU Model | Core i7 Family |
| Ram Memory Installed Size | 16 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Pro |
| Graphics Card Description | Integrated |
| Graphics Coprocessor | Intel Iris Xe Graphics |
About LG Gram
- 【Powerful Performance with Intel Core 1260P】Latest 12th Gen Intel Core i7-1260P 12 Cores (4 Performance + 8 Efficient) up to 4.7 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, 18 MB Smart cache, 16 threads, Ultra-lightweight (only 2.98 lbs, lightest in class) magnesium alloy body, large 80Wh battery that can last through a full day of work.
- 【Customization】Seal is opened for Hardware/Software Upgraded only to enhance performance. Configured to 16GB LPDDR5X 5200Mhz RAM, 4TB (2 + 2TB) NVMe M.2 Solid State Drive, No DVD
- 【Display and Graphics】Stunning 17” high brightness WQXGA (2560 x 1600) IPS Non-Touch LGD 350-nit Display, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, Integrated FHD IR Webcam with Dual Miscrophones and Facial Recognition
- 【Connectivity】Intel Wi-Fi 6E (2×2/160) Gig+ and bluetooth 5.1 Combo, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 2 x USB 4 Gen3x2 Type C (with Power Delivery, Display Port, Thunderbolt 4), 1x HDMI Port, 10/100 Ethernet Adapter through Thunderbolt 4, 1x mSD Card Reader
- 【Rock eDigital Enhancement】Upgrade to Windows 11 Professional, LG Fingerprint Reader, Full-size Backlit Keyboard with numpad, 14.91 x 10.91 x 0.70 inch, ultra-light 2.98 lbs, Black, 45 Watt AC Adapter, MIL-STD 810G certified, Thunderbold through Thunderbolt 4, DTS :X Ultra 3D sound, free Rock eDigital 32GB USB Drive
3. HP Envy 17-CR100 2023 Business Laptop
HP Envy 17-CR100 2023 Business Laptop 17.3″ FHD IPS Touchscreen 14-Core Intel i7-13700H 64GB DDR4 4TB SSD Intel Iris Xe Graphics Thunderbolt 4 Wi-Fi 6E Backlit Keyboard Windows 11 Pro w/ONT 32GB USB
| Screen Size | 17.3 Inches |
| Hard Disk Size | 4 TB |
| CPU Model | Core i7 Family |
| Ram Memory Installed Size | 64 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Pro |
| Special Feature | Touchscreen, HD Audio, Backlit Keyboard, Memory Card Slot, Numeric Keypad |
| Graphics Card Description | Integrated |
About HP Envy 17
- Powerful 13th Generation Intel Core i7-13700H 14-Core (Base Clock 2.9GHz, Up to 5.0 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, 24 MB Intel Smart cache, 14 cores, 6 P-Cores, 8 E-Cores, 20 threads, )
- 【Customization】Upgraded to 64GB DDR4 SDRAM 3200 MHz | 4TB NVMe M.2 Solid State Drive | Windows 11 Pro
- Brilliant 17.3″ FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS Touchscreen 300 nits Anti-glare, Micro-Edge, multitouch-enabled, Edge-to-Edge Glass, 100% sRGB, 60Hz, Thin Bezel LCD Display. Powered by Intel Iris Xe Graphics , HP True Vision 5MP IR camera with camera shutter, temporal noise reduction and integrated dual array digital microphones
- Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211 (2×2) and Bluetooth 5.3. 2x USB Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 40Gbps Type-C support Power Delivery / DisplayPort, 1x USB 3.1 Type-A, 2x USB 3.1 Type-A, 1x HDMI v2.1, 1x Headphone/Microphone Combo Jack, 1x Memory Card, 1x USB-C Power Jack
- Fullsize Backlit Keyboard with Numpad; Speakers 2Wx2; 55Whr 4-cell lithium-ion battery (up to 8 hours non-gaming battery life); 10.20 x 15.68 x 0.77 inches, 5.50 lbs; Platinum Silver / silver Color, Grey Keyboard; 90W AC Adapter, free ONT 32GB USB Drive
4. Lenovo ThinkPad P16 G1 Mobile Workstation (2023)
Lenovo ThinkPad P16 G1 Mobile Workstation (2023), 16″ 4K, 16-Core 12th Intel i7-12800HX, NVIDIA RTX A1000 4GB Graphics, 64GB DDR5 2TB SSD, Backlit FPR Thunderbolt 4 WiFi 6E, Win11 Pro, COU 32GB USB
| Screen Size | 16 Inches |
| Hard Disk Size | 2 TB |
| CPU Model | Core i7 Family |
| Ram Memory Installed Size | 64 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Pro |
| Special Feature | Fingerprint Reader, TrackPoint, Backlit Keyboard, Anti Glare Coating, Numeric Keypad |
| Graphics Card Description | Dedicated |
About Lenovo ThinkPad
- 【Memory & Storage & System】Upgraded to 64GB DDR5 SDRAM 4800 MHz | 2TB M.2 NVMe SSD | Windows 11 Pro
- 【Processor】12th Intel Core i7-12800HX 16-Core (8P+8E Cores, up to 4.80 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost, 24 Threads, 25 MB Smart Cache)
- 【Display & Graphics】Brilliant 16″ WQUXGA (3840 x 2400), IPS, Anti-Glare, Non-Touch, 100% Adobe, 600 nits, Dolby Vision, HDR 400, Low Blue Light, 16:10 High-end Display, Powered by Professional NVIDIA RTX A1000 Graphics with 4GB GDDR6. Supports up to 4 external displays.
- 【Connection & Ports】Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211 802.11AX (2×2) and Bluetooth 5.2; 2x Thunderbolt 4 high-speed peripheral connectivity technology via USB 4 Type-C (40GBps, Power delivery 3.0, DisplayPort 4.0), 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (Power delivery 3.0, DisplayPort 4.0), 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x HDMI 2.1 Port, 1x Headphone/Microphone Combination Jack, 1x Power Connector
- 【Features】Full-size Backlit keyboard with Thinkpad TrackPoint, NumPad and Fingerprint Sensor ; 14.31″ L x 10.51″ W x1.21″ H, 6.51 lbs; 4-Cell 94 Wh Battery; Dolby Audio Speaker System; Discrete Trusted Platform Module (dTPM) 2.0. Dark grey (top), villi black (bottom). 170W AC Aapter and free COU 32GB USB Drive included.
5. Dell XPS 9530 Laptop (2023)
Dell XPS 9530 Laptop (2023) | 15.6″ 4K Touch | Core i9-1TB SSD – 64GB RAM – RTX 4070 | 14 Cores @ 5.4 GHz – 13th Gen CPU – 12GB GDDR6X Win 11 Pro (Renewed)
| Screen Size | 15.6 Inches |
| Hard Disk Size | 1 TB |
| CPU Model | Core i9 |
| Ram Memory Installed Size | 64 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Pro |
| Graphics Card Description | Integrated |
| Graphics Coprocessor | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 |
About Dell XPS
- [Latest And Greatest] Released in 2023 The XPS 9530 Laptop is Dell’s latest release in the 15″ XPS family and comes with all the latest technology including DDR4 Memory clocked at a whopping 3200MHz and a 13th generation Intel 14-core Processor. The Fourteen cores on the Core i9-13900H processor allows for exceptional multitasking. To save power and prolong battery life the processor will run @ 4.1Ghz under low use but will boost to 5.4GHz under heavy use for powerful performance!
- [Display & Graphics] This XPS 9530 Laptop comes with a 15.6″ OLED Touch Screen with 4K (3456×2160) resolution for stunningly clear visuals and a dedicated Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card with 12GB of Dedicated Graphics Ram great for gaming or photo and video editing
- [High Speed RAM And Enormous Space] The 64GB DDR4 RAM Running @ 3200MHz will let you smoothly run multiple applications and browser tabs all at once and a 1TB (1000GB) PCIe NVMe M.2 Solid State Drive will provide fast startup, fast data transfers, and allow for large file storage!
- [Operating System] Windows 11 is Microsoft’s latest Operating System released in 2022 and if you want to downgrade to the older windows 10, you can downgrade with an easy download from Microsoft’s website.Windows Pro comes with everything that Windows Home comes with, plus extra features your organization might require like active directory and bitlocker device encryption (normally an $100 upgrade if purchased seperately).
- [Extra Details] A Wecbam comes integrated. Wifi and Bluetooth come integrated.
In conclusion, selecting the ideal laptop for CAD and SolidWorks necessitates a careful balance between processing power, graphics capability, memory, and display quality. The optimal choice will be contingent upon the complexity of projects, mobility requirements, and budget considerations. Prioritizing a robust multi-core processor, dedicated high-performance graphics card, ample RAM, and a high-resolution display will ensure a seamless experience while working with resource-intensive design software. By making an informed decision that aligns with these criteria, professionals and enthusiasts alike can elevate their CAD and SolidWorks endeavors, enjoying efficient workflows and fluid design interactions for years to come. You can also click here. Best laptops for AutoCAD and SolidWorks
How to choose the best laptops for CAD and SolidWorks?
Choosing the best laptop for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) and SolidWorks can be a critical decision, as these applications require powerful hardware to handle complex designs and simulations. Here are some important factors to consider when selecting a laptop for CAD and SolidWorks:
- Processor (CPU): CAD software like SolidWorks is processor-intensive. Look for laptops with high-performance CPUs, preferably Intel Core i7 or higher, or AMD Ryzen 7 or higher. Multiple cores and high clock speeds are essential for smooth performance.
- Graphics Card (GPU): A dedicated graphics card is crucial for CAD applications. Look for laptops with NVIDIA Quadro or GeForce RTX series GPUs, or AMD Radeon Pro GPUs. These GPUs are certified for CAD software and offer better performance and stability.
- RAM: CAD software demands a substantial amount of memory. Aim for at least 16GB of RAM, and consider 32GB or more if your projects are complex. More RAM allows smoother multitasking and handling of large assemblies.
- Storage: An SSD (Solid State Drive) is essential for quick software loading and project file access. Opt for a laptop with an SSD of at least 512GB for better performance. If budget allows, consider an NVMe SSD for even faster data transfer speeds.
- Display: A high-resolution display with accurate color reproduction is essential for visualizing intricate designs. A Full HD (1920×1080) or higher resolution display is recommended. Some professionals might prefer a 4K display for detailed work.
- Size and Portability: Consider the balance between screen size and portability. A 15-inch laptop is often a good compromise between a large enough screen and a relatively portable form factor.
- Cooling: CAD applications can generate a lot of heat. Look for laptops with efficient cooling systems to prevent overheating and ensure consistent performance.
- Ports: Make sure the laptop has enough ports to connect external devices, such as monitors, peripherals, and external storage. USB Type-C, Thunderbolt, and HDMI ports are beneficial.
- Battery Life: CAD work can be power-intensive and drain the battery quickly. Look for a laptop with decent battery life, or be prepared to have your laptop plugged in during intensive tasks.
- Certifications: Some laptops are certified by software vendors like SolidWorks for optimal performance and stability. Check if the laptop you’re interested in has such certifications.
- Budget: High-end laptops with top-tier specs can be quite expensive. Set a budget that aligns with your requirements and the complexity of your projects.
- Brand and Support: Choose a reputable brand with good customer support and warranty options. You’ll want reliable assistance in case of any issues.
- Reviews and Benchmarks: Before making a final decision, read reviews and look for benchmark tests for the specific laptop models you’re considering. This can give you insight into real-world performance.
Remember that CAD and SolidWorks requirements can vary based on the complexity of your projects. It’s better to have a laptop that exceeds the recommended specifications for a smoother experience, especially if you’re dealing with large assemblies, simulations, and rendering.