Best laptops for Civil Engineering Students 2023 | Whether you’re a civil engineer or a civil engineering student, then you’ll need a laptop that can handle computing-intensive software. A powerful CPU and lots of memory as well as storage will be an absolute must for you. Portability is also an important factor, especially if you’re moving from one class to another or if you’re constantly commuting between home and work.
If you don’t know where to start your Laptop Search, don’t worry, you’re in the right place. Here we have put together a list of excellent laptops for civil engineering students as they are both powerful and affordable.
Civil Engineering laptop requirements
- Operating System: Windows 10,11 64-bit
- CPU: 4 core 2.4 GHz.
- RAM: 16GB ( Recommended 32GB )
- Storage: 500GB SSD ( Recommended 1TB SSD )
- Graphics: 1GB, DirectX 11 ( Recommended 2GB, DirectX 11 )
- Extras: 1 USB 2.0 or 3.0 Ports, Microphone, Camera
Most used software by civil engineers
These products are the programs most used by civil engineers. In order to run this software on laptops, a machine with powerful features is needed.
- Autocad
- Revit
- STA4CAD, IDECAD, NETCAD
- Primavera P6
- MS Project
- SAP2000
- ETABS
- Tekla Structures
- Autodesk 3ds Max, Civil 3D
- Plaxis
The best laptops for Civil Engineering Students in 2023
These laptops are the best recommendations for civil engineers and civil engineering students.
1. HP Omen 17 Gaming Laptop
HP 2023 Omen 17.3″ 165 Hz IPS QHD Gaming Laptop Intel 16-Core i7-12800HX 32GB DDR5 2TB NVMe SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070Ti 8GB GDR6 WiFi AX RJ45 HDMI m-DP Thunderbolt4 RGB KB Windows 11 Home w/ RE USB
| Brand | HP 17T-CK100 |
| Screen Size | 17.3 Inches |
| Hard Disk Size | 2 TB |
| CPU Model | Core i7 Family |
| Ram Memory Installed Size | 32 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Special Feature | High Definition Audio, Backlit Keyboard, Anti Glare Coating |
About HP Omen
- 【Powerful Performance with Intel Core 12800HX】Latest Powerhouse 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12800HX (up to 4.6 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, 25 MB Smart cache, 16 cores, 24 threads). When it comes to raw power and performance, the OMEN 17 Laptop makes no compromises. With an Intel Core processor and NVIDIA GeForce graphics, feel free to crank up the settings everywhere you go.
- Powered by NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti (8 GB GDDR6 dedicated). Beautiful 17.3″ diagonal, QHD (2560 x 1440), 165 Hz, 7 ms response time, IPS, micro-edge, anti-glare, Low Blue Light, 300 nits, 100% sRGB Display. HP Wide Vision HD Camera with integrated dual array digital microphone.
- 【Customization】Seal is opened for Hardware/Software upgrade only to enhance performance. Upgraded to 32GB DDR5 4800 MHz RAM, 2TB NVMe M.2 SSD, No Built-in Optical Drive
- 【Connectivity】Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 (2×2) and Bluetooth 5 combo (Supporting Gigabit file transfer speeds), 3x SuperSpeed USB 3.2 Type-A (5Gbps); 1x USB 4 Type-C (10Gbps) with Thunderbolt 4 (40Gbps); 1x HDMI 2.1; 1x Mini Displayport; 1x SD media card reader; 1x RJ-45 LAN.
- 【Rock eDigital Bundle】Windows 11 Home, Full-size 4-zone RGB shadow black backlit keyboard and 26-Key Rollover Anti-Ghosting Key technology. DTS: X Ultra Technology. OMEN Command Center: Up your game with Performance Control, Network Booster, 4-zone RGB, lighting, and Game Stream. All metal shadow black chassis,15.64 x 10.32 x 1.06 inch, 6.15 lbs. HP Fast Charge: Go from 0 to 50% charge in approximately 45 minutes wtih a 330W power supply
2. Dell XPS 17
Dell XPS 17 9710, 17 inch FHD+ Laptop – Intel Core i7-11800H,16GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4GB GDDR6, Windows 11
| Brand | Dell XPS 17 9710 |
| Screen Size | 17 Inches |
| Hard Disk Size | 1 TB |
| CPU Model | Core i7 Family |
| Ram Memory Installed Size | 16 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| Card Description | RTX 3050 |
About Dell XPS 17 9710
- Aspect Ratio:16:10
- POWERFUL PERFORMANCE: 11th Generation Intel Core i7 processors and NVIDIA RTX graphics power the most intensive creative pursuits
- STUNNING SCREEN: A 16:10 4-sided InfinityEdge display is designed to provide a stunning edge-to-edge view
- EASY ON THE EYES: Eyesafe technology built into the screen reduces harmful blue light all while maintaining vivid color
- UP YOUR CREATIVE GAME: Take your creative projects to a new level with GeForce RTX 30 Series laptops delivering AI-acceleration in top creative apps
- IMMERSIVE SOUND: Expand audio into an immersive 3D soundscape with our quad speaker design and Waves Nx 3D audio for speakers
3. HP Pavilion 15
HP Pavilion 15 Laptop, 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7 Processor, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD Storage, Full HD IPS micro-edge Display, Windows 11 Pro, Compact Design, Long Battery Life (15-eg0025nr, 2021)
| Brand | HP Pavilion Laptop 15 |
| Screen Size | 15.6 Inches |
| Hard Disk Size | 512 GB |
| CPU Model | Intel Core i7-1165G7 |
| Ram Memory Installed Size | 16 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Pro |
| Special Feature | Processor: 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1165G7, Display: 15.6-inch diagonal, FHD (1920 x 1080), IPS, micro-edge, BrightView, Memory: 16 GB DDR4-3200 MHz RAM (2 x 8 GB), Internal storage: 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD, Operating system: Windows 11 Pro |
About HP Pavilion 15
- INSTANT GRATIFICATION – Experience a laptop with premium performance, so you can spend less time getting more done; it’s like a small PC that’s compact enough to go where you go with a long-lasting battery to power you through your day
- EPIC ENTERTAINMENT – With audio by BandO, a larger screen-to-body ratio, and a 15.6-inch Full HD micro-edged screen to maximize your view, entertainment on your laptop feels like bringing the theater home (1)
- IMPRESSIVE GRAPHICS – The Intel Iris Xe Graphics gives you a new level of graphics performance with crisp, stunning visuals, plus the convenience of a thin and light laptop (2)
- UNSTOPPABLE PERFORMANCE – Get things done fast with the 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor, which delivers instant responsiveness and best-in-class connectivity (3)
- MEMORY AND STORAGE – Enjoy up to 15x faster performance than a traditional hard drive with 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD storage (4) and experience improved multitasking with higher bandwidth thanks to 16 GB of RAM
- WORK ON THE GO – Get work done on the go with a long battery life of up to 8 hours (5) while HP Fast Charge lets you go from 0 to 50% charge in approximately 45 minutes (6)
- OS AND WARRANTY – Do more with better peace of mind thanks to the HP 1-year limited hardware warranty and the seamlessly integrated Windows 10 Pro operating system (7); get ready for the Windows 11 upgrade, coming soon and at no additional cost (8)
- EFFORTLESSLY CONNECTED – Enjoy a smoother wireless experience with Wi-Fi 6 (2×2) (9) and Bluetooth 5.0 combo (10), all your connections are solid and up to 3x faster file transfer speeds than Wi-Fi 5 (11)
- FULL-SIZE KEYBOARD – Work comfortably with a full-sized keyboard, integrated numeric pad, and a Precision Touchpad
- ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY – Stay energy-efficient and sustainable with a laptop that is ENERGY STAR certified (12), EPEAT Silver registered (13), and built with a low halogen display (14)
4. Acer Aspire 5
2022 Acer Aspire 5 15.6″ FHD IPS Laptop PC AMD 6-Core Ryzen 5 5500U Radeon Vega 7 Graphics 16GB RAM 1TB NVMe SSD USB-C WiFi AX RJ45 BT HDMI2.0 Backlit Keyboard Windows 10 Pro w/ RE USB Drive
| Brand | Acer Aspire 5 |
| Screen Size | 15.6 Inches |
| Hard Disk Size | 1 TB |
| CPU Model | AMD Ryzen 5 5500U |
| Ram Memory Installed Size | 16 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Pro |
| Graphics Coprocessor | AMD Radeon Vega 7 Mobile Graphics |
About Acer Aspire 5
- 【Powerful Performance with AMD Ryzen 5 5500U】Quad-Core AMD Ryzen 5 5500U, 2.1 GHz Processor (upto 4.0 GHz, 8MB Cache, 12 Threads, 6-Cores)
- 【Customization】Seal is opened for Hardware/Software upgrade only to enhance performance. Upgrade to 16GB 3200MHz DDR4 Memory | 1TB NVM M.2 SSD | No DVD
- 【Display and Graphics】Stunning 15.6 inches Full HD (1920 x 1080) Widescreen LED Backlit ComfyView (Matte) In-plane Switching (IPS) Display, AMD Radeon Vega 7 Mobile Graphics, Acer HD 720P Webcam
- 【Connectivity】802.11AX Wi-Fi 6 Dual-Band 2.4GHz and 5GHz featuring MU-MIMO technology and Bluetooth 5.1 Combo, 1 x USB 3.2 Type-C, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (1 Power-off Charging), 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x HDMI 2.0 with HDCP support, 1 x headphone/microphone combo jack(3.5mm)
- 【Rock eDigital Enhancement】Upgraded to Windows 10 Pro, full size backlit keyboard with Keyboard reader, 3-cell up to 7 hours battery, 2 x Stereo Speakers, 14.3 x 9.9 x 0.71 in, 3.99 lbs, Pure Silver, 45W power supply, free Rock eDigital Acessories: 32GB USB3.0 Flash Drive
5. ASUS VivoBook K571
ASUS VivoBook K571 Laptop, 15.6” FHD, Intel Core i7-9750H CPU, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, 16GB RAM, 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD + 1TB HDD, Windows 10 Home, K571GT-EB76, Star Black
| Brand | ASUS VivoBook K571 |
| Screen Size | 15.6 Inches |
| Hard Disk Size | 1 TB |
| CPU Model | Intel Core i7 |
| Ram Memory Installed Size | 8 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
| Graphics Coprocessor | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 |
About ASUS VivoBook K571
- 15.6” 120Hz Nanoedge Full HD Display
- Powerful Intel Core i7-9750H Processor (12M Cache, up to 4.5 GHz)
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR5 with Windows 10 Home
- 16GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD + 1TB HDD
- Comprehensive connections including USB 3.1 Type-C, USB 3.1 Type-A, USB 2.0, and HDMI; Wi-Fi 5/802.11ac Wi-Fi (*USB Transfer speed may vary. Learn more at ASUS website)
Best laptops for Civil Engineering Students – faq
- Which laptop is best for civil software?
- All the computers listed in this article are the best laptop for Civil software.
- Which laptop is best for AutoCAD students?
- These laptop is the best for AutoCad students: Best Laptop for AutoCAD
- What type of computer do I need for civil engineering?
- Processor and Graphics Card are very important for civil engineering. You should pay particular attention to these two criteria. In addition, it must meet the laptop requirements mentioned above. You need some kind of laptop with these features for civil engineering.
- Do civil engineers need a good laptop?
- Civil engineers absolutely need a good laptop. Because, like most engineering branches, Civil Engineering also includes challenging software such as AutoCAD and Revit.
- How much RAM is needed for civil engineering?
- 16GB of RAM is required for civil engineering. However, if you want a high level of performance, you need to get 32 GB of RAM.
What laptop is best for civil engineering students?
The laptops listed above are an excellent choice for civil engineers. This is our favorite pick at the moment.
- Editor’s choice – Razer Blade 17
Razer Blade 17 Gaming Laptop: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti – 12th Gen Intel 14-Core i7 CPU – 17.3″ QHD 240Hz – 16GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD – Windows 11 – Chroma RGB – Thunderbolt 4 – SD Card Reader
| Brand / Series | Razer Blade 17 |
| Screen Size | 17.3 Inches |
| Hard Disk Size | 1 TB |
| CPU Model | Core i7 |
| Ram Memory Installed Size | 16 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Graphics Coprocessor | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 |
About Razer Blade 17
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU: Play like never before on the new GeForce RTX 3070 Ti, up to 70% faster than RTX 2070 SUPER laptops and delivering up to 100 frames per second at 1440p resolution
- 12th Gen Intel Core i7 14-Core CPU: Experience cutting-edge speed on the all-new Intel Core i7-12800H processor with up to 4.8GHz of Turbo Boost for unrivalled performance to take on the most demanding gaming and creative tasks
- QHD 240Hz Display: High refresh rate meets high resolution to provide a responsive gaming experience that comes with a greater level of detail and no screen-tearing thanks to NVIDIA G-SYNC
- DDR5 4800MHz Memory: 50% faster than the previous generation – enjoy a quicker, smoother experience when loading applications, running games, and performing other everyday tasks
- Next-Gen Vapor Chamber Cooling: Upgraded with more exhaust fins, quieter fans, and a larger liquid capacity, the new Blade 17 performs cooler and quieter than ever before
- Desktop-Grade Connectivity: Never feel the need to compromise on how to accessorize with the built-in HDMI 2.1 port, Thunderbolt 4 USB-C (2 ports), USB-A (3 ports), 3.5mm audio jack, UHS-II SD card slot, and 2.5GB Ethernet Port
Best budget laptop for civil engineering students 2023
2022 Acer Aspire 5 15.6″ FHD IPS Screen Laptop – AMD Ryzen 7 3700U – Radeon RX Vega 10 – 16GB DDR4 – 1TB SSD – Backlit Keyboard – FP Reader – RJ-45 Wi-Fi 6 – Windows 11 Pro w/32GB USB
| Brand | Acer Aspire 5 |
| Screen Size | 15.6 Inches |
| Hard Disk Size | 1 TB |
| CPU Model | Ryzen 7 3700U |
| Ram Memory Installed Size | 16 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Pro |
| Graphics Coprocessor | AMD Radeon RX Vega 10 |
About Acer Aspire 5
- Latest AMD Ryzen 7 3700U processor (4 Cores, 8 Threads, 4M L3 Cache), base frequency 2.30 GHz, max turbo frequency up to 4.00 GHz with Precision Boost Technology
- 【Customization】Upgraded to 16GB DDR4 SDRAM, 1TB NVMe SSD, Windows 11 Pro.
- Two-sided narrow borders widescreen, 15.6″ diagonal Full HD (1920 x 1080) anti-glare IPS matte display powered by Radeon RX Vega 10; 720P HD (1280 x 720) Webcam; two built-in stereo speakers with Acer Purified, two built-in microphones with Voice Technology
- Wi-Fi 6 (2×2 / 802.11AX) + 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 port) + Bluetooth 5.1; 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C; 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 x HDMI Port with HDCP support, 1 x RJ-45 Ethernet, 1 x Headphone speaker line-out jack
- Fullsize backlit keyboard with NumPad and Fingerprint Sensor, 3-Cell 45WH Lithium-Ion Battery; 14.31″ L x 9.9″ W x 0.71″ H, 3.99 lbs; light design and aluminum top cover; Pure Silver; with free RATZK 32GB USB Drive
Best laptop for structural engineers 2023
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 4 16″ Mobile Workstation
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 4 20Y4S2N900 16″ Mobile Workstation – WQXGA – 2560 x 1600 – Intel Core i9 11th Gen i9-11950H Octa-core (8 Core) 2.60 GHz – 32 GB RAM – 1 TB SSD
| Brand | Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 4 |
| Screen Size | 16 Inches |
| Hard Disk Size | 1 TB |
| CPU Model | Core i9 |
| Ram Memory Installed Size | 32 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Pro |
| Special Feature | Anti-glare Screen |
| Card Description | RTX A5000 |
About ThinkPad P1
- With 32 GB of memory, users can run many programs without losing execution
- 16″ display with 2560 x 1600 resolution showcases movies, games and photos with impressive clarity
- With Windows 10 Pro edition, enjoy your favorite content all at once on a larger view edge browser. Share your thoughts with the world by writing directly on web pages.
Best laptop for civil engineers 2023
Dell XPS 15 9520 Laptop (2022) | 15.6″ 4K Touch | Core i9 – 1TB SSD – 32GB RAM – 3050 Ti | 14 Cores @ 5 GHz – 12th Gen CPU Win 11 Home
| Brand | Dell XPS 9520 Laptop |
| Screen Size | 15.6 Inches |
| Hard Disk Size | 1 TB |
| CPU Model | Core i9 |
| Ram Memory Installed Size | 32 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| Graphics Coprocessor | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti |
About Dell XPS 15
- [Latest And Greatest] Released in 2022 The XPS 9520 Laptop is Dell’s latest release in the 15″ XPS family and comes with all the latest technology including DDR5 Memory clocked at a whopping 4800MHz and a 12th generation Intel 14-core Processor. The Fourteen cores on the Core i9-12900HK processor allows for exceptional multitasking. To save power and prolong battery life the processor will run @ 3.8Ghz under low use but will boost to 5GHz under heavy use for powerful performance!
- [Display & Graphics] This XPS 9520 Laptop comes with a 15.6″ OLED Touch Screen with 4K (3456×2160) resolution for stunningly clear visuals and a dedicated Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics card with 4GB of Dedicated Graphics Ram great for gaming or photo and video editing
- [High Speed RAM And Enormous Space] The 32GB DDR5 RAM Running @ 4800MHz 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.The Home Edition will come with everything you need but you can also upgrade to windows pro from the windows store for $100.
- [Extra Details] A Wecbam comes integrated. Wifi and Bluetooth come integrated.