Are you just entered into the architecture stream and looking for the best laptops for architecture students? Then this is the perfect place for you. These days a good quality laptop is necessary for architecture students and for an architect.
In recent years making architectural drafting, the design is less complicated and more feasible through computational software, but it is not like that any computer can do. For a simple model rendering if it takes half an hour then it’s not good. But the same file you will render in a high-config laptop then it takes a minute or two.
So the thing is that while you are going to buy a laptop pertaining to the needs of architecture students or as an architect, first you need to consider below things:
What Are The System Requirements For Architecture Students Laptop?
Before you are going to buy a laptop, I advise you to check it out the requirements of the software which you will use for your architecture work and then choose the laptop. It is because hardware makes any of the laptops to capable and make it for a specific niche.
Processor:
As an architecture student or as a professional architect you will use high-end software like ArchiCAD, AutoCAD, Rhino, 3ds Max, Revit, SolidWorks, SketchUp and to handle all this kind of software it requires the i7 processor for smooth working experience.
But as a student, whether you don’t have much budget then you can go with the latest 11th Gen i5 processor laptop, which will give better performance than the previous generation processor. Again there is a chance that this i5 processor will slow down the machine while rendering heavy files or doing heavy multitasking.
If budget is doesn’t matter for you then I recommend you to go with the latest 11th generation i7 processor laptop only. The reason is that the i7 processor is powerful enough to give you smooth working experience without any lag.
RAM:
The multitasking of the laptop depends upon the amount of RAM it has. For smooth multitasking and fast rendering, I recommend 16GB of RAM to handle architecture heavy software such as AutoCAD, Rhino, 3ds Max, Revit, etc. If you don’t have a budget then you can go with 8GB of RAM but there is a chance you will face the lag issue or slow rendering.
Graphics Card:
The software which you will use for your architecture work, it requires a minimum of 2GB or 4GB of a dedicated graphics card. It helps to render files smoother and faster and also it improves the overall performance of the laptop.
Storage (HDD/SSD):
The software and files of Architectural design are big in size which requires good amount of space, so it is good to have a good amount of storage, the better off you are. The SSD drive is faster and more reliable than a traditional hard drive but it cost you higher than the traditional drive.
To take benefit of both SSD and HDD, these days you will get a hybrid drive so I recommend go with that. With the hybrid drive, you can install the OS and architecture software in SSD for better performance, while all other files in HDD drive.
Windows vs Mac:
Windows and Mac both are powerful to handle the task which you will throw, so it’s up to your personal choice. Windows is more user-friendly and also it supports a wide range of software than the Mac. But Mac is the first choice for most of the professionals of any streams.
I hope that after going through the above points now you have got a better idea about how to choose the perfect laptop for your architecture work. Ok so without further ado, let’s go to check out the list of best laptops for architecture students.
Contents
- What Are The System Requirements For Architecture Students Laptop?
- Quick Overview Of Best Laptops For Architecture Students
- Best Laptops For Architecture Students – Top 8 Picks
- 1) Acer Aspire 7 – Best Budget Laptop For Students
- 2) Dell G3 15 3500 – Best Dell Laptop For Architects
- 3) Acer Predator Helios 300 – Best Value For Money Laptop
- 4) OMEN By HP 17 – Best 17 Inch Laptop For Architecture Students
- 5) ASUS ROG Strix G15 – High Performance Laptop
- 6) CUK MSI GF65 Gaming Notebook – With 32GB of RAM
- 7) ASUS ROG Zephyrus M15 – Thin & Portable Laptop
- 8) Apple MacBook Pro 16 – Best MacBook For Architects
- Final Verdict
Quick Overview Of Best Laptops For Architecture Students
Best Laptops For Architecture Students – Top 8 Picks
1) Acer Aspire 7 – Best Budget Laptop For Students
If you are a beginner and also tight in the budget then this Acer Aspire 7 is the best option for you around $800 budget segment. This Acer laptop is finish in Black with the aluminum top cover which gives professional look and feel.
Display:
It sports 15.6-inch of full HD IPS LED Backlight narrow bezels display which delivers crisp and clear visuals from a wide-viewing angle. And also the display has Acer Color Intelligence and Acer ExaColor feature which delivers lifelike colors and sharp details.
Specs:
This budget laptop is powered by the 9th Generation Intel Core i5-9300H processor with turbo boost up to 4.1GHz. For a smooth working experience, this laptop is equipped with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of fast SSD drive.
To handle graphics on this device it has NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics with 4GB of GDDR6 dedicated graphics memory. This laptop runs on the Windows 10 operating system and got all the required ports and slots.
Other Features:
Moreover, the battery life of this laptop is awesome which provides up to 8.5-hours of long lasting battery backup on a single charge which makes it an ideal in this list. The keyboard of this laptop is full size backlit keyboard which is ideal for working even in low light situations.
For better multimedia experience, it is powered by the Acer TrueHarmony which delivers a wide range of bass and boost volume.
Hardware Specifications Of Acer Aspire 7 – Best Budget Laptop For Architecture Students
| Processor | (9th Gen) Intel Core i5-9300H Processor |
| RAM | 8GB RAM |
| Hard Disk | 512GB SSD |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Display | 15.6 Inch Full HD IPS Widescreen LED Backlight Display |
| Weight | 4.74 Pounds |
| Battery Life | Upto 8.5 Hours |
2) Dell G3 15 3500 – Best Dell Laptop For Architects
Around the budget of $1200, this Dell G3 15 3500 laptop comes with all the latest and powerful set of hardware configuration with dual storage. Let’s talk about the design of this laptop, the outer body of this laptop finished in black with blue accents which looks stunning.
Display:
It has got 15.6 inches of full HD display with IPS technology which delivers stunning clarity and superior color richness from wide viewing angles. On top of that, the display has 300 nits brightness which is enough for most of the environments. And the screen of this laptop is anti-glare, so you will never irritate from the glare while you are working.
Specs:
This Dell laptop is powered by the latest 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H processor with 12MB cache and turbo up to 5.0GHz. To take care of the multitasking on this device it comes with 16GB of DDR4 RAM.
And to deliver clear and detailed graphics, this device is equipped with 6GB of Nvidia Geforce RTX 2060 dedicated graphics card. Thanks for providing a 512GB SSD drive, this is enough space to store all your projects and personal data.
Other Features:
Apart from this, it has an innovative dual-fan cooling system with an advanced thermal design which helps to keep your system cool and stable while the action heats up. For superior sound quality and experience every beat of the action it has got two tuned front-firing speakers which is powered by Nahimic Sound Center.
Hardware Specifications Of Dell G3 15 3500 – Best 15 Inch Laptop
| Processor | (10th Gen) Intel Core i7-10750H Processor |
| RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Hard Disk | 512GB SSD |
| Graphics | NVIDIA Geforce RTX 2060 6GB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Display | 15.6 Inch Full HD IPS Anti-glare LED backlight Display |
| Weight | 9.08 Pounds |
| Battery Life | Upto 6 Hours |
3) Acer Predator Helios 300 – Best Value For Money Laptop
This Acer Predator Helios 300 is the best selling gaming laptop from the year 2018 and every year they upgrade its config with the latest updates. This gaming laptop sporting in blue accents with black chassis and geometric lines, which gives it to full gaming feel.
Display:
The display size of this laptop is standard 15.6-inch which is full HD IPS LED-backlit display with 300-nit Brightness and it allows you to see games with consistent, brilliant colors from any perspective.
Specs:
It has inside the newest 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H Hexa-core processor and coupled with 16GB of DDR4 RAM, which gives you smooth working and gaming experience.
On the storage front, this laptop is handled by the 512GB of SSD which is enough space but in case if you want to expand further then it allows you to do through its extra empty accessible slot of hard drive bay. For full throttle acceleration, this gaming machine is equipped with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 graphics with 6GB of dedicated GDDR6 VRAM.
Other Features:
Besides this, it has all-metal AeroBlade 3D fans which help to keep the system cool while you are doing heavy multitasking work or playing an intense gaming session. Furthermore, it has a full size 4 zone RGB backlit keyboard that keeps you stay productive in any situation. It comes with all the connectivity ports and slots options.
The battery life of this device is also good which lasts for up to 6-hours on one-time charge, being a gaming laptop it is good.
Hardware Specifications Of Acer Predator Helios 300 – Best Laptop For Architects
| Processor | (10th Gen) Intel Core i7-10750H Processor |
| RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Hard Disk | 512GB SSD |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Display | 15.6 Inch Full HD IPS Widescreen LED-backlit Display |
| Weight | 5.07 Pounds |
| Battery Life | Upto 6 Hours |
4) OMEN By HP 17 – Best 17 Inch Laptop For Architecture Students
Are you looking for a gaming laptop with gaming look for your architecture work? If yes, then this OMEN By HP 17 is the perfect option for you. HP has launched this OMEN series laptops especially for gaming, which you can use for any purpose as it has got powerful specifications.
The chassis of this laptop is finished in black metal with HP OMEN branding on the lid which gives an attractive look and feels.
Display:
Many of you love to work on a big desktop size display then you will love this laptop because it fulfill your this need. It comes with big 17.3″ inches of full HD IPS 144Hz display with 300 nits and 100% sRGB color gamut which delivers accurate colors from a wide-viewing angle. And also, it has an anti-glare panel which will never irritate you from the glare while you are working.
Specs:
This HP gaming laptop sports the latest 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H processor and paired with 16GB of RAM for smooth multitasking experience. With this laptop, you will get 512GB NVMe SSD which is enough space, and it works up to 30-times faster as compared to the traditional HDD drive. Like the above Acer laptop, this HP laptop also allows you to do upgrade its RAM and storage with its single-panel access.
To render your 3D files faster it is equipped with powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 graphics with 6GB of GDDR6 VRAM which provides desktop-class graphics performance. To cool things down it has an advanced thermal cooling system that keeps the system cool and stable during a long working or gaming session.
Other Features:
Besides this, it has a full-size RGB backlit keyboard and provides up to 6-hours of decent battery backup. The audio of this laptop is powered by the DTS:X Ultra which delivers every pulse-pounding moment for a totally engrossing experience. To sum up, if you have around $1500 budget then without a doubt go with this OMEN By HP 17.
Hardware Specifications Of OMEN By HP 17 Gaming Laptop
| Processor | (10th Gen) Intel Core i7-10750H Processor |
| RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Hard Disk | 512GB SSD |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 6GB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Display | 17.3 Inch Full HD IPS Anti-Glare WLED-backlit Display |
| Weight | 5.09 Pounds |
| Battery Life | Upto 6 Hours |
5) ASUS ROG Strix G15 – High Performance Laptop
As we all know ASUS is known for building business class laptop but recently ASUS has launched ROG series laptops especially for gaming. And this ASUS ROG Strix G15 also comes from ROG series which you can use for Architecture work as it has got a powerful configuration.
Display:
It comes with a stunning 15.6-inch of full HD IPS display with ultra-narrow bezel which gives amazing working experience. On top of that, it has 240Hz of high refresh rate which 6 times faster compared normal 60Hz display.
Specs:
Speaking about the specs, it has got the Intel Core i7-10750H 10th Gen processor which is coupled with 16GB of RAM. These powerful specs of this laptop provide responsive, and powerful performance if you are working on CPU-intensive projects, gaming, streaming videos, etc.
This ASUS laptop ensures faster performance and better reliability through its 1TB of SSD. For superior graphics, it comes with powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 graphics with 8GB GDDR6 coprocessor.
Other Features:
It runs on the Windows 10 operating system and comes with all the essential ports and slots for connectivity. For an uninterrupted working or gaming experience, it has ROG Intelligent Cooling Thermal System which keeps the system cool and stable. Its fully customize RGB backlit keyboard and its bottom light bar that gives an attractive look.
Hardware Specifications Of ASUS ROG Strix G15 – Best Laptop For Architects and Designers
| Processor | (10th Gen) Intel Core i7-10750H Processor |
| RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Hard Disk | 1TB SSD |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 8GB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Display | 15.6 Inch Full HD IPS Display |
| Weight | 5.28 Pounds |
| Battery Life | Upto 4 Hours |
6) CUK MSI GF65 Gaming Notebook – With 32GB of RAM
Many of you might be don’t know that MSI builds dedicated gaming laptops only which you can use for your architecture work also and this CUK MSI GF65 laptop is the best choice for you.
This MSI laptop comes with all the latest and powerful set of hardware specifications. And if you are a traveler then this gaming machine is 0.7 thin which weighs 3.96 pounds only.
Display:
As far as display is concern, this laptop sports 15.6 inches of full HD thin bezel display with 120Hz of refresh rate. On top of that, this is an IPS panel gives you a good viewing angle experince.
Specs:
This gaming laptop is powered by the 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H Hexa-Core processor with a max clock speed up to 4.5GHz. It provides you buttery smooth multitasking experience as it comes with a huge 32GB of DDR4 RAM which makes it an ideal in this list. With this laptop, you will never face any storage issue as it comes with 1TB NVMe SSD which is good enough space.
The NVMe SSD is 4-times faster than the SATA SSD, which also helps to load the applications faster and run demanding programs without lag. To handle graphics intensive work or games it is equipped with 6GB of powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 dedicated graphics card.
Other Features:
The keyboard of this laptop is full-size Steel Series Single backlit keyboard with Anti-Ghost Key and it is specially designed for professional gamers. Moreover, during CPU intensive working sessions to keep the system cool and provide smooth performance it has dedicated thermal solutions for both the CPU and GPU which minimizing the heat and maximizing the airflow.
Overall, under $1500 budget segment this CUK MSI GF65 is one of the best options for you which is powerful yet lightweight also which you can easily carry with you.
Hardware Specifications Of CUK MSI GF65 – Best Laptop For Architecture Student
| Processor | (9th Gen) Intel Core i7-9750H Processor |
| RAM | 32GB RAM |
| Hard Disk | 1TB SSD |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Display | 15.6 Inch Full HD IPS Display |
| Weight | 3.96 Pounds |
| Battery Life | Upto 4 Hours |
7) ASUS ROG Zephyrus M15 – Thin & Portable Laptop
This ASUS ROG Zephyrus M15 is another laptop from ASUS ROG series in this list but this one is a thin and light portable workstation laptop for Architecture work. And this is the best powerful ultrabook for those who are looking for this kind of device.
If we talk about the portability of this machine then it has packed all the powerful specs in a 0.8 thin profile and it has a weight of 4.43 pounds. Many of you concerned about the build quality of this machine then it is built with metal which is durable and looks premium.
Display:
The display of this laptop is a standard 15.6-inch of Full HD IPS Type Pantone Validated display with a 240Hz of high refresh rate which delivers a multitude more frames at the same time as compared to normal 60Hz display.
Specs:
Let’s talk about the performance of this gaming machine, it has got Intel Core i7-10750H Six-Core 9th Gen processor with 12MB cache and turbo up to 5.0GHz. To take care of multitasking on this notebook it comes with 16GB of RAM, which is powerful enough to provide lag-free performance.
Thanks for providing powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 graphics with 8GB of GDDR6 dedicated memory. On the storage front, this laptop is backed by a huge 1TB SSD to store all your software, games, personal files, and data.
Other Features:
Moreover, its ROG Intelligent Cooling Thermal System with dual fans anti-dust technology which give you stable performance during heavy multitasking work. The best part of this laptop is that you can customize the keyboard backlighting with its ROG Aura Sync System.
Hardware Specifications Of ASUS ROG Zephyrus M15 – Best Laptop For Architecture
| Processor | (10th Gen) Intel Core i7-10750H Processor |
| RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Hard Disk | 1TB SSD |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 8GB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Display | 15.6 Inch Full HD IPS Display |
| Weight | 4.43 Pounds |
| Battery Life | Upto 6 Hours |
8) Apple MacBook Pro 16 – Best MacBook For Architects
If you like a MacBook or if you will use software which supports MacOS then you need to go for this Apple MacBook Pro 16. Almost we all love the look of the MacBook, so here I don’t need to talk about this. This MacBook Pro elevates the notebook to a whole new level of performance and portability.
Display:
The display of this MacBook Pro is 16-inch of LED-backlit IPS Retina display with having 2880 x 1800 pixels of resolution. Its Brilliant Retina display with True Tone technology automatically adjusts white balance to match the color temperature of the light around you.
Specs:
This MacBook Pro is powered by the latest 9th Gen Intel Core i7 6-core processor with up to 4.5GHz of turbo boost speed. For a smoother and better multitasking experience, this laptop is backed by 16GB of RAM and 512GB of ultrafast SSD. For real-time graphics performance, this notebook is equipped with AMD Radeon Pro 5300M graphics with 4GB of dedicated memory.
Other Features:
Besides this, it has a Touch Bar feature which automatically adds shortcuts and it depends on which software or app you are using. And also it features Touch ID which allows you to unlock this MacBook with just one touch and it gives advanced security to this device.
The battery backup of this MacBook Pro 16 is quite good which provides up to 11 hours of battery backup on a single charge.
Hardware Specifications Of Apple MacBook Pro – Best MacBook For Architects and Designers
| Processor | (9th Gen) Intel Core i7 Processor |
| RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Hard Disk | 512GB SSD |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon Pro 5300M 4GB |
| Operating System | MacOS |
| Display | 16 Inch Retina Ready Display |
| Weight | 4.3 Pounds |
| Battery Life | Upto 11 Hours |
Final Verdict
All the above laptops have earned a place in this list through its powerful configuration and performance to run the software which is required for an architect. I hope that this buying guide of best laptops for architecture students helps you to choose the perfect laptop for yourself. And also you will get the best laptop for you on this list as per your need and budget.
If you have not get the perfect laptop for you from this list or need any help to choose the best laptop for you then feel free to ask me through the below comment box.
Hello! I am Robbin Simmond a senior editor & writer of this blog. By profession, I am a computer hardware engineer with a passion for gaming and technology. With a deep understanding of the intricate workings of computers, I have spent years researching and testing the latest advancements in gaming laptops.