Are you looking for the best laptops for civil engineering students? If yes, then it’s not an easy task as much as you think, it’s more challenging and varied tasks. The laptop is one of the essential things for civil engineers and engineering students because they depend on a laptop to complete their project design and other works.
If we talk about the courses of education, then civil engineering is one of the most rewarding streams for a college student. As a student, to complete your projects on time you need the best laptop to run all the important and heavy software like Revit, SolidWorks, AutoCAD, 3ds Max, STAAD Pro, Google Sketchup, etc.
To help you out to find the best laptop for civil engineering I have created this list so that you can choose the laptop easily without wasting your time. But, before that, it’s very important to note that the required specifications which you need to keep in mind while you are going to buy the laptop for civil engineering.
I have done many research and in most of the universities, recommended minimum laptop requirements are almost the same.
Contents
- Things To Consider For Buying A Laptop For Civil Engineering Students
- Quick Overview Of Best Laptops For Civil Engineering Students
- Best Laptops For Civil Engineering Students – Top 10 Picks
- 1) Acer Nitro 5 – Best Budget Laptop For Students
- 2) Acer Predator Helios 300 – Best Value For Money Laptop
- 3) Acer Aspire 7 – Best Affordable Laptop
- 4) Dell G3 15 3500 Gaming Laptop
- 5) ASUS VivoBook K571 – Thin & Light Laptop
- 6) Alienware M15 R3 – Best 15 Inch Laptop For Civil Engineering
- 7) ASUS ROG Zephyrus M15 – High Performance Portable Laptop
- 8) MSI GL65 Leopard 10SFK-062 – Our Top Choice
- 9) ASUS ROG Strix G15 – Best Windows Laptop For Civil Engineering
- 10) MSI WS65 9Tk-688 – Best Workstation For Civil Engineering
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Final Verdict
Things To Consider For Buying A Laptop For Civil Engineering Students
1. Processor:
Most colleges and universities require a laptop with a minimum system requirement of Intel Core i5 processor but they recommend the Intel Core i7 processor which is powerful than the i5 processor.
As a beginner, an i5 processor laptop is good for you but not for the long run. Because at the end of your engineering year you will do some heavy 3D works and the i5 CPU will not able to handle that. And it will take too much time to render 3D files, also you will face a lag issue.
While the i7 processor will render your 3D files with ease and give you a great working experience, so if you have a good budget then go with the i7 processor only.
2. RAM:
To take care of multitasking work need a minimum of 8GB of RAM but most colleges recommend 16GB of RAM. If you will buy a laptop with 8GB of RAM then there is a chance your machine can slowing down while you are doing heavy multitasking work. But with 16GB of RAM and an i7 processor, you will enjoy your work without any hiccups.
3. Graphics Card:
As a civil engineer, you will use heavy software like AutoCAD, 3ds Max, Revit, etc. So to render 3D files faster and for better graphics, it’s good to have a dedicated graphics card, and it also improves the overall performance of the machine.
If you will buy a laptop with i5 processor then here I suggest you go for at least 2GB of NVIDIA GeForce MX350 or 4GB of NVIDIA GTX 1650. But if you have a good budget and planning to buy an i7 processor laptop then try to get NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 or 2070.
4. Storage:
Nowadays you will get two storage types such as Solid State Drive (SSD) and the Hard Disk Drive (HDD). Actually, SSD drive is faster and expensive than the normal HDD drive but it improves the overall performance of the laptop.
One best thing is that these days you will get two storage in a single laptop but in a few laptops like 128GB of SSD and 1TB of HDD drive.
If you have checked all the above points and keeping in mind all the things which you need to consider then now you have a better idea would be to choose the best laptop for yourself.
So are you ready to check it out the list? Let’s get started.
Quick Overview Of Best Laptops For Civil Engineering Students
Best Laptops For Civil Engineering Students – Top 10 Picks
1) Acer Nitro 5 – Best Budget Laptop For Students
If you are a beginner or don’t have much budget then this Acer Nitro 5 is a perfect choice for you. Around the budget of $800, this Acer laptop comes with many appealing features and an attractive design aesthetic that exceed expectations.
Display:
Speaking about the display, it has got 15.6 inches of full HD LED-backlit display with 1920 x 1080 pixels of resolution. The display of this laptop has IPS technology which delivers rich color from the wide-viewing angle.
Specs:
It has inside the latest 9th Gen Intel Core i5-9300H processor and paired with 8GB of RAM. If you will work on a small to medium size file then it will provide you smooth performance, but while you will work on a large size file then there is a chance machine will slow down. Thanks for providing NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics with 4GB of dedicated memory.
On the storage front, it is backed by 256GB of SSD storage space, which might be not enough space for many. But the best thing is that it has a hard drive bay for a storage upgrade.
Other Features:
Under the hood, it has Acer Cool Boost technology that keeps the system cool while you are working on a heavy file size. Apart from this, the acer boasts that this laptop provides up to 8 hours of battery backup which is amazing.
For connectivity, it comes with all the essential ports and slots. If you are concern about the keyboard then it comes with full size backlit keyboard that provides comfortable working experience in a dim light situation.
Overall, this Acer Nitro 5 laptop’s specifications and features at this price range, which makes it an ideal in this list which you can buy right now.
Hardware Specifications Of Acer Nitro 5 – Best Budget Laptops For Civil Engineering Students
| Processor | (9th Gen) Intel Core i5-9300H Processor |
| RAM | 8GB RAM |
| Hard Disk | 256GB SSD |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Display | 15.6 Inch Full HD Widescreen LED-backlit IPS Display |
| Weight | 5.07 Pounds |
| Battery Life | Upto 8 Hours |
2) Acer Predator Helios 300 – Best Value For Money Laptop
If you are looking for work and play machine then this Acer Predator Helios 300 is a good option for you. Actually, this is a pure gaming laptop that anyone can understand as per the design which it has got. The outer body of this Acer laptop is built with metal that finished in a black with blue accents that give fully gaming feel.
Display:
The display of this laptop is 15.6 inches of Full HD widescreen LED-backlit display with IPS panel which delivers you brilliant colors from any perspective.
Specs:
Let’s move towards the specifications of this laptop, it is powered by the latest 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H 6-Core processor with turbo up to 5.0GHz. To handle all your civil engineering software it has 16GB of DDR4 RAM which is powerful enough to deliver you a smooth performance without hiccups.
For the storage segment of this device, it comes with 512GB of SSD drive which is an ample amount of space to store all your projects. But in case if you want to increase the storage of this laptop then you can do that as it has an available hard drive bay for easy upgrades.
To render 3D files, it is equipped with an overclockable 6GB of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 dedicated graphics card.
Other Features:
This Acer laptop runs on the Windows 10 operating system and provides you up to 6 hours of decent battery backup. Moreover, it has AeroBlade 3D fans which help to keep the system cool during heavy multitasking work and give you stable performance.
For immersive sound, it comes with DTS X Ultra which takes your multimedia experience to the next level. Overall, this Acer Predator Helios 300 is the best bang for buck deal which you can buy right now.
Hardware Specifications Of Acer Predator Helios 300
| 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 Widescreen LED-backlit IPS Display |
| Weight | 5.07 Pounds |
| Battery Life | Upto 6 Hours |
3) Acer Aspire 7 – Best Affordable Laptop
Are you looking for a laptop under $800 budget for civil engineering then this Acer Aspire 7 is a perfect match for you. If we talk about the design of this laptop, then it comes with a sleek and stylish design and finished in Black which gives premium look.
Display:
It comes with a 15.6-inch of full HD Widescreen LED backlit display with IPS technology which ensures colors remain vivid and bold at a wide-view angle.
The thing which is worth mentioning here about the display is its Acer ExaColor and Acer BlueLight Shield feature that helps to keep your eyes free from strain and fatigue while you are working for a long.
Specs:
Speaking about the internals, it is powered by the 9th Generation Intel Core i5-9300H processor with turbo boost up to 4.1GHz. To handle multitasking work on this device it is backed by 8GB of DDR4 RAM and 512GB of faster SSD, which helps to boot up the system and load applications faster.
If you are concerned about the graphics of this device then it is equipped with 4GB of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 dedicated graphics card.
Other Features:
Moreover, it has got a full size backlit keyboard with a numeric keypad that helps you to stay productive in a dark place. The battery life is also impressive of this notebook, it provides you up to 8.5 hours of battery life on a full charge.
Hardware Specifications Of Acer Aspire 7 – Best i5 Civil Engineering Laptop
| 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 Widescreen LED backlit IPS Display |
| Weight | 4.74 Pounds |
| Battery Life | Upto 8.5 Hours |
4) Dell G3 15 3500 Gaming Laptop
Dell has launched the G series laptops especially for gaming but this Dell G3 15 3500 looks like a pure gaming laptop and also internal has proved that. The chassis of this laptop is finish in a matte black with blue accents which gives it to attractive look and feels.
Display:
This gaming laptop has got 15.6 inches of full HD LED-Backlit display with IPS panel which delivers sharp visuals from virtually every angle. Also, the display screen of this laptop is Anti-Glare, which helps to prevent sun and light glare on the screen.
On top of that, the display has a 144Hz of refresh rate that delivers more frames as compared to a normal 60Hz display.
Specs:
It has an inside the latest 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H processor with 12MB Cache and turbo boost up to 5.0GHz. To take care of all the software and multitasking it comes with 16GB of DDR4 RAM.
Thanks for providing fast and powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 graphics with 6GB of dedicated memory. Moreover, this Dell laptop runs on the Windows 10 operating system and got all the required ports.
If you are concerned about the storage of this notebook, then it comes with 512GB of SSD that boot up the system fast, and it is enough space to store all your data.
Other Features:
Apart from the hardware, for better sound quality, it comes with two front-firing speakers with Nahimic Sound Center. It features dual-fan cooling system which helps to keep the system cool in under pressure and gives you uninterrupted gaming experience.
Hardware Specifications Of Dell G3 15 3500 – Best Dell Laptop For Civil Engineering
| 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-Backlit Display |
| Weight | 8.93 Pounds |
| Battery Life | Upto 5 Hours |
5) ASUS VivoBook K571 – Thin & Light Laptop
This ASUS VivoBook K571 is a thin and light laptop in this list of best laptops for civil engineering students which is good option for travelers. If we talk about the portability of this device then it is just 0.7 thin and has only 3.97 pounds of weight.
Display:
Speaking about the display, it comes with a 15.6 inches of full HD 120Hz refresh rate display with IPS technology which provides richer, deeper, and more accurate colors.
On top of that, the display has ASUS Splendid feature with two display modes such as “Normal mode” is ideal for daily tasks and “Vivid mode” helps to optimize the contrast to deliver stunning photos and videos.
Specs:
Let’s move towards the internals of this laptop, it is powered by the 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H processor and coupled with 16GB of RAM. The graphics on this device is backed by the 4GB of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 dedicated graphics card.
This powerful config of this laptop will give you a buttery smooth working experience while you are doing multitasking or gaming. On the storage front, it comes with 256GB of the fast and secure SSD drive, and to store all your favorite movies, songs, games, files, and data it has 1TB of huge HDD drive.
Other Features:
Apart from this, it has a dual-fan with exceptional cooling from the heat pipes and vents which helps to stay the system cool and stable even after long hours of use. For the connectivity, it comes with all the required ports and slots.
Hardware Specifications Of ASUS VivoBook K571
| Processor | (9th Gen) Intel Core i7-9750H Processor |
| RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Hard Disk | 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Display | 15.6 Inch Full HD IPS Display |
| Weight | 4.7 Pounds |
| Battery Life | Upto 6 Hours |
This ASUS ZenBook 15 is another thin and lightweight laptop from ASUS in this list but this is 4K laptop.
So let’s talk about the display of this notebook first, it sports 15.6 inch of 4K UHD four-way NanoEdge bezel display which gives you 92% screen to body ratio.
With its 4096 x 2160 resolution, this laptop delivers crisp and clear visual, which is the plus point for engineering students who may need to use designing software.
And the interesting feature of this notebook is its 5.65-inch of interactive touchscreen trackpad that gives you smarter control and endless multitasking experience.
Let’s move towards the specs of this ultrabook, it has inside Intel Core i7-10510U Quad Core 10th Gen processor which is coupled with 16GB of RAM. On the graphics part, it is equipped with 4GB of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 dedicated graphics card. And it is featuring with 512GB of SSD drive to fulfill your storage needs.
Besides this, it has white backlit keyboard and Windows Hello feature for the better security. | Buy Now From Amazon
6) Alienware M15 R3 – Best 15 Inch Laptop For Civil Engineering
If you are looking for a high performance laptop with a premium build quality then this Alienware M15 R3 is the best option for you if the budget is doesn’t matter for you. Let’s talk about the build quality of this laptop first, it is built with premium materials like magnesium alloy, copper, and steel which gives rich look and feels.
Display:
It sports 15.6 inches of full HD 144Hz display with 72% NTSC color gamut and 300-nit brightness which provides accurate color brightness. On top of that, it has Eyesafe display technology that keeps your eyes safe by reducing harmful blue light rays without any color distortion.
Specs:
This Alienware laptop is powered by the 10th Gen i7-10750H 6-core processor with turbo up to 5.0GHz which delivers superior gaming performance. And the multitasking of this laptop is managed by 16GB of RAM which is enough to handle almost all the tasks with ease.
To handle graphics of this device it comes with powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 graphics with 6GB of dedicated memory.
Other Features:
Thanks for providing 512GB of SSD drive which is enough space to store all your projects, favorite games, software, etc. Moreover, it has Alienware Cryo-Tech technology that keeps the system cool and maximizes the overall performance. And to take your gaming experience to the next level it has AlienFX lighting RGB backlit keyboard.
Hardware Specifications Of Alienware M15 R3
| 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 Display |
| Weight | 4.65 Pounds |
| Battery Life | Upto 4 Hours |
7) ASUS ROG Zephyrus M15 – High Performance Portable Laptop
If you are looking for a workstation which is thin and portable also then this ASUS ROG Zephyrus M15 laptop is the best option for you. The chassis of this ASUS laptop is built with metal which is finish in Prism Gray. And if we talk about the portability of this workstation then all-powerful specs are packed in 0.8 thin profile which weighs 4.43 pounds only.
Display:
The display of this laptop is 15.6 inches of full HD IPS Type Pantone Validated display which delivers crisp and clear visuals from a wide-viewing angle. The display of this laptop is combined with a 240Hz of high refresh rate which provides silky smooth gameplay in vivid true color.
Specs:
This ASUS laptop is powered by the 10th Gen Intel Hexa-Core i7-10750H 6-core processor with max turbo frequency up to 5.0 GHz. Multitasking on this device is handled by the 16GB of DDR4 RAM and for graphics, it has 8GB of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 GDDR6 dedicated graphics card with Max-Q Design.
Other Features:
For the storage, this laptop comes with 1TB of SSD which is good enough space, and the best thing is that it works better than the HDD drive. Apart from this, it has ROG Intelligent Cooling thermal system with dual fans and anti-dust technology that keeps the system cool and stable while you are working on an intense project.
For a comfortable typing experience in a dark situation, it has ROG Aura Sync System with RGB Backlit Keyboard. All the required ports and slots are available with this gaming machine for multimedia connectivity.
Hardware Specifications Of ASUS ROG Zephyrus M15
| 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) MSI GL65 Leopard 10SFK-062 – Our Top Choice
This MSI GL65 Leopard 10SFK-062 laptop is from MSI who known to build only dedicated gaming laptops.
Display:
It comes with a standard 15.6 inches of full HD IPS thin-bezel display with 100%sRGB color gamut which delivers accurate color from a wide angle. And its 144Hz refresh rate provides more frames within the same time as compared to 60Hz.
Specs:
It has an Intel Core i7-10750H Six-Core 10th gen processor with 12MB cache and intel turbo boost up to 5.0GHz. For better and faster performance, this laptop is equipped with 16GB of DDR4 RAM, which is further expandable up to 64GB.
To handle graphics-intensive projects and games it has got powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 graphics with massive 8GB dedicated memory.
As far as storage is your concern then it is equipped with 512GB of SSD drive which is enough space to store all your projects and other data.
Other Features:
Moreover, to keep the system cool and stable during intense working or gaming sessions it has Cooler Boost 5 technology. The keyboard of this laptop is a full-size per key RGB gaming keyboard and the main thing is that it is specially designed as per professional gamer’s needs.
Overall, around the $1700 budget segment, this MSI GL65 Leopard 10SFK-062 is the best laptop for civil engineering or any other heavy tasks as it has got that much powerful config.
Hardware Specifications Of MSI GL65 Leopard 10SFK-062
| Processor | (10th Gen) Intel Core i7-10750H Processor |
| RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Hard Disk | 512GB SSD |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 8GB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Display | 15.6 Inch Full HD IPS Display |
| Weight | 9.78 Pounds |
| Battery Life | Upto 4 Hours |
9) ASUS ROG Strix G15 – Best Windows Laptop For Civil Engineering
ASUS has launched ROG (Republic of Gamers) series laptop especially for gaming and this ASUS ROG Strix G15 laptop also comes from that series. If anyone who is looking for a powerful and attractive laptop then its per key RGB backlit keyboard and bottom light bar fulfills your requirements.
Display:
Speaking about the display, it sports 15.6-inch of full HD IPS 240Hz of gaming display which delivers ultra smooth visuals while gaming or watching movies.
Specs:
This ASUS laptop has inside the newest Intel Core i7-10750H 10th Gen processor with turbo boost technology up to 5.0GHz. It runs on the Windows 10 operating system and equipped with 16GB of DDR4 RAM which is clocked at a blazing-fast 3200MHz.
To handle high gaming titles on this device it has 8GB of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 dedicated graphics card with ROG Boost. On the storage front, this laptop houses with a huge 1TB of SSD drive to store all your software, games, video, data, digital pictures, etc.
Other Features:
This gaming machine has Rog Intelligent Cooling Thermal System which keeps the system cool during CPU intensive projects. Besides this, for better multimedia or gaming experience this gaming laptop comes with ROG Aura Sync customize RGB backlighting keyboard. And for the connectivity options, it has all the essential ports and slots.
Hardware Specifications Of ASUS ROG Strix G15
| 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 |
10) MSI WS65 9Tk-688 – Best Workstation For Civil Engineering
This MSI WS65 9Tk-688 is another laptop from MSI in this list of best laptops for civil engineering students but this one is a beast.
Display:
Many of you might be thinking about the display, so it comes with a 15.6-inch of full HD IPS display with 100%sRGB color gamut which provides brilliant clarity and contrast from any angle.
Specs:
Let’s talk about the performance of this machine first, it is powered by the Intel Core i7-9750H 6-core processor with 2.6GHz of base frequency and 4.5GHz of max frequency. To handle multitasking and faster performance on this device it houses with massive 32GB of DDR4 RAM and 512GB Solid State Drive.
Actually, 32GB of RAM is good enough but if you want to expand then it is further expandable upto 64GB. Under the hood, it is equipped with powerful NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 graphics with 6GB GDDR5 VRAM to take care of graphics-intensive tasks.
Other Features:
This MSI workstation laptop runs on the Windows 10 operating system and includes all the required ports and slots. All in all, this MSI WS65 9Tk-688 gaming laptop is the perfect balance between design and performance which you can buy right now if the budget is doesn’t matter.
Hardware Specifications Of MSI WS65 9Tk-688 – With 32GB RAM
| Processor | (9th Gen) Intel Core i7-9750H Processor |
| RAM | 32GB RAM |
| Hard Disk | 512GB SSD |
| Graphics | NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 6GB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Display | 15.6 Inch Full HD IPS Display |
| Weight | 7.6 Pounds |
| Battery Life | Upto 3 Hours |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Well, the answer to this question is, you should go through the above-mentioned things to consider points, which will really give you an idea to choose the perfect laptop for civil engineering.
For buying the best laptop for any course first you have to decide the budget so as per your budget you can choose the best laptop in that budget. In this list, I have added laptops in different budgets so anyone can choose as per their need and budget.
If you have a budget of around $800 then you can go for Acer Nitro 5 or Acer Aspire 7. However, if anyone is looking for a laptop around $1200 budget then ASUS VivoBook K571 and Dell G3 15 3500 is the best option for you. And for those budget is doesn’t matter then they can go through all the laptops and choose wisely.
The answer is big Yes, to learn all the software of civil engineering and complete your college assignments it requires a laptop. And as a civil engineering student, you will use heavy 3D software such as STAAD Pro, SolidWorks, AutoCAD, 3ds Max, etc., and for that you need a high config laptop.
As a beginner, 8GB RAM is enough and this is a minimum requirement for a civil engineering student. But most of the colleges/universities recommend 16GB RAM and it will really give you great performance even if you are doing heavy multitasking work. While 8GB RAM is not powerful enough if you want to render heavy 3D files or want to do any kind of heavy work.
If you are planning to buy a laptop which you can use even after completing your civil engineering course then I recommend you to go for 16GB RAM and an i7 processor.
Final Verdict
After spending number of hours for doing extreme research on it then I have made this list of best laptops for civil engineering students. I hope that this laptop buying guide will be helpful for you to choose the right laptop for yourself.
If this article is useful for you, then hit on share buttons to support it. Also, still, if you need help for choosing a laptop then feel free to ask me by just leave a comment below.
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.