5 Best Laptops For Architecture 2024: [Approved By Architects]

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If you are an Architect searching for the best laptops for architecture in 2024, this article is just for you.

Architects and students alike must make frequent, brief trips between the construction site, the design studio, your school, and, of course, your home.

Using powerful software and tools such as Rhino, 3ds Max, ArchiCAD, Revit, or Vectorworks is required in modern architecture.

Best Laptops For Architecture

These highly resource-intensive applications require a powerful laptop with the proper configuration.

As a result, companies are now developing mobile ‘workstations,’ which are essentially super-powerful laptops capable of handling anything.

High-powered processors, incredible graphics cards, and ample storage space are now standard on most major brand laptops, and there are good options at various price points.

The list of the best laptops for architecture is as follows:

1. Dell Precision 7730

2. HP ZBook Studio G5

3. MSI WE63 8SJ-235

4. Acer Aspire E15

5. Microsoft Surface Book 2

Come, let’s understand this in brief!

ImageProductDetailPrice
Dell Precision 7730

Dell Precision 7730

  • Intel Core i9-8950HK
  • 17.3″ UltraSharp UHD
  • 64GB DDR4 Memory
  • 512GB SSD
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HP ZBook Studio G5

HP ZBook Studio G5

  • Intel Core i7-8850H
  • 16GB DDR4 RAM
  • 512GB SSD
  • Intel UHD Graphics 630
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MSI WE63 8SJ-235

MSI WE63 8SJ-235

  • Intel Core i7-8750H
  • 15.6 inches
  • 512GB SSD
  • 32GB (16G*2) DDR4
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Acer Aspire E15

Acer Aspire E15

  • Intel Core i7-8550U
  • Quad-core 1.8 GHz
  • NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  • 15.6″ LED Display
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Microsoft Surface Book 2<br>

Microsoft Surface Book 2

  • Intel Core i7
  • Quad-Core 1.9 GHz
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060
  • 512 GB SSD
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5 Best Laptops For Architecture 2024

Are you looking for a dependable laptop to run architecture software and applications?

If so, this post contains a list of the top laptops for architecture students and professionals.

Come, let’s understand this in brief!

1. Dell Precision 7730

Dell Precision 7730

Dell Precision 7730 - Best Laptops For Architecture

Features

  • Intel Core i9-8950HK
  • 17.3″ UltraSharp UHD
  • 64GB DDR4 Memory
  • 512GB SSD

The Dell Precision Series has been billed as the most powerful 17-inch workstation in the world. This product is a true powerhouse that can easily handle even the most demanding applications.

  • The Intel Core i9-8950HK CPU is a true powerhouse, with six cores capable of running highly demanding programs such as video encoding and 3D rendering.
  • This laptop succeeds every time, whether it’s games, video encoding, CAD software, or simply transferring files. 
  • The 8GB GDDR5 memory can run the most graphics-intensive programs or recent games at high settings. 
  • The Dell Precision 7730 is an excellent laptop for architects and, in my opinion, the most powerful workstation available today.
  • But it’s not just the world-class CPU and graphics processor – the keyboard is extremely comfortable, and the chassis is sleek.

If you don’t mind the price, it’s a great buy.

Pros

  • Super fast processor
  • 64GB of RAM
  • Vibrant 4K Display
  • Nvidia Quadro Graphics Card
  • Plenty of Ports

Cons

  • Battery life isn’t that great
  • Heats up easily

2. HP ZBook Studio G5

HP ZBook Studio G5

HP ZBook Studio G5

Features

  • Intel Core i7-8850H
  • 16GB DDR4 RAM
  • 512GB SSD
  • Intel UHD Graphics 630

The ZBook series has long been a frontrunner in mobile workstations, with HP touting the ZBook Studio model as the “world’s most powerful workstation of its size.” The G5 model is one of the most powerful.

  • Its Intel Core i9 processor 
  • Graphics can comfortably handle the modeling and visualization needs of even the most demanding projects, making it ideal for architects and rendering professionals who prioritize power.
  • This HP laptop is our pick for the best architectural laptop for students. The reason for this is that it is extremely powerful
  • It looks nice in silver and grey, and the 15.6-inch screen keeps it light 
  • The Intel Core i7-8750H has 6 CPU cores, making it a hexacore chip in terms of performance. 
  • The clock speeds of these cores range from 2.2 to 4.1 GHz. RAM can be expanded to a maximum capacity of 64GB.
  • It also has two M.2 2280 slots for SSDs, making it extremely customizable. 
  • The HP laptop is available with 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, or up to 2 TB of SSD storage. 
  • The best part is that the CPU does not overheat when you continue to work on it.

Pros

  • Very Upgradeable
  • Hexacore CPU
  • CAD-optimized Nvidia Quadro Graphics Card
  • Bang And Olufsen speakers
  • 4K display
  • Less heat emission

Cons

  • The screen might be small for some
  • Slightly outdated graphics card

3. MSI WE63 8SJ-235

MSI WE63 8SJ-235

MSI WE63 8SJ-235

Features

  • Intel Core i7-8750H
  • 15.6 inches
  • 512GB SSD
  • 32GB (16G*2) DDR4

This laptop has the distinction of being the most well-balanced for architects. It is powerful while remaining relatively lightweight.

It is a super-fast workstation that is also reasonably priced.

  • The 15.6-inch screen has a 1920*1080 resolution.
  • It has an anti-glare screen with a very wide field of view, which adds to its convenience. 
  • Color quality is excellent at 94 percent NTSC, so all the fine details on your architectural maps will be visible.
  • This mobile workstation has much going for it and can be easily upgraded. 
  • The RAM can be increased to 32 GB, and the SSD storage can be increased to 1 TB.
  • When necessary, the hexacore processor can reach a maximum speed of 4.1 GHz before cooling down.
  • The NVIDIA Quadro P2000 graphics card is one of the most powerful graphics cards available today, and this laptop is also ISV-certified.
  • It has been designed to run various applications such as AutoDesk, Siemens, and Adobe.
  • This laptop is also VR-capable, which means it can create and run VR applications.
  • Unsurprisingly, the battery life isn’t up to par for a device with this much power. At maximum capacity, the battery lasts about 3.5 hours.

If you don’t mind leaving your laptop plugged in, you should be OK with this laptop.

However, if you want to use other applications, the battery is more than adequate, and the laptop is light enough to be carried anywhere.

Pros

  • NVIDIA graphics card
  • Upgradeable configurations
  • Felt bottom
  • ISV certification
  • Plenty Of USB ports 
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Low Battery Life
  • The display isn’t 4K

4. Acer Aspire E 15

Acer Aspire E 15

Acer Aspire E 15

Features

  • Intel Core i7-8550U
  • Quad-core 1.8 GHz
  • NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  • 15.6″ LED Display

To be honest, this is a low-cost laptop made of chunky plastic and weighing 5 pounds. On the other hand, the brushed exterior and the touchpad’s chrome lining give it a premium appearance.

In terms of performance, it delivers a lot of bang for your buck. It can handle anything you throw at it, and it can handle it well, as long as you keep the graphics settings low and have patience.

  • The CPU speed can be increased to 4 GHz, which doesn’t improve at this price point. 
  • Rotating hard disc drives and the meager 8 GB of RAM make running high-intensity applications difficult.
  • The 2800 mA battery can last up to 8 hours on simple browsing, which is impressive for such a low-cost laptop.

This is an excellent laptop for the price-conscious customer, and while it may not appear to be as high-end as some of the other computers on this list, it provides just as much, if not more, value for money.

Pros

  • Affordable
  • 1080p display
  • Plenty of ports
  • Great battery

Cons

  • Not that colorful
  • RAM is a bit low

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5. Microsoft Surface Book 2

Microsoft Surface Book 2

Microsoft Surface Book 2

Features

  • Intel Core i7
  • Quad-Core 1.9 GHz
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060
  • 512 GB SSD

The Microsoft Surface Book is made entirely of aluminum, has a sleek design, and is significantly larger than the previous Surface Book. It will undoubtedly turn a few heads.

The Surface Book’s popularity stems from its dual-mode functionality.

You can twist the display back behind the keyboard if you don’t want to use the keyboard and want to use the Surface Book as a studio.

  • The Microsoft Surface pen can be used for shading and drawing. 
  • The pressure sensor on the screen is extremely accurate, and the software automatically erases stray lines or errors.
  • When moving the pen across the screen, there is almost no lag. 
  • The 16 GB RAM may appear on the low side if you run multiple heavy-duty applications.
  • But no matter how hard you push this laptop, 
  • The best part is that it is completely silent due to the GPU and CPU being separated. 
  • The most powerful 2-in-1 laptop on the market, capable of outperforming many gaming laptops.
  • The Nvidia GTX 1060 graphics card can handle all CAD-related software and most games at 1080p resolution. 
  • There is no decrease in frame rates.

Pros

  • Superb battery backup
  • Visual Clarity
  • Highly Versatile Modes Of Working
  • No lag while using the surface pen
  • Looks very modern

Cons

  • The screen is a little small
  • The display is not 4K

3 Highly Recommended Laptops for Architecture and Designers

I’ve included three other laptops below that are ideal for an architect’s work. An individual should go through this too for more understanding and to choose the best one for his/her career.

1. Apple MacBook Pro

Apple MacBook Pro

Apple MacBook Pro

Features

  • M1 Max chip
  • 16‑core GPU
  • 16GB RAM
  • 512GB SSD

The Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch is a powerful laptop with all of the aesthetic qualities you’d expect from an Apple computer, and the additional inch in display size makes this model ideal for visual designers.

The specifications on the inside are also impressive, with up to 8TB of storage space and 11 hours of battery life, making this the most spacious and long-lasting MacBook to date.

Add in Parallels (which allows you to run Windows programs like Revit on your MacBook), and you’ve got all the software you need in the hardware you love.

2. Asus ROG Zephyrus

Asus ROG Zephyrus

Asus ROG Zephyrus

Features

  • AMD Ryzen 9
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060
  • 16GB Memory
  • 1TB SSD

The Asus ROG Zephyrus is one of the most reputable, claiming to be “the world’s most powerful 14-inch” laptop, making it ideal for architects who enjoy gaming.

An 8-core AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS CPU and GeForce RTX 2060 GPU enable designers to multitask at high speeds.

The laptop’s 14-inch display keeps it compact, and it weighs only 3.64 lbs, which is light for a machine of this power and capability.

3. Lenovo ThinkPad P73

Lenovo ThinkPad P73

Lenovo ThinkPad P73

Features

  • Intel Core i7
  • Full HD Display
  • NVIDIA Quadro P620 Graphics
  • ‎512 GB

Lenovo is another brand with a strong reputation for delivering high performance at a low cost, making it a popular choice among creative professionals in recent years.

The P73 is the most powerful model in Lenovo’s Thinkpad series, with an Intel Core i7-9750H 2.60GHz processor and NVIDIA Quadro P620 graphics, allowing for real-time 3D and VR rendering speeds.

The massive 17-inch screen is also impressive: the P73 features a Full HD, 300-nit display, allowing you to see your designs in full technicolor glory.

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Conclusion: Best Laptops For Architecture 2024

All of the best laptops on this list are powerful enough to run the architecture engineering programs.

So, whether you’re a drafting professional or an architect, you’ll be able to find a laptop that meets your hardware needs while also staying within your budget.

The Dell Precision 7730, an excellent laptop for architects and arguably the most powerful workstation on the market today, is the most balanced laptop that can meet your architectural work needs out of all the laptops listed in this post.

It is a high-speed and reasonably-priced workstation. If you enjoy Apple products, consider the Apple Macbook Pro 16-inch.

I hope that choosing any of the laptops on this list will relieve some of the stress of finding the best laptop for your architectural needs.

Aishwar Babber

Aishwar Babber is a passionate blogger and digital marketer who has worked in the industry for over six years. He loves to talk and blog about gadget, and latest tech, which motivates him to run GizmoBase. He has a deep understanding of how to create and execute successful marketing campaigns and is an expert in SEO, affiliate marketing, and blogging. Aishwar is also an investor and creator of multiple blogs on various niches. You can find him on Linkedin, Instagram, & Facebook.

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