Engineering and architecture students ask us the same question every term: what laptop do I actually need? The answer depends on the software your course uses. Some programs run fine on a normal office laptop. Others need a workstation.
Check your software first
Before you look at laptops, find out which programs you’ll use and check their system requirements on the developer’s website. A few things to know:
- AutoCAD for 2D drawings is fairly light. A modern Core i5 or Ryzen 5 with 16GB of RAM handles it well.
- Revit, SolidWorks and 3ds Max work with large 3D models. They benefit from a dedicated graphics card and more memory.
- SolidWorks and Revit run on Windows only. If your course depends on them, a Windows laptop is the simple choice.
The specs that matter
Processor. CAD software uses one core for many tasks, so a recent processor with a high clock speed matters more than a huge core count. Look for H or HX-series Intel chips, or Ryzen HS and H chips, from the last few generations.
Memory. 16GB is the minimum for 3D work. If you’ll build large assemblies or full building models, 32GB makes a real difference. Our RAM guide covers this in more detail.
Graphics. Workstation laptops use professional NVIDIA cards like the RTX A1000, A2000 or the newer RTX Ada models. These drivers are tested and certified with CAD programs, which means fewer glitches in the viewport. A gaming GeForce card will also run most of this software, but certification is something many companies and universities prefer.
Screen. A 15 or 16-inch screen gives you room for toolbars and the model at the same time. If you’ll mostly work at a desk, a 14-inch laptop with an external monitor is a lighter option.
Why a pre-owned workstation makes sense
New mobile workstations are expensive. Companies replace them on a schedule, so two- or three-year-old Dell Precision, HP ZBook and Lenovo ThinkPad P machines come onto the market with plenty of life left. You get professional graphics and build quality for the price of a mid-range consumer laptop.
A simple way to choose
- First-year or mostly 2D: a business laptop with a Core i5 or Ryzen 5 and 16GB of RAM.
- 3D modelling and rendering: a workstation with 16 to 32GB of RAM and an NVIDIA RTX A-series or Ada graphics card.
- Graduation project or heavy rendering: 32GB or more and the strongest graphics card your budget allows.
You can browse all of our workstation laptops here. If you tell us which software your course uses, we’ll point you to the models that fit it.
