Architectural engineering requires a different kind of programs. You will be required to create elaborate designs compared to other engineers. When looking at best laptop for Architecture to buy, ensure that it has specifications that will be run software like V-Ray, Sketch Up Pro, 3Ds Max, Revit Architecture and Autocad 3D effectively. Such a laptop should have capable hardware. Here are the qualities to look for.
How to choose the laptop for Architecture
1. Processor
This is the equivalent of a brain in the computer. Its capability depends on the number of cores and its frequency. How important each of these is depends on the ability of a program to utilize multiple cores.
3D design creation software (3ds Max) allows you to create, modify and even animate 3D models. These programs are able to utilize a single core when operating. For the purposes of using such software you will be better off with a processor that has few cores but a high frequency.
V-ray and other rendering engines on the other hand are able to utilize many cores. The use of more cores often means that the operations of the laptop are faster than using one core. In some cases the speed is increased even by as many times as the number of cores. For such processes, the best processor is one that has many cores.
As an architectural engineering you will need to create designs as render them. Therefore, the best laptop is one that has many cores and has a high frequency CPU. This way, both drawing and rendering programs will be at their optimum performances when you run them.
2. Graphics Cards
Laptop for Architecture requires the display of complex scenes which can only be done by a capable graphics card. There are several things to look at when choosing the perfect graphics card. The first is the brand. There are many brands you can choose out there but we recommend Radeon and NVIDIA.
The frames per second are also important. It is the FPS that determines how the viewport displays the models you create using 3D software. A high FPS means a smooth display even when the model is zoomed, rotated and panned around. The minimum FPS rating you should accept is 30 but for best displays choose 60 FPS.
A fast processor and lots of memory are required for a graphics card to operate optimally. Choose a laptop that has at least 4GB of dedicated GPU for best results.
3. Memory
The RAM required differs depending on the complexity of the projects you do. The more complex the project is, the more the RAM it requires. A good laptop for Architecture should have at least 16GB. If you will be working on complex projects, however, you better get 32GB RAM. This is usually enough for most projects but if you have many highly complex and high resolution rendering projects you may need 64GB RAM or even higher.
4. Storage
SSDs are more reliable and stable than HDDs. We recommend that you always opt for an SSD drive as your preferred primary storage. The good news is that the price of SSDs is falling and you can get a good size for an affordable price. Install the OS and the architecture software on the SSD.
If you need a lot of storage then HDDs are a more practical option. They cost way lower than SSD drives per GB and offer good storage though without the high performance SSDs have.
Best laptop for Architecture 2021
 | CPU: Core i7-7700HQ 3.8GHz | Buy on Amazon |
| RAM: 16GB DDR4 | ||
| Graphics: GTX 1060 6GB | ||
| Screen: 15.6 Full HD | ||
| Hard Drive: 256GB SSD | ||
| Rating: | ||
 | CPU: Core i7-7700HQ 3.8GHz | Buy on Amazon |
| RAM: 16GB DDR4 | ||
| Graphics: GTX 1060 6GB | ||
| Screen: 15.6" Full HD | ||
| Hard Drive: 128GB SSD+1T HDD | ||
| Rating: | ||
 | CPU: Core i5-7300HQ 3.5GHz | Buy on Amazon |
| RAM: 8GB DDR4 | ||
| Graphics: GTX 1050 4GB | ||
| Screen: 15.6" 4K Ultra HD | ||
| Hard Drive: 256GB SSD | ||
| Rating: | ||
 | CPU: Core i7-7700HQ 3.8 GHz | Buy on Amazon |
| RAM: 16GB DDR4 | ||
| Graphics: GTX 1070 8G | ||
| Screen: 17.3" Full HD | ||
| Hard Drive: 128GB SSD+1T HDD | ||
| Rating: |