AutoCAD is a powerful program, but it can be tough to get the most out of it if you’re using the wrong tools.
You might be tempted to try and save some money by using an old laptop or even your phone to run AutoCAD, but you’ll quickly find that this strategy won’t get you very far.
The best way to get the most out of AutoCAD is by using a laptop that’s specifically designed for running CAD programs.
Not only will you have more processing power and memory at your disposal, but you’ll also have a dedicated graphics card that will make working with 3D models much easier.
To sum it up, the best laptop for AutoCAD is the one that lets you work where and how you want. With the right hardware and software, you can take your designs with you wherever you go.
Keep in mind, there is a lot of conflicting information out there about what the best laptop for AutoCAD is. Some say you need a powerful machine with loads of RAM, while others swear by using pen and paper instead!
In this article, we’ll clear things up and share our top picks for the best laptops for AutoCAD – based on real-world experience. Let’s get started!
7 of the Best Laptops For Autocad
Here is my list.
1. Alienware m15 R3 – Top Pick
Breaking the ice with our first pick which is also one of the best laptops for AutoCAD, we have the Alienware m15.
As we all know, Alienware is a very well-known company when it comes to robust laptops and powerful gaming laptops. They are famous for their unique and out-of-the-box designs. This one is not an exception either.
And it is common knowledge that generating ideas and finalizing them quickly is the key to success in any design field, which is why a fast laptop like this one is essential for anyone who wants to use AutoCAD professionally.
With a powerful 10th Generation Intel Core i7 processor, this laptop will let you experience the true meaning of speed and smoothness while working with AutoCAD or any other graphic design software.
The graphics card included in this laptop is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060. This card is more than capable of handling any AutoCAD project you might have.
The storage capacity of this laptop is also very impressive. It comes with 1TB of storage space which is more than enough for any AutoCAD project and the best part is that it is incredibly speedy!
But the speed is not the only impressive thing about this laptop. At just 4.65lb and under 20.5mm, this is the thinnest laptop in Alienware history.
Moreover, the display is also one of the best you can find on any laptop. It is a 15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080) display with beyond the standard 72% color gamut, 7ms response time, 100,000:1 contrast ratio.
It is also worth mentioning that the screen refresh rate of this laptop is 144Hz. This means that you will be able to see the changes you make in your design immediately which is very important when you are working on a project.
In simple words, it means that the pictures will be more detailed and clearer than on any other laptop and the colors will be more vibrant.
The design is also very sleek and modern, as you would expect from a high-end laptop like this one.
In projects, connectivity plays an important role as well. The laptop offers a variety of ports including Thunderbolt 3, HDMI 2.0b, Mini-Display Port 1.4, Alienware Graphics Amplifier Port, and more. So you will be able to connect it to any external device you need without any problem.
Furthermore, to enhance your productivity, the battery life is also very impressive. It can last up to 8 hours on a single charge which is more than enough for a full day of work.
Last but not least, the keyboard is also very comfortable to use and the spacing between the keys is just perfect.
And if you are worried about the price, then don’t be. Although it is a bit on the expensive side, it is definitely worth the money.
2. MSI Stealth 15M – Runner Up
I’m a big fan of MSI laptops and I’ve had great experiences with them in the past, which is why I decided to add them to the list
And I have to say, I was not disappointed, you may ask why? I’ll tell you.
First of all, this laptop looks amazing, it’s very sleek and modern looking and it’s also extremely lightweight which is perfect for me because I like to take my laptop with me everywhere I go.
Taking a glance at the display, you’re immediately greeted with a 144hz screen which is perfect for gaming and it also comes with a 1080p resolution, so you can rest assured that you won’t be missing out on any graphical detail.
But what caught my eye was the fact that it comes with an Intel Core i7-11375H processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060, which are both great for running AutoCAD.
As for RAM capacity, it comes with 16GB of DDR4 which is more than enough for most people, and if you need more, you can always upgrade it.
And where else would you store all those massive files? On the 512GB SSD of course.
Now, I know what you’re thinking, “Why would I need a Thunderbolt 4 port?”
Well, let me tell you, it’s extremely useful for transferring data at high speeds and it also supports power delivery, so you can charge your devices while you’re using it.
The MSI Stealth 15M also comes with a USB 4.0 port which is great for transfer speeds as well.
The Keyboard experience isn’t bad either, it has a backlit keyboard which is always a plus in my book, so working on those freelancing projects won’t be an issue.
Additionally, if you talk about the battery life, it’s pretty impressive, I was able to use it for about 6 hours before I had to recharge it, and that was with the screen at full brightness.
All in all, rendering those 3D models on AutoCAD was a breeze and I didn’t experience any lag or slowdown whatsoever, Thanks MSI!!
So for my fellow readers that are still scrolling this well-written article and looking for a laptop that can handle AutoCAD, I would highly recommend the MSI Stealth 15M.
3. Acer Predator Helios 300 – Enthusiast Pick
Hey, I know what you are thinking! You are thinking “Why would I need a laptop that is specifically designed to run AutoCAD when I can just use my old laptop/phone?” Well, let me tell you, it is worth the investment!
This is why Acer Predator Helios 300 is here!!
Now, I know what you might be thinking, this laptop is too good to be true and it probably doesn’t work with AutoCAD that well. But you would be wrong! Acer Predator works like a charm with AutoCAD. No lag, no crashes, and the best part is the screen size.
When you lay your eyes on the 15.6-inch screen, you will understand what I am talking about. The visuals are so clear and bright that it makes working on AutoCAD a breeze.
And the best part is that it comes with a 144hz refresh rate, 3ms overdrive response time, and 300nit brightness! Wow!
And it’s not like I won’t test the hardware before I give my honest opinion. I went ahead and put it through its paces with the most recent version of AutoCAD. And I am happy to report that it worked flawlessly!
The processor is the 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H 6-Core Processor that can go up to 5.0 GHz and it comes with Windows 10 Home 64 Bit already installed.
As for the memory, it has 16 GB DDR4 2933MHz Dual-Channel Memory and 512GB NVMe SSD. Plus, there is an additional slot for a hard drive, in case you need more storage space to keep those designs flowing!
And if that wasn’t enough, it also has a 4-Zone RGB Backlit Keyboard and Wireless: Killer Double Shot Pro Wireless-AX 1650i 802. 11ax Wi-Fi 6; LAN: Killer Ethernet E2600 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN; DTS X: Ultra-Audio; 4th Gen All-Metal AeroBlade 3D Fan!
The travel time of the keyboard is also fantastic, making it a dream to use for AutoCAD. The keys are spaced out perfectly and have just the right amount of resistance.
And since you would be a busy person and constructing magical creations the battery life is also excellent. I was able to get close to 7 hours of usage on a single charge!
I know, I know… you are probably thinking that this laptop is way too expensive. But trust me, it is worth every penny and then some. So go ahead and treat yourself to the Acer Predator Helios 300 today, you won’t regret it!
4. ASUS – ROG Zephyrus – Powerful Laptop for Autocad
Okay, so I’m not exactly what you would call a “power user” when it comes to AutoCAD. But I do know my way around the program well enough to get by, and I have to say that the Asus ROG Zephyrus has been a dream come true.
First of all, the display is gorgeous. It’s so clear and crisp, and the colors are just beautiful. I can’t tell you how much of a difference this has made in my work.
To elaborate a little bit for you the 15.6 inch 165Hz (3ms) QHD 2560 x 1440 IPS-Level PANTONE Validated Anti-Glare (100% DCI-P3 Color) Display is a 100% DCI-P3 color accuracy which means it boasts impressive color and clarity.
And to keep things lag-free in your lengthy projects the laptop is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS Processor (3.1GHz – 4.5GHz,8-core,16-thread) as well as an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Max-Q (8GB) GDDR6 Graphics Card.
Pretty sure, you would be eager to know about the storage capacity and RAM too, and to suffice that- it has 16GB RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD, so you won’t feel frustrated in your hectic routine because everything will be fluid and smooth.
Yes, the design quality is excellent too. The laptop is slim, and lightweight and the Eclipse Grey color is super sleek.
Keep in mind for connectivity there are 2 x USB 3.2 Type A, 2 x USB 3.2 Type C, 1 x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack, 1x HDMI 2.0b, and 1x RJ45 LAN as well as a MicroSD Card Reader.
Plus, it comes with an RGB backlit American-English QWERTY keyboard with a numeric keypad which is nice to have.
And wait till you hear about the battery runtime – it’s incredible! I’ve been using this laptop for hours on end and the battery just keeps going.
I could go on and on about all the features that I love about this laptop, but I’ll just say that it’s easily the best one I’ve ever used for AutoCAD (or any other CAD program, for that matter).
5. Razer Blade 15 Base – The Beast
My level of excitement was through the roof when I found out that I would be able to test out the new Razer Blade 15 Base Gaming laptop 2020.
I had heard great things about this model and was very eager to see if it lived up to the hype. After using it for a few weeks, I can say without a doubt that this is an excellent computer for running AutoCAD.
Computer-Aided designs are no joke and require massive computational power and plenty of RAM to run smoothly, which is exactly what you get with this machine.
It comes packed with an Intel Core i7-10750H 6-core processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card, so you can be sure that even the most demanding AutoCAD files will load quickly and run without any issues.
Speaking of files and whatnot, to keep them stored securely and readily available this laptop comes with a whopping 512GB SSD. And in case that’s not enough for you, there’s also the option to expand the memory and storage.
Now obviously, you would be viewing your masterpiece and editing it on the 15.6 inches Full HD 144hz display. And yes, the visuals are as good as they sound.
But even more importantly, the laptop itself is extremely thin and compact for its power, measuring in at just 0.78 inches. So you can easily carry it around with you wherever you go without feeling weighed down.
But it’s not all about power, speed, or portability. This baby comes with a sleek CNC aluminum unibody frame and a backlit keyboard with Razer Chroma lighting.
As for ports, it has everything you could need including Wi-Fi 6, Gigabit Ethernet, Thunderbolt 3, USB type-A and type-C ports, and HDMI.
To keep exaggeration aside, this laptop is the real deal and perfect for anyone looking to get into AutoCAD or take their designs to the next level.
6. Dell Gaming G3 – Best Dell Laptop For AutoCAD
Now, I know that you might be grown tired from expensive and fancy workstations that promise to let you do Autocad but end up being a load of bologna.
You think to yourself, “I could just use my old laptop or even my phone.” But I’m here today to tell you that you’ll be sorely mistaken if you try to take that route.
You see, the best way to get the most out of AutoCAD is to use a laptop that’s specifically designed for running CAD programs like Dell Gaming G3 15 3500.
This baby is packing some serious firepower with an Intel Core i7-10750H 10th Gen, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB SSD, and Nvidia Geforce GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6.
Plus, with a 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) 300 nits IPS Anti-Glare LED-Backlit Display, you’ll be able to see your work in all its glory.
And if that wasn’t enough, it also comes with a two-sided narrow bezel for an even more immersive experience.
But the Dell Gaming G3 15 3500 isn’t all about looks, it’s also got some serious brains. It comes with a dual-fan cooling system to help spread out heat and keep your system responsive even when you’re pushing it to its limits.
And if you’re looking to improve your productivity, you can fine-tune your settings to make your software look and feel precisely the way you want it.
The keyboard is messing around either. It’s backlit with the 4-zone RGB lighting that’ll make you feel like you’re in the future every time you sit down to work.
And when you need a break, you can kick back and relax with the Nahimic Sound Center with dual speakers.
And obviously, those external peripherals will surely come in handy in your work projects which is why this laptop brings you connectivity through its 802.11ac 1×1 WiFi and Bluetooth v5.0 capabilities.
So, if you’re looking for a laptop that can handle AutoCAD like a champ, then I would highly recommend the Dell Gaming G3 15 3500.
I mean, it got the looks, the brains, and the brawn to get the job done and then some. Plus, it’s relatively affordable compared to other workstations.
7. Lenovo Legion 5 – Best Budget Laptop for AutoCAD
Still, scrolling? Not satisfied with the laptops I mentioned above? Well, how about I present you the Lenovo Legion 5 which is equipped with the latest and greatest hardware to run AutoCAD smoothly?
Since this Computer-aided software is extremely power-hungry, you need a laptop that has a dedicated GPU like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti, otherwise, you’ll be stuck with lagging drawings and an overall bad experience.
Not to mention, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor with 8 cores will easily let you open and work on multiple files at the same time without any slowdown.
As for storage, a 512GB NVMe SSD should be more than enough for all your files, plus, with 16GB DDR4 RAM, you won’t have to worry about any crashes or freezes.
In addition, the 15.6″ FHD IPS display is not only great for gaming but also for working with graphics-intensive software like AutoCAD.
Want ports? No problem, this laptop has got you covered with USB-C, 4 USB, HDMI 2.1, and DisplayPort 1.4.
Pretty sure the battery aspect is something you want to know the most because who wants to sit near a charger all day long. Worry not my friend, with the 80Wh battery, you can get up to 5 hours of usage on a single charge.
And last but not least, the Legion TrueStrike keyboard with a 4-zone RGB backlight is not only comfortable to use but also looks great.
To sum it up, if you want a laptop that will let you use AutoCAD to its full potential, then the Lenovo Legion 5 is the way to go.
It has the latest hardware, a large display, and a long-lasting battery. So, what are you waiting for? Go get one now!
Final Verdict
After reading this article, you should now have a good understanding of what type of laptop is best for running AutoCAD. Go ahead and read the reviews about each laptop I mentioned above and make a decision.
So, what are you waiting for? Go get your hands on the best laptop for AutoCAD and start designing those amazing projects of yours!
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