Even though the AutoCAD is one of the oldest software out there, yet it’s still one of the most popular & used software in different industries. AutoCAD might be an old software, but it still the best laptop for AutoCAD that will run it smoothly.
We understand that most people who use AutoCAD are experts in the field, but probably don’t really know much about laptops. But there’s nothing to get worried about since we are here to help out.
In this post, you’ll find everything you need to know what makes a great laptop for AutoCAD, but also see top laptops for AutoCAD 2023.
The Lineup In A Glance
- Lenovo ThinkPad P53s – Laptop For Any CAD App
- Acer Predator Helios 300 – Powerful Component
- Acer Aspire 5 – Budget-Friendly CAD Laptop
- MSI WE72 Workstation – High-End Option
- Dell Precision M5510 – Portable and Powerful
- Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701 – High-End Graphics
- Dell XPS 15 – Incredible Performance
- Microsoft Surface Book 2 – 2in1 Laptop For CADs
- Asus TUF – Gaming And CAD Laptop
- Asus Zenbook 15 – Ultra-Slim Multitasking Laptop
Best Laptops For AutoCAD In 2023
Lenovo ThinkPad P53s – Laptop For Any CAD App
Want to buy a laptop that could run any CAD application that does not break the bank? You may want this machine! It features everything you need in order to run and work CAD applications, with plenty of ports so you’ll never be limited in peripherals.
Lenovo ThinkPad P53s might be one of the most suitable for any CAD application. It’s a 15.6-inch laptop that is packed with some of the best specifications such as Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD storage, and NVIDIA Quadro graphics card.
But it becomes even better.
This laptop features 1080 HD display which makes it very easy to focus on the work without having tired eyes, but it also ensures the best quality when it comes to precision.
We also like the ability to upgrade RAM all the way up to 40 GB if it becomes necessary for you to do. It’s definitely possible and it’s not complicated to do at all.
It offers 2 USB 3.1 – 3.2 ports and mini HDMI port in case you need a dual monitor or bigger screen for visuals.
Other Lenovo P series comes with Windows 7 with the ability to upgrade to Windows 10 if necessary but this one is Windows 10 ready.
Hardware Specifications for Lenovo ThinkPad P53s
CPU: Intel Core i7| Graphics:NVIDIA Quadro P520| RAM: 16GB RAM | Screen: 15.6-Inch 1920×1080 display| Storage: 512GB SSD| Operating System: Windows 10 Pro| Battery Life: up to 6 hours | Weight: 3.9 lbs
Acer Predator Helios 300 – Powerful Component
It has a strong configuration that can handle Revit with ease, along with many ports and perfect design you’ll love to carry around with you.
It’s a laptop that isn’t too thin and not too thick, yet it has some of the strongest components to make sure Revit runs smoothly no matter how big your projects are. You won’t be limited in any way.
Inside Helios 300, you’ll find an Intel i7 processor that can be boosted up to 3.8GHz, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD storage, and even dedicated GeForce GTX 1660 graphics card.
The graphics card features 6GB of dedicated VRAM which is exactly what makes Revit run flawlessly and smoothly.
The IPS display in combination with a rugged metal case body ensure the durability and stability of this laptop even when you’re working on a go.
Hardware Specifications for Acer Predator Helios
CPU: Intel Core i7-9750H| Graphics:NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660| RAM: 16GB RAM | Screen: 17.3-Inch 1920×1080 display| Storage: 512GB SSD| Operating System: Windows 10 Pro| Battery Life: up to 6 hours | Weight: 6.39 lbs
Acer Aspire 5 – Budget-Friendly CAD Laptop
When you don’t have a lot of money yet you require a decent laptop that can run AutoCAD and satisfy your requirements – there’s no better choice than Acer Aspire 5.
It isn’t a laptop that meets the minimum requirements, but it offers more than that. It’s a decent laptop that makes running AutoCAD smooth no matter the price tag.
For the price, Acer Aspire 5 comes with decent configuration and even a full HD display with an anti-glare feature.
It has an Intel i5 processor that can be Turbo Boosted up to 3.5GHz, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD storage.
But here’s what’s even better.
The touchpad comes with a multi-gesture function that offers shortcut gestures just like MacBook laptops do. The touchpad is very responsive and offers great precision which benefits AutoCAD users.
Along with a lot of ports, there’s even Windows 10 installed which makes the laptop ready for use straight out of the box.
Hardware Specifications for Acer Aspire 5
CPU: Intel Core i5-10210U| Graphics:NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660| RAM: 8GB RAM | Screen: 15.6-Inch 1920×1080 Anti-glare display| Storage: 256GB SSD| Operating System: Windows 10 Home| Battery Life: up to 5 hours | Weight: 5.74 lbs
MSI WE72 Workstation – High-End Option
If you’re looking for the best of the best, a perfect workstation that is reliable and won’t ever let you down – you’re looking to get MSI WE72 Workstation.
It’s a laptop that handles even the most demanding tasks out there and it can handle any sized AutoCAD projects.
WE72 Workstation has been awarded as the best laptop for AutoCAD and 3D modeling, for a reason, of course. It features a large 17.3″ full HD IPS display in combination with very powerful components.
It’s equipped with an Intel i7 processor, NVIDIA Quatro M2200, 32GB RAM, and 512GB SSD.
Design-wise, it’s a very stylish laptop with a minimalistic design, yet robust stainless steel body material that will protect the laptop in any situation.
Hardware Specifications for MSI WE72 Workstation
CPU: Intel Core i7-7700HQ| Graphics:NVIDIA Quadro M2200| RAM: 32GB RAM | Screen: 17.3-Inch 1920×1080 IPS display| Storage: 512GB SSD| Operating System: Windows 10 Pro| Battery Life: up to 7 hours | Weight: 5.95 lbs
Dell Precision M5510 – Portable And Powerful
Dell Precision M5510 is a very thin and lightweight laptop that is easily portable, yet it features a very decent configuration which is ideal for remote workers who need a suitable laptop for AutoCAD.
It features an Intel i7 processor with 32GB RAM, 512GB HDD, and NVIDIA Quatro M1000M graphics card. This is of the best configuration, and it’s definitely the best overall laptop for AutoCAD.
But here’s what we really like.
The graphics card has its own dedicated 2GB RAM memory which is very suitable for AutoCAD, making sure to process almost all project sizes.
It comes with Windows 10 version, so it’s good to go right off the bat! The price is worth the specs.
Hardware Specifications for Dell Precision M5510
CPU: Intel Core i7-6820HQ| Graphics:NVIDIA Quadro M1000M| RAM: 32GB RAM | Screen: 15.6-Inch 1920×1080 UltraSharp IPS display| Storage: 512GB SSD| Operating System: Windows 10 Pro| Battery Life: up to 5 hours | Weight: 3.93 lbs
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701- High-End Graphics
There are many great things about ROG Zephyrus. This laptop is solid and it has a strong RTX 2070 ti Nvidia Graphics card. There are many other wonderful things about this laptop.
This slim laptop is incredibly stylish compared to other laptops in its class. The aluminum hood has both vertical and diagonal clashing that goes across the lid making it eye-catching. It has a normal keyboard with super slim bezels.
There are a good number of ports on this laptop. Although it’s too thin it has HDMI port, a USB-C port with a headphone jack. You also get an additional two USB 3.1 ports.
Microsoft Surface Laptop
The 9th Gen intel i7 processor is among one of the strongest performances on the market. This processor is strong and it will keep up with the AutoCAD software easily enough. You will not have to worry about having enough power to handle your designs.
Hardware Specifications for Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701
CPU: Intel Core i7 9th-gen| Graphics:NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070| RAM: 16GB RAM | Screen: 17.3-Inch 3840×2160 display| Storage: 1TB SSD| Operating System: Windows 10 Pro| Battery Life: up to 5 hours | Weight: 5.3 lbs
Dell XPS 15 – Incredible Performance
When it comes to AutoCAD, you want a workhorse and that is what you get with the Dell XPS 15. You will be able to cram an overclock into the 9th gen 2.4 GHz Intel Core i9 processor that is powerful and can keep up with all the latest AutoCAD software.
The battery on this laptop is mediocre at best. With the power and the incredible OLED iteration, you would think more thought would have gone into the battery, but alas, there wasn’t. You will not be able to get through an entire workday with this laptop.
The overall design of this laptop is definitely every techie’s dream. The aluminum and carbon fiber casing is incredible to look at and touch. It is a great combination of upscale design with modern class.
Hardware Specifications for Dell XPS 15
CPU: Intel Core i7 9th-gen| Graphics:NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650| RAM: 8GB RAM | Screen: 15.6-Inch 31920×1080 display| Storage: 512GB SSD| Operating System: Windows 10 Home| Battery Life: up to 4 hours | Weight: 7.63 lbs
Microsoft Surface Book 2 – 2in1 Laptop For CADs
Microsoft Surface Book 2 has a perfect 2in1 design, this detachable machine is perfect for CADs that need usage of a pen as it comes with a stylus for a more productive working station.
This 15-inch laptop is packed with Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and NVIDIA GTX 1060 processor for smooth performance when working on CAD applications.
The 1TB SSD storage is plenty enough to store big raw files from CAD applications you are working with and comes with USB Type-C to HDMI/ VGA/ DVI adapter for external peripherals if needed.
You’ll never go wrong with this 2in1 portable laptop, great for users who travel a lot!
Hardware Specifications for Microsoft Surface Book 2
CPU: Intel Core i7 9th-gen| Graphics:NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060| RAM: 16GB RAM | Screen: 15-Inch 3240×2160 display| Storage: 1TB SSD| Operating System: Windows 10 Pro| Battery Life: up to 17 hours | Weight: 4.2 lbs
Asus TUF – Gaming And CAD Laptop
This powerful gaming laptop comes with a fair price tag that makes it an attractive buy, packed with power and big screen for smooth working and gaming experience.
Powered by a Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 to ensure powerful performance that could suffice CAD applications.
It comes with a large storage capacity of 512GB SSD to ensure you have plenty of storage for work and gaming files.
Boasting a 15.6-inch 1920×1080 Full HD IPS-Type display to get you gaping for hours without hurting your eyes.
So, in case you’re into gaming and working CADs at the same time, this powerful machine is the best bet on the list, considering the price.
Hardware Specifications for Microsoft Surface Book 2
CPU: Intel Core i7-9750H| Graphics:NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650| RAM: 8GB RAM | Screen: 15.6-Inch 1920×1080 IPS display| Storage: 512GB SSD| Operating System: Windows 10 Pro| Battery Life: up to 5 hours | Weight: 4.85 lbs
Asus ZenBook 15 – Ultra-Slim Multitasking Laptop
Asus ZenBook 15 offers to deliver a performance like no other machine in such price range, powered by Intel Core i7, 16GB of RAM, and GeForce GTX 1650 for fast and smooth performance.
The 512GB storage got your back for any large files you might save in this machine, while the 15.6-inch wide-view 4K NanoEdge bezel display is there for any visual tasks and to ensure superb viewing experience.
The Asus ZenBook 15 falls on under $1300 which makes it a great buy considering the specs it boasts.
Hardware Specifications for Asus ZenBook 15
CPU: Intel Core i7-10510U| Graphics:NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650| RAM: 16GB RAM | Screen: 13.3-Inch 1920×1080 display| Storage: 512GB SSD| Operating System: Windows 10 Pro| Battery Life: up to 8 hours | Weight: 2.6 lbs
Picking The Best Laptop For AutoCAD in 2023
Should I Buy A Touchscreen Laptop For AutoCAD?
The touchscreen isn’t something that’s very popular with AutoCAD users, but sometimes it can become quite useful.
If you’re working in a graphic design industry, it might be very useful.
Otherwise, getting a quality IPS display is probably a smarter decision. Also, you can always connect necessary peripherals through a number of ports.
Minimum And Recommended Requirements For AutoCAD Laptop?
For the latest 2023 version of AutoCAD, here’s what you will need.
Minimum requirements
- Windows 7 SP1 With Update KB4019990
- 2.5GHz or faster 64-bit (x86) processor
- 8GB RAM
- 1920 x 1080 resolution with True Color display
- DirectX 11
- Free 6GB storage space for installation
Recommended requirements
- Windows 10
- 3+GHz or faster 64-bit (x64) processor
- 16GB RAM
- Up to 3840 x 2150 resolution with IPS display
- DirectX 11
- Free 8-12GB storage space for installation
We wouldn’t recommend you to satisfy with anything less than recommended for smooth AutoCAD performance.
We wouldn’t recommend you to satisfy with anything less than recommended for smooth AutoCAD performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Gaming Laptop Good For CAD?
AutoCAD is used for creating granny flat designs by granny flat builders. A gaming laptop will perform better than an Ultrabook or a designer laptop in terms of CAD, but you generally want to look for something marketed as a workstation laptop.
The reason is that gaming laptops typically have underpowered CPUs since gaming isn’t very CPU intensive. Workstation laptops typically balance CPU and GPU power a little better.
The difference won’t even be noticeable when working with CADs since 3D viewports favor GPU performance, but there will be a pretty drastic difference when it comes to rendering unless you’re using a GPU accelerated renderer.
A good gaming laptop can perform well in CADs, with some basic specs of i5, a good amount of RAM, and a great graphics card like the NVIDIA GTX and RTX series.
The only thing that we recommend is that you get a laptop with an NVIDIA GPU rather than AMD one since most 3D programs that use any kind of GPU acceleration are CUDA based.
Conclusion
Choosing the right laptop that will handle almost everything you do in AutoCAD might be a bit tricky to find. But with this guide, you’ll be equipped with a lot of knowledge, but also our top 5 choices for the best laptop for AutoCAD.
We guarantee you that you can’t go wrong by going for any of these laptops, and it’s up to you to choose the one that suits you the best.
Choosing your next best laptop doesn’t have to be complicated, right?