Best Laptops For Fusion 360

Fusion 360 is a powerful software that is being used by students and professionals to make realistic 3D models and visuals. And if you are here, you might be also searching for the best laptops for Fusion 360.

Needless to say, the kind of superb software like Fusion 360 needs its pair of heavy-duty computers or laptops. The good news is, we are here to help you pick the best laptop for Fusion 360.

Recommendations for October 2023

Razer Blade 15 – One of the most powerful laptops that combine superior CPU and GPU teamwork for the fastest possible processing capability.
HP Envy – One of the most dependable laptops which pack large rooms of storage for your files.
Dell XPS 15 – A reliable laptop that can be used for long hours without having to find a power outlet.
HP Spectre 360 – A portable laptop that compresses powerful specs in its small physical design for people that is always on the go.
Lenovo Yoga C940 – One of the best laptops that can be used for easy screen navigation because of its touchscreen capability.
Acer Predator Helios 300 – An excellent laptop that offers a good balance on all sides for those who want optimal performance.
Lenovo Ideapad 3 – A budget-friendly laptop that still packs power in its processing capacity.
Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch – One of the best MacBook in the market that can be used for many heavy applications like Fusion 360.
MSI GE75 Raider – One of the top-tier laptops in the market that has exceptional specs on all sides and had even further focus on processing speed for an extremely high level of 3D rendering.
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701 – One of the highest-grade laptops that integrates the latest technologies on all its parts for people in the field of top-quality graphics and animation.

Table Of Contents shows

Best Laptops for Fusion 360 in 2023

Razer Blade 15 – CPU and GPU Combination

Razer Blade 15

If you are looking for a laptop choice that is focused on its processing power, be it the calculation of measurements and simulations or rendering visuals and graphics, Razer Blade 15 is an excellent choice for you. It focuses on giving a great combination of CPU and GPU with the Intel Core i7-10875H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER rather than other hardware parts making its benefits worth your money.

Fusion 360 is quite a heavy software that processes measurements and graphics at the same time. If you want a laptop that could be optimized for the processes of Fusion 360, Razer Blade 15 is definitely a good choice.

It runs on the 7th Gen Intel Core i7-10875H, which is not just your average processing unit. It has 8 cores that are capable of going from 2.3GHz up to 5.1GHz on turbo. Not just that, it is also equipped with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER as its GPU which is one of the most advanced graphics cards in the market. Aside from that, you will also have the capability to multitask because it has a huge amount of RAM.

With these types of power combinations, you could create heavy 3D models while running other tasks seamlessly and this is the reason why Razer Blade 15 is on our list of the best laptops for Fusion 360.

The downside of having this magnificent laptop is that you would also have to carry those heavy specs on your back. This laptop weighs 9.04lbs so you have to really consider it especially if you are always on the move.

Recommended Configuration for Razer Blade 15

HP Envy – Superb Storage Capacity

HP Envy

HP Envy is a laptop that is focused on storing files while also being able to run complex computer calculations. It has 256GB of SSD while also having 1TB of HDD storage, interconnected with a powerful Intel Core i7. Having an HDD storage is an ideal way to minimize the cost for those who need a huge amount of storage to keep the final designs and files of your projects rather than brute speed and processing power.

This laptop boasts its ability to give a high performance while still carrying a lot of your baggage. If you have extra activities outside of Fusion 360 that eats a lot of storage like movies, pictures, or other files, then go for HP Envy.

It has a 256GB of SSD storage and an additional 1TB of HDD storage which could keep an enormous amount of data and can be brought wherever you go. On top of that, it still will not be left behind in processing speed as it processes using a 4-core 10th Gen Intel Core i7 at the speed of 1.8GHz up to 4.9GHz on turbo. It houses a dedicated graphics card, the NVIDIA GeForce MX250, and also has 16GB of RAM which gives you the power to juggle multiple tasks at once. On top of that all, it has an amazing Full HD screen of 1920×1080 screen resolution.

Recommended Configuration for Envy

Dell XPS 15 – Lightweight and Long Battery Life

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If you are someone who makes your Fusion 360 project outside the comfort of your office or home, then you might be better with something that lasts for a longer time. Dell XPS 15 could last up to 12 hours which gives you the capability to work for long hours. You would be able to do so many things on your laptop with the extra time that you have.

Usually, A laptop that lasts long would be bulky and heavy because of the weight of the battery. But surprisingly, this restless laptop weighs only 4lbs. Not just that, with the amount of power a screen consumes, you would be amazed that this laptop also offers a 3840×2160 4K Ultra HD display.

On top of that, this laptop still has room to house Intel Core i7-9750H which has 6 cores that run at 2.6GHz to 4.5GHz which is a grand feat.

Wouldn’t it be good to buy a laptop for Fusion 360 that could make you enjoy outside views while also enjoying the good view of your laptop screen?

Recommended Configuration for Dell XPS 15

HP Spectre 360 – Small and Lightweight

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After finding out what Dell XPS 15 can do, you might think that it would be the best for those who often travel like you. But hold that thought for a little while because HP Spectre has its unique qualities that might suit you better.

This is one of the powerhouse 2-in-1 laptops as its high level of portability does not hinder it to do rendering, 3D modeling, and other heavy-duty tasks.

First of all, its 4-core CPU is a 7th Gen Intel Core i7-10510U that executes processes at the speed of 1.8GHz to 4.9GHz. It has 32GB of RAM and an NVIDIA GPU which has a 4GB of VRAM. These combinations are already enough to run and make your Fusion 360 projects.

But that is just the icing of the cake. The real score is its extreme level of portability and flexibility. HP Spectre 360 is a 2-in-1 laptop that could be converted into a tablet to save a huge amount of working space. It has multiple ports of USB 3.1 and its keyboard can be bent back up to 360 degrees and be converted into a touchscreen device – a tablet. This ability could be used in improvised working environments like cramped spaces, presentations, and even in vehicles, making it a truly portable device.

And we’re not even finished yet. In addition to all of that, it only weighs less than 3 lbs and lasts up to 7 hours. It is a reliable device to bring with you on travel and can also be used for entertainment purposes as it also has a 3840×2160 screen resolution with an IPS screen.

Recommended Configuration for HP Spectre 360

Lenovo Yoga C940 – Touchscreen Laptop

Lenovo Yoga C940

If you are someone who wants to work flexibly by having an option of using a mouse, a keyboard, or even your laptop screen, then you’ve got it right with Lenovo Yoga C940. It offers you this flexibility together with an additional full HD IPS display and a solid 512GB SSD storage for your files. This would be ideal for working or drawing small details in your 3D models. It is also lightweight and has a good battery power coupled with an amazing Intel Core i7 so flexibility would be your key with this.

If you are one of those who have other tasks that revolve around graphic designs, this laptop might be for you. Lenovo Yoga C940 is a 15.6-inch touchscreen laptop that has a Full HD IPS display which works very well with colors, graphic designs, and other creative projects. You can navigate your laptop with your mouse, keyboard, or even do it manually on-screen, whatever makes the task more convenient for you.

Don’t worry because it still has the power to render your projects in Fusion 360. Its powerful arsenal includes Intel Core i7-9750H CPU which provides you a processing speed that comes from 6 cores of 2.6GHz base frequency up to a turbo frequency of 4.5GHz. It also has a decent 16GB RAM and a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 which has 4GB of VRAM.

Overall, it still is a good laptop, especially when you prefer to navigate through a touchscreen instead of a regular mouse and keyboard

Recommended Configuration for Lenovo Yoga C930

Acer Predator Helios 300 – Good All-around Laptop

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Acer Predator Helios 300

Acer Predator is a good all-around laptop for hardware optimization. If you think you will need every aspect of your laptop hardware in Fusion 360 processes, then go for this. Having an optimized laptop, from a fast Intel Core i7 CPU up to a full HD screen, will prevent hardware bottlenecks even for running other programs.

If you are bothered by having unequal configuration or by having one of the specs lag from the others, then you will be satisfied in having Acer Predator Helios 300 as your workstation.

It has a powerful 9th Generation Intel Core i7 processor that has 6 cores that run from 2-6 GHz up to 4.5 GHz which works together with a 16GB RAM and a 6GB of VRAM from a dedicated graphics card, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660. This powerful trio of CPU, GPU, and RAM will surely let you render heavy and detailed 3D models smoothly. It won’t even budge a little as you even have a 512GB of SSD storage and multiple USB 3.1 ports.

With regards to its screen capability, a 15.6-inch full HD IPS screen with a 1920×1080 resolution is really good. On top of that, it has a 144Hz refresh rate and a 300nit brightness, making its screen capabilities at par with its processing power, making it one of the best laptops for Fusion 360.

The only problem would be it is quite heavier than the other laptops at 5.29lbs so make sure to know and set your priorities before buying a laptop.

Recommended Configuration for Acer Predator Helios 300

Lenovo Ideapad 3 – Budget-friendly Laptop

Lenovo Ideapad 3

If you are not rendering high-end Fusion 360 CAD models, then a budget-friendly laptop like Lenovo Ideapad 3 would be a good call. Not only this laptop is cheap, but it also still has a power punch to render and simulate Fusion 360 animations. It runs on AMD Ryzen 5 3500U CPU and an AMD Radeon Vega 8 Graphics which is really good for a cheap laptop. It also has a 256GB SSD, a USB 2.0, and multiple USB 3.1, which is overall fairly good for people who have no much cash to burn.

If you are a student, or someone who just started out, or even someone who just casually uses Fusion 360 for small projects, then you may opt to not focus too much on high-end specs and put up a thought more on choosing the cheapest laptop that could still do what you need to do.

If you are here to find these kinds of laptops, then you came to the right place. Lenovo Ideapad 3 is just what you are finding. Believe it or not, you can use Fusion 360 with this laptop that costs less than $500.

Lenovo Ideapad 3 still packs speed and power by having AMD Ryzen 5 3500U as its CPU. It has 4 cores that run at the speed of 2.1GHz and can be boosted up to 3.7GHz. This really suits students because it can handle keeping tons of files with its 256GB of SSD storage, USB 2.0, and USB 3.1 ports.

Knowing that it is a cheap laptop for running Fusion 360, you should know that it has its weakness. Its GPU is integrated into your laptop and integrated GPU has a very little VRAM. The good thing is that it can borrow memory from the CPU and RAM.

Overall, this is still one of the best cheap laptops that are worth your money. You might wanna check our dedicated research for the best laptops under $500 for more choices.

Recommended Configuration for Lenovo Ideapad 3

Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch – Powerful Macbook

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Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch

Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch is one of the best MacBook laptops to be used for Fusion 360. Having a Mac OS makes it really secure and efficient so its specs are easily being optimized more. It uses a dedicated AMD Radeon Pro 5500M as its GPU and also has upgradeable features which give you the option to have better hardware parts in the future.

MacBooks have a little harder time making programs and software compatible with it compared to Windows but its efficiency is truly remarkable. If you want to choose from the reliable and powerful MacBooks in the market, Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch might be a good fit for you.

It uses an 8-core of 9th Gen Intel Core that has a base frequency of 2.3GHz that could go turbo for up to 4.8GHz. This alone already will tell you that this laptop will be a good pick for handling quite serious processes. Aside from that, MacBook Pro 16-inch also has a dedicated graphics card, the AMD Radeon Pro 5500M which has 4GB of VRAM that would surely give you allowance to simulate not just simple visuals and graphics.

But what MacBooks really offer the best are their storage capacity and screen quality. MacBook Pro 16-inch gives you the option to choose from a 512GB SSD or 1TB SSD storage which is both a very solid option. As if it is not big enough, you also have the option to upgrade it to up to 8TB of SSD storage.

Having excessive amounts of storage might give you a thought to download more applications or movies. Fret not, because multitasking has also room for this laptop with its 16GB of RAM and still can be configured for up to 32GB or 64GB. You could do serious multitasking with this amount of RAM at your disposal, especially when coupled with its top-notch screen quality.

Overall, the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch is undeniably an excellent laptop choice, especially if you would run some background apps while focusing on making Fusion 360 models.

Recommended Configuration For Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch

MSI GE75 Raider – Top-tier Specs

MSI GE75 Raider

If future-proofing is your priority, then check-out how wonderful MSI GE75 Raider is. This laptop is a true beast that combines the market’s top-tier hardware parts, especially its top-notch 9th generation Intel CPU and NVIDIA graphics card, which indeed makes an extremely fast and powerful machine. Bet for it but it would be able to handle even the toughest 3D Models and animations you could imagine.

If you are someone working with extremely complex designs and simulations that are capable of instantly burning the core processor of a budget-friendly laptop, then go for MSI GE75 Raider. It is one of the most powerful laptops in the market and would surely suffice for any heavy processes and visuals that you have to do.

Its 9th Generation of Intel Core CPU has an astounding 8 cores and runs at 2.4GHz to 5.3GHz at turbo. Its graphics won’t be left behind as it packs the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 graphics card which would make you capable of rendering large amounts of realistic textures easily.

You would even see it with really good quality as it has a 1920×1080 full HD screen resolution. On top of that, its 32GB RAM and 1TB storage are also incontestably on another level. All of these are packed with advanced technology and that is why its weight is surprisingly light for its supposedly heavy hardware – weighing only 5.25lbs.

The downside of having these powerful specs on your laptop is its battery life. It is estimated to only last for 1 hour so make sure to always work near a power source.

Overall, MSI GE75 Raider could run all the heavy-duty software you will use, and it would even ask for more. If you want to focus on extreme speed and seamless processing power rather than having to use a laptop remotely from a power outlet, this is the best pick for you.

Recommended Configuration For MSI GE75 Raider

Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701- First-rate Laptop

Core Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701

If you want a beast laptop who could also travel with you wherever you go, then this might be for you. Having one of the highest quality parts in the market, it still gave way for portability to enter its list of good features. It could last for around 5 hours and weighs 5.3lbs while packing a future-proof laptop that is capable of running a seamless Fusion 360 simulation. You could even run your favorite AAA game with its 9th Generation Intel Core i7 and it won’t even budge.

If you want an S-class laptop but still the battery is a little more of your priorities than having a top-speed laptop, then Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701 is the right one for you. It also has other advantages against MSI GE75 Raider and is generally better for those who want the best screen display and portability.

Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701 has a superb hardware combination as it boasts its 17.3-inch Ultra High Definition of 3840×2160 screen resolution with a 144 Hz refresh rate that could truly capture the complete details of fast animations, rendering, and even quick-moving characters in games.

It also houses other extremely powerful hardware that complements its superb screen capabilities. It uses a 9th Generation Intel Core i7 processor which has 6 cores with 12 threads that has a base frequency of 2.2GHz that could go turbo for up to 4.1GHz. It works really well with a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 2070 graphics card, 16GB RAM, and 1TB SSD storage, which all are on the cutting edge technology.

Overall, this is one of the best laptops for Fusion 360 and even for other heavier software, especially if you are focusing on graphics and color.

Recommended Configuration For Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701

Buyer’s Guide For The Best Laptop For Fusion 360 2023

Learning how to use Fusion 360 or making 3D models from it is a really satisfying experience. But knowing how to choose the right laptop that would optimize your experience with it will surely give you more fulfillment as you’ll know that the reason behind the seamless rendering is because you, yourself, have cherry-picked the right specs and not just threw money and hoped that you had made the best guess. Below are the considerations you have to account in choosing the right laptop for Fusion 360:

CPU

CPU means the Central Processing Unit and it is the brain of computers and laptops. It is the one that processes all the complex calculations like measurements inside of Fusion 360 and even your background programs.

We recommend at least Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 for light models and rendering but if you will be doing more complex than that, go for the better. After all, what you are finding is the best laptop for Fusion 360.

Pro Tip:

What is the better brand between AMD and Intel? Well, if you have a high concern with the cost, go with an AMD core processor. It is cheaper and on top of that, it also generates heat less than an Intel core processor which could also contribute to your CPU lifespan. But if you value better customer support and product stability, go for Intel. Intel is a really huge corporation with better customer support and handles bugs seriously. They have more stable drivers and programs which makes Intel CPU a reliable one.

GPU

A GPU or Graphics Processing Unit is almost the same as the CPU. Their main difference is that the CPU handles all computer processes except visuals. Graphics is quite tricky because to process that, your computer needs to process each of the pixels on your monitor. Though it is much simpler to process them than the simulations and programs, the number of pixels is so many that what it needs is a dedicated processing unit.

We recommend using a graphics card that has at least 1 GB of dedicated graphics memory or VRAM for Fusion 360. It handles all the colors and fast-changing movements of your screen even at full HD or ultra HD screen resolutions. It is better to always have an allowance even though you are not using it much because you could still use it with other programs or when playing games.

RAM

RAM means Random Access Memory and it is being used for multitasking. Instead of closing the programs completely and opening it again once you need it, your computer or laptop temporarily stores it in the RAM so that it will still run actively, making you run multiple processes or programs at the same time. One example of a process that uses RAM is when you are actively creating 3D models in Fusion 360 while your browser is minimized, also actively loading your Facebook news feed.

We recommend you have at least 4 GB of RAM but that is a really conservative recommendation. As time goes by, we generally do more and more tasks simultaneously on our computers so you might want to add a little extra in there.

Display

The display is one of the most important buying guides in choosing the best laptop for fusion 360. If you are already working for some time with it, you’ll know that many people couple it with using other software like AutoCAD, Blender, or others that complement its use. And these programs have a lean for more sophisticated graphics than other programs.

By using programs that create or render amazing images, it would be for your best interest to see what it completely offers by using the best screen display and technology. Still, there wouldn’t be a limit for your maximum capability but a good minimum limit would be a 1920×1080 screen resolution.

Portability

You would not put the word “laptop” on your search bar if you have no regard for portability. Of course, desktop computers mean brute strength but laptops offer you better portability in exchange for performance.

You should consider the weight, battery, and size for starters. It may seem so simple but remember that the higher the specs, the heavier and the more power it consumes, sacrificing your portability. You could opt to find a laptop with a longer lifespan or battery power but it directly correlates to the weight and size of your laptop.

Your screen size and resolution also directly contributes to the portability. The larger your screen, the larger your overall laptop size would be. It would also be heavier and would consume more electric power.

If you are someone who has high regard for portability, consider getting a 2-in-1 laptop. It is so convenient that some of it could be even held by one hand. It could be transformed into a touchscreen device and keyboards could be bent up to 360 degrees. If it still isn’t enough, some keyboards could be completely detached, making your laptop very small and lightweight.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Fusion 360 Use GPU?

Yes, Fusion 360 uses GPU. Generally, GPU handles the visual processes in the programs that we use. So the 3D Models that you are rendering in a detailed color, texture, and animation surely use Fusion 360. And the more visual details you are processing, the higher GPU memory is needed.

What Graphics Card Do I Need For Fusion 360?

Two big corporations are battling for graphics cards – NVIDIA and AMD. They are both pretty much good on their own but we would recommend getting an NVIDIA graphics card. It pretty much outmaneuvers AMD in terms of power efficiency. And besides, if you want to get a really powerful graphics card, NVIDIA indeed occupies the top spots.

Though it wouldn’t still be bad to have an AMD graphics card. Some of the laptops that have amazing specs couples an AMD GPU and you could say that it is also performing competitively.

How Much RAM Do I Need For Fusion 360?

The minimum requirement for a graphics card to be able to run Fusion 360 is a 1GB of dedicated VRAM or 6GB of integrated graphics. You could also see the full requirements on Autodesk’s website.

Can You Run Fusion 360 On A Chromebook?

Fusion 360 cannot still run on Chromebook laptops. The only supported OS of Fusion 360 is Windows and Mac.

How Can I Make Fusion 360 Run Faster?

One of the ways to make Fusion 360 is to set how many cores of your CPU you want it to use during simulations. To do this:

1. Click your name in the upper-right part of Fusion 360 and select Preferences.
2. Select the Simulation tab
3. Under “Number of Processors”, click the dropdown and select “Let Me Choose”
4.Then choose your desired number of cores to be used.

Conclusion

To conclude, you need powerful laptops to be able to use Fusion 360, and more complex designs and models need higher quality laptops. And as a rule of thumb, choose a laptop that has at least a little allowance to what you need for a little future-proofing. You might also want to check out our research about the best laptops for AutoCAD.

Hopefully, you’ll be able to choose by reading our recommendations and tips in picking the best laptops for Fusion 360. If you have any questions, have any clarifications, or want to add tips, please do let us know by leaving a comment. We’d love to hear any insight from you about this article.