CPU speed and architecture are the most important factors when choosing the best laptop for Solidworks. Since Solidworks is mainly a single-threaded program, a faster CPU speed will have a more significant effect than other peripheral options.
However, recommending a system spec for Solidworks isn’t as simple as that, as the hardware will depend on your workflow.
In this article, we will talk about the best laptop for Solidworks. I assure you that you will not face any difficulty in choosing your laptop for Solidworks after reading this article.
List of best laptops for SolidWorks
- HP ZBook Power G9
- Lenovo ThinkPad P16
- Acer Nitro 5
- ASUS Rog Strix G16
- Dell G15 5520
- ASUS TUF Dash 15
HP ZBook Power G9
This workstation is designed for entry-level users looking for dependable performance and professional-grade graphics cards.
In addition to the processor, we have already tested our test configuration, which is the maximum you can get for a workstation with a 4K screen, Nvidia RTX A 2000, and plenty of storage, naturally increasing the price.
ZBook Power G9 is as good as its predecessor in many ways, but the CPU performance isn’t always the same. Things have leveled out with BIOS updates, but it still can’t get the most out of its powerful Core i7- 12700H.
Specification
- Display Size: 15.6 Inches
- Processor: Intel 4.8 GHz core i7 12th Gen
- Graphics Card: T600,Iris Xe Graphics
- RAM:16 GB DDR4
- Storage Capacity: 512 GB
- Connectivity: WiFi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.1
- Operating system: Windows 11 Pro
- Price: $1389
Pros
- Built-in robust metal case
- High-performance dual-drive system
- 2x solid-state drive (SSD) and 2x solid-state memory (SSD)
- High-speed WiFi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.1
- Long-lasting battery
- High-quality input devices
- Efficient and smooth 4K display
Cons
- It has low performance compared to its predecessor
- It has bad speakers
- It has a soldered WLAN module but no WWAN
- It has no SD card slot
- The display has a red color in the delivery state
Lenovo ThinkPad P16
Mobile workstations like Lenovo are designed to be more potent than your average laptop, and that’s just what SolidWorks needs.
Our tested model includes the 8 GB NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada, which is excellent for CAD/3D modeling. However, there are some other configurations available as well. For example, if you don’t mind having only 12GB VRAM, you can choose between the GTX 3500 or the RTX 4000, saving you more than $2,000.
The P16’s advanced OLED display was also included in our test model. Our reviewer was impressed by the 400 nits brightness of the display, which made it visible even during the daytime. This indicates that the P16 will be suitable for graphical projects.
You can also get different RAM configurations. Our RAM is 32 GB DDR5.
As far as storage goes, the system supports up to 2 solid-state drives (SSDs). Our model has 2TB, but you can select a configuration with 2 x 4TB drives. This is a bit of a stretch if you’re using SolidWorks to create and save projects, but it’s nice to have the choice.
ThinkPad P16 is one of the heaviest laptops we’ve seen, weighing in at 6.5 lbs/2.95 kg. It’s also pretty thick, at 1.2 inches. It’s heavier and bulkier than other laptops we’ve looked at, so we’d only recommend it if you need to get the most out of the graphics card since it’s one of the best laptops we’ve seen.
Specification
- Display Size: 16 inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200)
- Memory: 32GB DDR5 4800MHz
- Operating System: Windows 11 Pro
- Processor: Core i9
- Hard Drive: 1 TB SSD
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA RTX A2000 8 GB
- Connectivity: WiFi 6E
- RAM: 32 GB
- Price: $3447
Pros
- This device offers exceptional performance
- A stunning, high-resolution display
- A world-class keyboard
- Superior build quality
Cons
- It is heavy and bulky
- It does not have an Ethernet port
- It is quite expensive
Acer Nitro 5
The Acer laptop with a dedicated graphics card is suitable for buyers who prefer to focus on gaming and use software such as Solidworks. Professionals and college students can use this laptop for work, education, and entertainment.
This Acer laptop is super easy to use and doesn’t have a lot of bloatware. It’s great for playing games and running Solidworks intensively since it has dual exhaust ports and two cooling fans you can watch and adjust.
You can also add a RAM stick if you need more memory.
One satisfied customer said the computer “Works great for my husband, who works CAD on it.”
Specification
- Display Size: 15.6″ FHD 144Hz IPS Display
- Keyboard: Backlit Keyboard
- CPU: Intel Core i7-11800H
- Storage Capacity: 512GB NVMe
- Connectivity: Killer WiFi 6
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Laptop GPU
- RAM: 8GB DDR4
- Price: $911
Pros
- Competitive price performance
- With severe loads, it runs surprisingly cool and quietly.
- Excellent AMD processor
- Simple to open and upgrade
- 144 Hz IPS display
Cons
- The case is large and heavy.
- The display lid is flimsy.
- Battery life is mediocre.
- There are no biometrics, card readers, or USB-C video/charging ports.
Also Read
Best Budget Laptop for Podcasting
ASUS Rog Strix G16
ASUS Rog Strip G16 has all the necessary features (and more) to run SolidWorks. Still, it is among the few products on Amazon that cost within the budget.
Specification
- Display Size: 16 Inch
- Processor: 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13650HX
- Graphics Card: VIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
- Connectivity: WiFi 6E
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage Capacity: 512GB
- Operating System: Windows 11
- Keyboard: Backlit Keyboard
- Price: $1301
Pros
- Outstanding performance in games
- A long-lasting battery
- Fantastic keyboard, well-made construction
Cons
- 720p webcam
- 1440p resolution is standard on several competing laptops.
Dell G15 5520
The Dell G15 5520 laptop is the perfect laptop for Solidworks creativity. This laptop has a fast-core i7 processor that allows you to stream, play, and explore without any delay.
This laptop has some super graphics power! NVIDIA’s RTX 3060 has 6GB of RAM so that you can get the most out of your designs in Solidworks. Whether you need to render intricate models or simulate realistic environments, this laptop covers you.
The new thermal design has copper piping and four vents to keep your laptop cool even when working hard in Solidworks. Copper piping helps keep your laptop cool and makes sure it doesn’t get too hot, so you can stay focused on what you’re doing without having to worry about it overheating.
Specification
- Display Size: 15.6-inch FHD 120Hz
- Processor: Intel Core i7
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage Capacity: 512 GB SSD
- Operating system: Windows 11
- Connectivity: WiFi 6
- Color: Dark Shadow Grey
- Price: $1039
Pros
- You get excellent performance for the price
- Cool temperatures
- A bright screen.
Cons
- This laptop has a weird keyboard with a sticky touchpad
- it doesn’t have enough RAM in its configuration.
Also Read
ASUS TUF Dash 15
ASUS has just released the TUF Dash Fuschia 2022, and it’s a great budget gaming laptop for 15.6 inches.
Specification
- Display Size: 15.60-inch 144HZ IPS
- Processor: Intel Core i7 11th Gen 11370H
- Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
- Connectivity: WiFi 802.11
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage Capacity: 512GB PCI-E NVMe SSD
- Operating system: Windows 11 Pro
- Keyboard: Backlit Keyboard
- Price: $1169
Pros
- 1080p gaming performance with some hiccups.
- Good battery life.
- Good cooling fans.
- A smooth 240Hz screen.
- Excellent thermal management.
- Battery lasts longer than a workday.
- USB-C charging.
- Multiple ports.
Cons
- It underperformed the other two RTX 3070 laptops tested so far regarding graphics.
- It lacks a webcam and biometric features.
- It comes preinstalled with McAfee antivirus.
- It has a low-power Nvidia RTX 3070.
- The quad-core processor has its limitations in demanding applications.
- It doesn’t have a card reader, a camera, or biometrics.
Before choosing the best laptop for SolidWorks, consider something.
Processor
Solidworks is primarily a multi-threaded application that operates on a single core.
That’s why you should always go for higher clock speeds and better CPU architectures for better single-core performance.
In contrast, if rendering and simulation are involved in your work, then it will be highly advantageous to use a multicore configuration.
For this reason, it is recommended to choose a processor with at least 4 cores, with 8 being the optimal number for most scenarios, and anything less than 12 cores will not significantly affect performance.
The multicore processor will also provide enough space for other applications running on the laptop while still allowing Solidworks to be accessed. It is recommended to select a CPU with a minimum GHZ speed of 3.1, with faster processors being preferred. Additionally, it is essential to consider the cache memory size and type available on the processor.
It’s a memory usually stored directly on your computer’s processor and sometimes even the motherboard. That means data can be accessed very quickly compared to regular RAM.
When comparing CPUs, if the specs are close, you can choose the one with more cache memory. You can also overclock your CPU to get more speed, but not all processors support overclocking.
Memory
The cost of RAM sticks is relatively low nowadays, and they have a significant effect on the system’s performance.
So, if you don’t want to slow down your system, choose at least 8GB of RAM with the recommended 16GB or more.
When working with large datasets, such as assemblies, with limited RAM, Solidworks may use the hard drive as temporary RAM, resulting in a decrease in performance.
Once you have reached the limit of the amount of RAM sufficient for your workflow, increasing the number of RAMs on the board may not significantly increase the speed.
Even so, it’s still better to have some extra space for the seasonal high-performance work, and if you can afford it, adding 32GB or even 64GB of RAM won’t hurt.
Graphics Card (GPU)
Extensive work can significantly affect Solidwork’s performance when dealing with large assemblies, complex simulations, or renderings.
However, it is essential to note that gaming graphic cards are unsuitable for Solidworks because they are designed for a different environment where a high frame rate is required for less detailed models.
Some Direct X-based gaming graphics cards will work with Solidworks to a certain degree, but they are not recommended. Suppose you want to maximize the performance of the graphics card. In that case, it is recommended to use a card that supports OpenGL, such as the Nvidia Quadro RTX or AMD Radeon Pro.
For smaller datasets, a moderate amount of VRAM will be sufficient; however, for larger assemblies, graphics cards that have a capacity of 4 GB or more are recommended.
Hard Drive
The hard drive is the part of the hardware that most people don’t think about, but it can slow down Solidworks.
It’s best to avoid hard drives and go with SSDs. SSDs are fast and lightweight, giving you a big jump in data access speed. Hard drives can store data for a while, but if you want to keep your operating system up and running, SSDs are the way to go.
Choose a PCIe (M.2) NVMe SSD. PCIe SSDs are faster than SATA SSDs.
Ensure you have at least 512GB of SSD for the operating system and Solidworks. You can also install hard drives for long-term data storage.
Operating System
If you want to use Solidworks, you must use Windows 10 or 11. Unfortunately, it’s not supported on Mac, so you won’t be able to run it.
There are some ways to get it up and running on Mac, but it’ll take a lot of work and won’t be worth it.
User Rating
See the user rating based on the above laptops.
Conclusion
Laptops recommended for general CAD software might not be great for Solidworks since the best laptop for AutoCAD or other CAD software might not do well for Solidworks due to how it does things.
So, determine which laptop is best for you based on what kind of work you do most often with Solidworks.
What is your opinion on our Best Laptop for Solidworks?
FAQ’S
What is the best budget laptop for SOLIDWORKS?
Acer Nitro 5 is the best budget laptop for Solidworks.
Is RTX 3060 good for SOLIDWORKS?
Yes, the RTX 3060 is suitable for SOLIDWORKS, as it offers good performance for 3D modeling and rendering tasks in the software.
What is the minimum graphics card for SOLIDWORKS?
A Quadro P1000 or a GeForce GTX 1050 would be the best for SOLIDWORKS.
1 comment