Alright, so you’re looking to get into CAD and want a nice laptop that can handle all your projects in SolidWorks.
After all, that’s one of the most popular and feature-rich CAD programs around for 3D modeling and simulation purposes. Well, we’ve got some good news for you- running SolidWorks doesn’t require a tremendously powerful system.
You can get by with a simple Core i5/ Ryzen 5 laptop and 8GB of RAM. But, if you want the best laptop for SolidWorks, that’s a totally different story.
We’re talking i7’s, Ryzen 7’s, 16+ GB of RAM, Quadro GPUs, etc. Which can get very pricey, so it all depends on exactly what you wish to do with your laptop. If you’re just a hobbyist or student, you don’t need top-shelf hardware.
However, if you’re working with SolidWorks on a somewhat professional level and make money out of your designs you shouldn’t skimp out on the hardware.
So, we have compiled a list of laptops that cover the entire spectrum- basic users all the way to power users.
Our top choice is the Razer Blade 15 Studio. In the end, you must decide what’s right for you based on your experience with SolidWorks as well as your budget. So let’s get started, shall we?
Here is our list of 7 best laptops for SolidWorks:
- Razer Blade 15 Studio Laptop
- Lenovo ThinkPad P15
- Gigabyte AERO 17
- HIDevolution ASUS TUF Dash F15 FX516PM
- Dell G5 15
- Acer Predator Helios 300
- Covert Gamer THICC-15
Razer Blade 15 Studio Laptop
- More Power, More Cores: The 8-Core 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10875H processor provides the ultimate level of performance with up to 5. 1GHz Max Turbo.
- Studio Ready: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super with Max-Q Design (8GB GDDR6 VRAM) graphics is up to 25% faster than the original RTX 20 Series with more cores and higher clocks.
- Vivid Visuals: The 4K OLED touch display delivers blazing fast 1ms response time and a wide color range covering 100% of the DCI-P3 space, while the HDR 400 True Black ensures deep blacks and vibrant colors.
- Thin and Compact: The CNC aluminum unibody frame houses incredible performance in the most compact footprint possible, while remaining remarkably durable and just 0. 7" thin.
- Innovative Cooling: A unique vacuum sealed, liquid filled, copper vapor chamber spans the heat generating components and is the key to getting maximum performance and user comfort in a compact, thin design.
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Hands down, one of THE best CAD laptops you can get. It’s designed for prosumer and studio use, which is why you have all this juicy hardware underneath the sleek machined aluminum chassis.
This is a very expensive laptop, but not a single penny is wasted on fluff or bloatware. Every part of the Razer Blade 15 Studio has been crafted to give you maximum performance in software such as SolidWorks, 3ds Max, AutoCAD, etc.
Let’s start with the processor- you get an i7-10875H, which is an 8 core beast of CPU based on Intel’s Comet Lake architecture. Yes, it’s 14nm and doesn’t have the efficiency of Ice Lake.
But in terms of single-core performance, it blows every Ice Lake chip out of the water without even trying. Thanks to the mature 14nm process, Intel can push this chip to way higher clock speeds and that’s clear when you look at the boost clocks- a blistering 5.1Ghz.
Then, you’ve got the graphics card- a Quadro RTX 5000, with 16GB of GDDR6 VRAM. That’s enough graphics horsepower to absolutely demolish any workload you throw at it within SolidWorks.
Quadro GPUs with certified drivers are recommended for SolidWorks because you get superior stability via industry-certified drivers that are developed by NVIDIA in collaboration with SolidWorks. This additional GPU horsepower comes in handy, especially for simulation and rendering workloads.
Finally, you’ve got the RAM and storage- 32GB of fast DDR4 memory in combination with a 1TB SSD. All this muscle helps you save thousands over the period of just a couple of months if you’re working in a studio.
And you get a much better view of what you’re working on, thanks to the 15.6” 4K OLED touch display. Everything is packed into a sleek machined aluminum chassis to improve structural rigidity while simultaneously reducing weight.
Pros
- Intel 10th generation Core i7 processor with 8 cores and 16 threads, a max boost clock of 5.1GHz
- Quadro RTX 5000 professional graphics card with 16GB of GDDR6 VRAM, perfect for Solid Works
- 32GB of DDR4 RAM, which you can upgrade to 64 if you wish
- 4K OLED touch display covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and is HDR400 certified. Protected by Gorilla Glass
- 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD
- Thanks to Razer’s incredible engineering team, all this goodness is packed into a chassis that’s just 0.7 inches thick
- Incredibly durable despite its thin and light design, thanks to the use of machined aluminum alloy for the chassis (weighs under 5lbs)
- Vacuum sealed, liquid-filled, copper vapor chamber enhances cooling performance
- W-Fi 6 and Thunderbolt 3
Cons
- Fans do get pretty loud if you’re rendering or gaming
- The palm rest can sometimes get a bit warm because of how well the metal chassis transmits heat
Lenovo ThinkPad P15
- Intel 10th Generation Core i9-10885H Octa-Core (8 Cores, up to 5.3 GHz with Intel Turbo, 16 MB Cache)
- 15.6" FHD (1920x1080) IPS HDR Screen
- 64GB DDR4 3200MHz Memory
- Two 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 Solid State Drive (2TB total storage)
- Windows 10 Professional (Win 10 Pro 64-bit), 3-Year Lenovo Worldwide Warranty
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Think of this as a more boring, bulkier Razer Blade 15. It has a similar processor from Intel and Quadro RTX 4000 graphics which is one tier below RTX 5000 in terms of performance.
You also get an FHD display instead of a 4K UHD touch display. However, what you lose in terms of graphics muscle and display resolution, you gain back in RAM and storage.
This ThinkPad P15 is loaded with a whopping 64GB of RAM and twin 1TB NVMe SSDs. That’s literally twice the memory and storage of the Razer Blade 15.
This is very useful if you’re running giant simulations or working on designs/ models with several hundred parts within SolidWorks. You could also transform this into a beastly Photoshop machine since it already has the processor and RAM for professional-grade work.
Even the display is exceptional, it uses an IPS panel and is Dolby Vision HDR 400 certified. Plus, the i7-10885H in this laptop is slightly faster than the i7-10875H in the Razer Blade (thanks to the higher base and boost clock).
The laptop is MIL-STD-810G certified, which means it can handle a bit of rough handling (dust, drops, etc.).
At 6.05 lbs., this is a heavy 15-inch laptop. But all that heft results in a solid, extremely tough workstation that you can confidently carry into the field. It also has more ports than thin & light laptops like the Razer Blade 15.
Pros
- Intel 10th generation Core i7-10885H octacore Comet Lake processor with boost clocks up to 5.3Ghz
- NVIDIA Quadro RTX 4000 professional graphics with 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM
- A whopping 64GB of DDR4 RAM
- Tons of storage- twin 1TB PCIe NVMe drives
- Full-size backlit keyboard with good key travel
- TPM 2.0 security chip for enterprise usage
- 15.6” FHD IPS display with Dolby Vision HDR400 certification and 500 nits of maximum brightness
- Massive 94Wh battery
- 720p IR webcam with physical privacy shutter
- MIL-STD-810G certification for shock, vibration, dust, and temperature resistance
- USB Type-C (with Thunderbolt 3, Power Delivery, Display Port), USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, HDMI 2.0 output, SD card reader, RJ 45 Ethernet
Cons
- At 6.05lbs, it is heavier than most 15-inch laptops
- The fingerprint reader is not built into the power button
Gigabyte AERO 17
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU 6 GB GDDR6 | NVIDIA DLSS for groundbreaking AI rendering
- 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10870H (2.20 GHz) | 16 GB RAM | 1 TB PCIe SSD
- 17.3" 300Hz Refresh Rate FHD 1920 x 1080 IPS-level, 3mm Ultra-thin Bezel | X-Rite Pantone Certified Display, individually factory calibrated
- 1 x Thunderbolt 3 (Type-C), 1 x Mini DisplayPort 1.4 | 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type-A), 1 x HDMI 2.1 | 1 x UHS-II SD Card Reader
- NAHIMIC 3 Surround Sound
[spacer height="-20px"]Last update on 2021-07-17 at 06:20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The AERO 17 laptop is somewhat of an all-rounder as it can handle both gaming and professional workloads such as CAD or rendering.
The Intel Core i7-10870H processor is at the center of it all, establishing a platform upon which you can build anything. It is transformed into an excellent CAD and gaming machine by adding in a GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card.
And when you throw in the X-Rite Pantone certified FHD IPS-level display with excellent color accuracy, you’ve now got a Photoshop laptop.
Whether you’re creating 3D models or playing the latest AAA games, the AERO 17 is a sleek and powerful laptop that is ideal for you. The robust cooling system and excellent Nahimic Audio elevate a good laptop into the realms of “truly exceptional”.
Pros
- Intel Core i7-10870H octacore Comet-Lake processor with 16 threads and a 5.1GHz boost clock
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics with 6GB of GDDR6 VRAM for 3D modeling and rendering work
- 16GB DDR4 RAM
- 1TB PCIe SSD
- X-Rite Pantone certified FHD IPS-level display
- Full-size RGB backlit keyboard
- Excellent trackpad with a built-in fingerprint reader
- Sleek and lightweight with a robust cooling system for lower temps and noise
- Lots of ports- USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, Thunderbolt 3 via Type C, UHS-II card reader, mini DP 1.4, HDMI 2.1, RJ 45 Ethernet
- Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1
Cons
- Some of the styling elements look a little too brash and “gamer” like
- Battery life is mediocre at best
HIDevolution ASUS TUF Dash F15 FX516PM
![[2021] HIDevolution ASUS TUF Dash F15 FX516PR 15.6' FHD 240Hz, 3.3 GHz i7-11370H, RTX 3070, 16 GB 3200MHz RAM, 1 TB PCIe SSD](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/418QSsECq2L._SL160_.jpg)
- Intel 11th Generation Tiger Lake i7-11370H 4 Core - 8 Thread Processor, 3.3 GHz (Max Turbo Frequency 4.8 GHz), 12 MB Smart Cache with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 w/ 8 GB GDDR6 (Features Max-Q Technologies | Max TGP 85W - Boost Clock 1290MHz)
- HIDevolution upgrades the 15.6" Matte FHD 240Hz IPS-Level, 300-nits, 1000:1 Contrast, 72% NTSC, 100% sRGB, 75.35% Adobe, 85/85/85/85 Viewing Angle, Anti-Glare, Adaptive-Sync, Energy-Efficient LED Backlight Display Gaming Laptop with stocked Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut CPU by adding Gelid GC Extreme on GPU for improved performance and optimal system temperature
- PCIe based storage--1 TB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe SSD--ensures that you experience the fastest boot up & load times
- 16 GB (1 x 8 GB On-Board + 1 x 8 GB) of fast DDR4 3200MHz memory--run memory hungry applications and multitask with ease
- HIDevolution Promise: Authorized ASUS Build to Order Dealer, thorough quality testing, a 1 Year Warranty, and access to our expert support staff. Contact us for more customization options.
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What’s the difference between buying a TUF Dash F15 directly from ASUS as opposed to buying one from HIDevolution? Well, you see- HIDevolution is an authorized Built To Order (BTO) retailer for ASUS.
They take an ASUS laptop like the TUF Dash F15 and upgrade its RAM + storage according to a buyer’s requests. They also replace the stock thermal paste on the CPU and GPU with Gelid GC Extreme which lowers temperatures by 5 to 7 degrees on average.
This prevents thermal throttling while running hardware-intensive applications, and extends the life of your laptop.
The lower temperatures aren’t a massive improvement for casual users who do light gaming or browse the web.
But if you’re a prosumer or heavy user who works with 3D models and does a lot of video encoding/ rendering you’ll appreciate the lower temps since you probably use the laptop for 10+ hours a day.
HIDevolution inspects each ASUS laptop for defects, like scratches on the chassis (or malfunctioning ports).
They do their own testing to make sure temperatures are looking normal under stress, and they update the BIOS + drivers to ensure a seamless experience out of the box.
HIDevolution also tests the keyboard and trackpad to make sure that everything is working as intended. And you get a 1-year warranty from these guys, including access to their tech support team which is better than the default tech support you get from OEMs like HP, Dell, ASUS, etc.
Pros
- Intel Tiger Lake Core i7-11370H quad-core processor with Xe integrated graphics and max turbo of 4.8Ghz
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Max-Q graphics with 6GB of GDDR6 VRAM
- 15.6” 144Hz FHD IPS display
- 16GB 3200MHz DDR4 RAM
- 1TB PCIe NVMe storage drive
- Backlit keyboard
- Responsive and accurate trackpad
- Sleek and lightweight design
- Amazing battery life
Cons
- No webcam (seriously, no webcam)
- The styling is more “gamery” but it doesn’t look too awkward
Dell G5 15
- ▌Please Read Before you purchase ▌This brand new laptop is upgraded from a base model. The manufacturer box is opened and resealed to install the parts to achieve the specifications as advertised. One-year warranty for upgraded RAM / SSD from Issaquah Highlands Tech. One-year original warranty for remaining components from Dell. 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD
- 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H (Base Clock 2.6GHz, Max Boost Clock Up to 6.0GHz, 12MB Cache, 6 cores)
- 15.6" FHD (1920x1080) 120Hz 300nits WVA Anti-Glare LED Backlit Display(non-touch), NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6
- 1 x USB-A 3.2, 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C, 1 x RJ-45 Killer Networks E2500V2 Gigabit Ethernet Port, 1 x MiniDP, 1 x SD Card Slot, 1 x Headphone/Mic Jack
- Windows 10 Home 64-bit, Ideal for Student, Home, Professionals, Small Business, and School Education
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For the money, this is one of the best CAD laptops you can purchase, period. The build quality is exceptional and the display is more than acceptable.
Most importantly, you’re getting an Intel Core i7-10750H hexacore processor with hyperthreading and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1605ti graphics. Laptops just a couple of hundred dollars below this one don’t even have dedicated graphics.
The i7-10750H is no octacore but it’s faster than any 10th generation Ice Lake processor by virtue of sheer single-core performance (and it has 2 more cores than Ice Lake chips).
In multi-core performance, it matches or beats out even Intel’s 11th generation Tiger Lake i7 processors which are limited to just 4 cores.
The GeForce GTX 1650ti is a nice entry-level graphics card for people looking to get into CAD and 3D modeling/ animation.
It’s not a powerhouse, but more than gets the job done. Plus, you get more battery life since it sips on power unlike the higher-end GPUs such as RTX 3070s.
Pros
- Intel Core i7-10750H hexacore with hyperthreading and a 5GHz boost clock
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10650ti graphics with 4GB of GDDR6 VRAM
- 16GB of DDR4 RAM
- 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
- 1920 x 1080 FHD display with a 120Hz refresh rate
- Excellent dual-fan cooler
- Lots of I/O- USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, HDMI 2.0, USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type C (with Thunderbolt 3 and Display Port)
Cons
- 802.11ac Wi-Fi which isn’t bad, but it’s a step behind the latest laptops which have 802.11ax (you can fix this by swapping out the network adapter)
- Mediocre webcam
Acer Predator Helios 300
- 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H 6-Core Processor (Up to 5.0GHz)
- Overclockable NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU with 6 GB of dedicated GDDR6 VRAM, NVIDIA DLSS, NVIDIA Dynamic Boost 2.0, NVIDIA GPU Boost
- 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) Widescreen LED-backlit IPS Display (144Hz Refresh Rate, 3ms Overdrive Response Time & 300nit Brightness)
- 16GB DDR4 2933MHz Dual-Channel Memory | 512GB NVMe SSD (2 x M.2 Slots | 1 Slot Open for Easy Upgrades) | 1 - Available Hard Drive Bay
- Killer Double Shot Pro: Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX 1650i and Killer Ethernet E2600 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN
[spacer height="-20px"]Last update on 2021-07-30 at 08:52 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
A “gaming laptop” that hits all the checkmarks in our list when it comes to deciding whether a laptop is suitable for SolidWorks.
It’s not just “okay”, rather the performance of this laptop in SolidWorks makes it excellent value for the money. The RTX 3060 in particular is something you don’t see until you go a price tier above what this laptop normally retails at.
And while the super flashy gamer styling isn’t for everyone, if you’re just a person who sits at home doing a lot of 3D modeling and rendering, it shouldn’t be an issue.
If you want a laptop for conference meetings and school, this may not be it. It isn’t that slim or light and is way too flashy.
But we guess it all depends on what you like because some consider this to be a perfectly fine laptop for work or school.
Pros
- Intel Core i7 -10750H 6-core processor with 12 threads and a 5.0Ghz turbo boost
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Max-Q graphics with 6GB of GDDR6 VRAM
- 16GB DDR4 RAM at 2933MHz (user upgradable)
- 512GB NVMe drive (there is a 2nd slot for future storage upgrades)
- 15.6” FHD IPS display with 3ms (Grey to Grey) response time and 144Hz refresh rate
- Killer AX 1650i for Wi-Fi 6 and Killer E2600 Ethernet
- 4-zone RGB backlit keyboard
- DTS X audio
- Dual fan cooler with Aeroblade all-metal 4th gen cooling fans
Cons
- Very gamer styling, whether you like it or not depends on your taste
- Mediocre battery life
Covert Gamer THICC-15
- First laptop to ever offer an actual desktop based AMD Ryzen processor. Desktop power with CPU customizability!
- AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 8 Cores - 16 Threads (3.6-4.4GHz Max Boost Clock) Processor; Windows 10 Home 64 Bit (Clean Install, No Bloatware)
- 8GB GDDR6 VRAM NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Graphics (MAX-P | TDP: 115W)
- 15.6" 144Hz Color Calibrated Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS-Type Display; HD Webcam with dual digital microphones
- 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD + 32GB DDR4 Dual Channel 3200MHz RAM
[spacer height="-20px"]Last update on 2021-07-30 at 08:52 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
If you’re into internet meme culture, you know what “THICC” means. And this is indeed a very THICC laptop at close to 6lbs and over an inch in thickness.
Still, it isn’t nearly as bulky or unwieldy as full-size gaming laptops from just a couple of years ago. Remember those monsters with dual GPUs and desktop tier mechanical keyboards? Yeah, those were the days.
Nevertheless, the Covert Gamer THICC-15 is actually a very good laptop for carrying around if you have a decent laptop carry bag. It isn’t THAT bulky or heavy.
And when you consider the fact that it packs a desktop Ryzen 7 3700X processor, you are more likely to excuse the size and weight complications.
A desktop R7 3700X is a completely different beast from a laptop processor. It is way faster and consumes a lot more power.
Even the Ryzen 7 4800H and 4900HS can’t match up to a desktop R7 3700X. It is the ideal laptop for SolidWorks if you are willing to sacrifice a bit of battery life and portability.
This laptop is faster than the Razer Blade 15 Studio which costs significantly more. If you upgrade the RAM and storage with a couple of hundred bucks out of your pocket, the THICC-15 transforms into a beast of a CAD workstation that beats out any other laptop on this list.
You could also buy the slightly more expensive variant of this laptop which comes with 1TB of NVMe storage and 32GB of RAM.
Pros
- Desktop Ryzen 7 3700X Zen 2 octacore processor (way faster than any laptop processor, even something like a Ryzen 9 4900HS or Intel i9-10980HK)
- RTX 2070 8GB GDDR6 Max-P graphics card with a TDP of 115W (this is faster than 2070 Max-Q which is restricted to a lower TDP)
- 16GB DDR4 3200MHz RAM
- 512GB NVMe SSD
- 15.6” FHS IPS 144hz display that is individually color calibrated before shipping
- Tons of I/O- mini Display Port, Type C, Type A, dual 3.5mm audio jacks, SD card reader, Gigabit Ethernet, etc
- Wi-Fi 6
Cons
- Bulky and heavy, with poor battery life (it is intended to be plugged in if you’re doing any serious work/ gaming)
- Sub-par webcam
How To Select The Best Laptop For SolidWorks
If you want a good SolidWorks laptop, you need to focus on two things: single-core processor speed, and tons of RAM. The graphics card doesn’t have to be super high-end, you can get by with a low to mid-range GPU if you’re a hobbyist or student.
But if you’re doing serious work on models involving hundreds or even thousands of parts, you need something like a Quadro or RTX graphics card.
Make sure you have at least 16GB of system memory (RAM), increase that number to 32 or even 64 if you work with models that have 500+ parts.
Make sure you have 8GB or more of VRAM if you work with larger models. For rendering and simulation, you need at least 6 or 8 CPU cores (with hyperthreading or SMT).
Make sure your processor isn’t more than 1 generation old. The display resolution isn’t super important, although you might want a larger display (17 inches) if you’re looking to use your laptop for complex projects.
If your laptop has an HDR display with good DCI-P3 coverage, excellent- you can use it for color-critical work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
We hope this article was informative and gave you an idea of what to look for in a laptop for SolidWorks. As it stands, right now the best laptop for SolidWorks in our opinion is the Razer Blade 15 Studio.
It has the best display of any laptop on this list and comes with a Quadro RTX 5000 graphics card for professional usage. If you can afford this laptop, go for it- you won’t be disappointed. Everything from the build quality to the design feels luxurious and premium.
For more budget-minded buyers, the Dell G5 is an excellent choice as it packs a GTX 1650ti and hexacore Intel processor for less than half the price of most workstation laptops.
And if you are concerned with raw performance over everything else, it’s hard to beat the Covert Gamer THICC-15. You sacrifice portability, battery life, and display quality compared to something like the Razer Blade 15. But you gain CPU speed, lots of it.
