5 Best Laptop for Architecture and Gaming in 2022 – The Best of Both Worlds
The best laptop for architecture and gaming will give you the best of working either as a professional architect or a student and still give the best world of gaming for when you want to rest and cool off from schoolwork or working.
An architect’s need for a laptop does not require much. Decent processing unit with at least 8GB Ram and maybe a dedicated graphics and an SSD should keep all your architectural applications running smoothly may it be AutoCAD, Revit or even if you are into rendering and animation which should be all you need.
However, then again, how would we be able to play AAA games on a laptop with pretty so-so specs, right? As an architect and as a gamer, we need the laptop specs that would allow us to play the latest games and at the same time produce the best pieces of architecture the world has ever seen.
Best Laptop for Architecture and Gaming in 2021
Playing AAA titles can mean business for aspiring architects. Imagine viewing endless works of art from a multitude of different perspectives. The inspiration is just endless. What every artist or architect needs are a dose of that inspiration to fuel their creativity.
Taking both gaming and architectural advances anywhere with you is something every gaming architect would love to do. The good thing is that you are in the right place if you are in the market looking for the best of both worlds.
Recommended 5 Best Laptop for Architecture and Gaming in 2021
For something that is expected to run all the architecture-related software and apps, at the same time, destroy every AAA game you throw at it, then we are looking for a powerhouse laptop. One that would stay looking professional for client presentations, and light enough that it doesn’t have to break your back wherever you go.
We will be classifying our gaming architectural laptops into the Best Overall, the Runner Up, the Best Mid-Range, the Best 2-in-1, and the Best Budget.
1. ROG Zephyrus S GX701 – The Best Overall Laptop for Architecture and Gaming
The ROG Zephyrus S GX701 Gaming Laptop is 17 inches with an unorthodox keyboard and trackpad placement for a laptop. The keyboard is shifted towards the very bottom of the hardware and moved the trackpad to the right side mimicking regular desktop use with a mouse. At first glance, it might feel a little awkward. Some might even say that it would a long while to get used to.
Only the best laptop for architecture and gaming while also being the most powerful of them all – the ROG Zephyrus S GX701 will assure you that it would take on anything and everything you throw at it. It would destroy all of your architectural applications and would give you the best gaming experience on a laptop.
The heart and soul of the Zephyrus are its RTX 2080 and the Intel Core i7-9750H. This configuration will pretty much demolish everything in its path while the 32GB RAMs will allow you to take on everything all at the same time.
Needs to save after a render? Are you finished with a project in AutoCAD? Are you done with an animation project? Well, the Zephyrus also has a 1TB SSD for all your saving and storage needs.
PROS:
- NVIDIA RTX 2080
- Intel Core i7 with 32GB Ram
- PCIe 1TB SSD
- 18.7mm thin
- 44 Hz FHD IPS Panel
- G-Sync
CONS:
- Extremely Expensive
- Short Battery Life
- No LAN port
Where to buy it:
2. MSI GS75 Stealth – The Runner Up to the Best
The MSI GS75 Stealth-093 17.3″ Razor Thin Bezel Gaming Laptop is a beast in its own right, the MSI GS75 comes in as a close second as the best laptop for architecture and gaming only to the Zephyrus GX701.
Sporting the standard keyboard and trackpad setup, it should be straightforward to get used to for your typical architectural applications and gaming needs. Unlike the Zephyrus, the trackpad remains where it should be, but in the GS75 it is made 35% larger which is indeed a welcome upgrade.
If you look at what is underneath the hood, it pretty much has the same specs as that of the Zephyrus S. The same RTX 2080 Max-Q, 32GB RAM configuration as well as a 144Hz FHD IPS panel.
The only difference between the two would be that this is running on an 8th gen Intel Core i7 compared to the Zephyrus’ 9th gen. It also only runs 512GB NVME SSD which is something every architect would be looking at simply because of the number of projects you could render and save as well as how fast you’ll be able to do so.
Other than those and the fact that the MSI GS75 is 0.35mm thicker, the two are almost identical in terms of sheer power and reliability. Even their price points are somewhere in the same bracket, the very expensive bracket that is.
PROS:
- RTX 2080 Max-Q
- NVME 512GB SSD
- 144Hz FHD IPS Panel
- Intel Core i7 with 32GB RAM
- 19.05mm thin
CONS:
- Poor Battery life
- Extremely Expensive
- No G-Sync
- Short Battery Life
Where to buy it:
3. Dell G7 7000 – The Best Midrange Laptop for Architecture and Gaming
The Latest_Dell G7 7000 could easily fool anyone as a productivity workhorse unless of course you are seen building ramps and shooting heads on Fortnite. What I love about getting a Dell laptop is its ability to stay camouflage in a professional setting.
It looks incredibly sleek and very professional, but what’s under the hood would easily make this the best laptop for architecture and gaming in the mid-range price.
This 15-inch sports an FHD Panel for excellent viewing angles, best for showing off your projects or designs in the absence of a projector. The NVIDIA RTX 2060 serves as the hardware that will bring all the fun together albeit, at a midrange level.
It could allow you to play the most popular AAA titles on the market right now but with adjusted visuals. Pair that up with a 9th Gen Intel Core i7 and a 16GB RAM, and you are ready to take on all types of architectural applications you’d need every day.
The G7 7000 also offers an SSD but only in a limited 256GB. However, don’t fret, if you need more storage, the G7 7000 comes with a 1TB HDD but expect that saving on this HDD would be extremely slow as it is only running at 5400 RPM.
If you could live with the 5400RPM HDD, then the Dell G7 7000 would be a strong contender in your selection process despite already being tagged as the best midrange. The looks scream professional, but what is behind it all is a core where you could mine all your inspiration from.
PROS:
- RTX 2060
- Intel Core i7 (9th Generation) 16GB RAM
- FHD IPS Panel
- 256GB SSD
- The professional design
- Connectivity ports in the back
CONS:
- On the heavier side
- Battery Life needs improvement
Where to buy it:
4. Dell XPS 9570 – The Best 2-in-1 Laptop for Architecture and Gaming
The Dell XPS 15 9570 gives us precisely that. Loaded with the Intel Core i7-8750H processor and a 16GB of RAM, this should be well-armed to take on the usual architectural apps and multitasking needs. Coupling that with the NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti, you are very much ready to take on this 2-in-1 to the next level as the best laptop for architecture and gaming.
You’d never expect a 2-in-1 in the list considering the gaming aspect of our needs. However, if you consider the architectural requirements, the 2-in-1 is truly a remarkable piece of equipment for projects and presentations.
However, if you combine them both, would we ever find the one that would give us the best of both worlds?
It should be able to cater to the latest AAA titles in the market today but be reminded that you’d have to skimp a little bit on the video settings. Nonetheless, XPS 9570 is truly the best of both worlds.
PROS:
- Intel Core i7 8750H
- NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti
- 512GB SSD
- 16GB RAM
- 4K Touch Screen Display
CONS:
- Battery life
- A little on the heavier side
Where to buy it:
5. Acer Nitro 5 – The Best Budget Laptop for Architecture and Gaming
The Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop is genuinely a reliable budget choice as the best laptop for architecture and gaming, and the Acer Nitro 5 has been making waves in the budget department because of how excellent the price vs the functionality ratio is on this equipment.
What’s better is that the Acer Nitro 5 fits the need of gamer architects alike with the Intel Core i5 as well as the 8GB RAMs. Both are essential to architectural applications as well as your everyday multitasking needs.
Slap an NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti in there and a 256GB SSD, then you’ve got yourselves a gaming laptop that can take on the likes of Tomb Raider and Witcher 3 though at controlled graphics.
PROS:
- Budget Price
- NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti
- Intel Core i5 Processor
CONS:
- Darker screen
- On the Heavier Side
Where to buy it:
Why do You Need the Best Laptop for Architecture and Gaming
If you are a gamer as well as an architect, then you need the best laptop to give you the best of both worlds. There are so many inspirations available in playing games while relieving your stress. And with a powerful gaming computer, working with architecture apps hasn’t been this easy. So, why not enjoy a bit of both?
Who Needs the Best Laptop for Architecture and Gaming
If you’ve noticed, the list you see here is a far gamer than it is architecture. The reason behind this selection process is simply because of the sheer power of gaming laptops.
Having a gaming calibre laptop would already equip you with the hardware to let you stay productive. It would allow you to work with the latest architectural apps easily and at the same time, play the games you love to play.
So if you ask me who needs them? Gamers need them because they deliver. Architects need them because of how easy this would take on projects and other presentations. Gamer architects need them because we want the best experience ever.
Who the Best Laptop for Architecture and Gaming is NOT for?
If you do not have any intention to play the latest titles on the market right now, or you just don’t have the time to do so, then this is not for you. The lappies in the list are too gamer-centric that even regular productivity wouldn’t be able to make a dent in its optimum use.
If you are just an architect with no plans of gaming, then you’d rather look out for my Top 5 best laptop for architecture students. The lappies there are far more affordable than the ones on this list.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Best Laptop for Architecture and Gaming?
The best laptop for both architecture and gaming would be the ROG Zephyrus S GX701. This is simply the most powerful in the list because of the specs that are headed by the NVIDIA RTX 2080.
It could take on, pretty much, anything you throw at it. From architecture apps like CAD to playing top-rated AAA titles like Witcher 3, it can take them all and at Ultra High Settings.
However, if you are looking at a much more subtle look with the familiar setup, the MSI GS75 Stealth might be the choice for you. Though slightly outdated by a generation in terms of processing unit, the GS75 still dons the same RTX 2080 which would allow you to do pretty much anything the Zephyrus could do.
It’s just that you would be sacrificing half the SSD, and the different design that the Zephyrus has to the more standard look and the 512 NVME SSD of the GS75.
Whichever of these you choose, you’re getting the best at architecture and gaming all at the same time.
How much do I need to buy the Best Laptop for Architecture and Gaming?
If you are heavily considering the ROG Zephyrus S, then you have certainly made a terrific choice because it is just too great to pass up if you have the budget. And speaking of budget, to get the king, you’d have to pay a king’s ransom.
The ROG Zephyrus S GX701 will set you back right under $3300 which is a very steep price but worth every penny.
If you are eyeing slightly somewhere in the mid-range, then the Dell G7 17 7790 might be just for you. With a far more affordable price tag of $1323, the Dell G7 is still highly capable of handling AAA titles and even produces smooth textures and overall pleasing gaming experience.
What’s great about the G7 is that it could stealthily hide its power behind its professional looks. Bringing this in the office will never attract anyone’s attention until they see you play Metro: Last Light Redux or the latest Tomb Raider game.
What is the cheapest Best Laptop for Architecture and Gaming?
The cheapest laptop on the list is the Acer Nitro 5. Clocking in at only $677, the Nitro 5 is the most affordable one in the list simply because of what you’ll find under the hood. The limitations the Nitro 5 are evident as you get through today’s productivity apps because of the Intel Core i5 processing unit.
The stress is further observed to manifest during the use of Architecture apps as well as in rendering and animation, it could still serve its purpose, but you’ll feel a little lag here and there.
While the GTX 1050Ti is pretty much okay, the fact that it’s just pretty much okay will not be enough to cut it for the latest AAA titles out there. You could make them run, you could even play on them and maybe enjoy them, but remember that you’d have to trim down your video settings to get it right for playability and overall smoothness to enjoy the game.
Conclusion
Being an architect means creating the best designs that may come from inspiration. An inspiration that may occur from anywhere, places around you, the peak of the mountain, or even the peaceful ocean view. Inspirations can come from anywhere, even on the very game you play.
With the best architecture and gaming laptops here, you are sure to get inspired all day every day.
