8 Best Laptop for Architecture Students in 2023
The best laptop for architecture students in 2020 is a high-spec laptop that can handle heavy student workloads like 3D rendering and animation and applications like AutoCAD, Revit, etc.
Many laptops can run the software, but the issue is if they will do it efficiently.
It’s always right to seek advice on the best laptop an architecture student should buy. It should fully meet the requirements of some of the commonly used architectural software.
This will help you avoid purchasing a substandard low, performing computer.
It is monumentally important to research if you want to make a one-off investment like this that will make you a better architectural student and is built to last.
Recommended 5 Best Laptops for Architecture Students
Below are the best laptops for architectural students for different people tailored to your needs and budget. Every laptop on this list can also play games too.
1. MSI WE73 – Recommended Best Laptop for Architecture Students
The MSI WE73 8SJ-078 17.3″ is the absolute best laptop for architecture students because it was made for architecture works.
MSI has a line of powerful laptops made explicitly for 3D rendering and other highly intensive processing tasks frequently used by professionals.
It comes with an Nvidia Quadro P2000 with 4GB Dedicated Architectural Graphics Memory.
You’ll get a full 17.3 anti-glare screen display with 120Hz refresh rate, latest Intel 8th Generation processor for the best performance, 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD for super-fast boot times, faster rendering times and 16GB DDR4 RAM which can be upgraded to 64GB DDR4 of RAM.
PROS:
- Made for Architecture Students
- Made for 3D rendering, modeling, animation, and other intensive productive tasks.
- Has a dedicated Nvidia Quadro P2000 4GB memory graphics card for tearing through all your architectural jobs.
- A wide 17.3 Anti-Glare screen will make every model, project, or job look beautiful and is also suitable for watching movies and videos.
- A PCIe NVMe SSD makes everything faster.
- The 16GB DDR4 RAM will enable your laptop to be a super machine with high multitasking capabilities.
CONS:
- Heavy
- Low SSD storage (You’ll need to upgrade to at least a 512GB SSD storage)
Where to Buy:
For the best version of this laptop, you might also be interested in checking out the BIG Brother – The MSI WS75 9TL-496 17.3″ Thin and Light Mobile Workstation.
This the FULLY UPGRADED option with more bells and whistles but it costs more. We featured this here because it’s a better option than the MSI WS73 and it’s thin and lightweight.
Where to Buy:
2. Lenovo ThinkPad P71 – Best Lenovo Laptop for Architecture Students
The Lenovo ThinkPad P71 17.3” Mobile Workstation Laptop is a very close contender to the MSI WS73 because both laptops were created with Architectural students in mind.
The area the Lenovo ThinkPad P71 shines is its scratch-proof body and full-sized keyboard, which makes typing comfortable, fun, and accurate.
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It’s still a great choice because it comes with NVIDIA Quadro M620M with 2GB DDR5 dedicated graphics. The graphics card is one of the best graphics cards needed in a workstation because it was created for tasks like 3D rendering, modeling, and other related tasks.
The NVIDIA Quadro M620M is not a gaming graphics card.
This Lenovo ThinkPad P71 configuration comes with 8GB DDR4 RAM, Intel Core i7-770HQ Kaby Lake processor with 2.80Ghz speed boostable to 3.80Ghz, 512GB SSD + 1TB Storage all inside a big 17.3 FHD 1920x1080p display.
PROS:
- Better keyboard and typing experience
- Scratch-Proof body
- Has a workstation graphics card for tearing through architectural tasks like it was paper
- Kaby Lake Processors are so powerful and recommended for professionals
- 512GB SSD + 1TB HDD is a sweet storage configuration setup
CONS:
- This is not a lightweight laptop for architecture students
Where to Buy:
For the best version of this laptop, you might also be interested in checking out its BIG Brother – The Lenovo ThinkPad P71 with 64GB RAM and 4TB SSD.
This the FULLY UPGRADED option with more the maximum RAM capacity and a whopping 4TB SSD Storage. We featured this here because it’s a better option because of it’s RAM and massive SSD storage.
Where to Buy:
3. Lenovo ThinkPad P52 Premium – Best 15 inch laptop for Architecture Students
The Lenovo ThinkPad P52 Premium is the best 15-inch laptop for Architecture Students because it has the best graphics card for workstations which is the Nvidia Quadro P2000 with 4GB dedicated memory.
If a 17-inch laptop is too large and heavy for you and you would want to buy the Lenovo ThinkPad P52 Premium because it may be smaller in size, but it’s more powerful than the Lenovo ThinkPad P71 on this list.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P52 Premium comes with a massive 64GB DDR4 RAM, Intel Xeon E-2176M Processor (2.70Ghz, boostable to up to 4.40Ghz), 512GB + 1TB HDD Storage configuration, Nvidia Quadro P2000 with 4GB VRAM and all these are packed in a 15.6 Full HD 1920 X1080p display.
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PROS:
- Has the best graphics card for workstations – The Nvidia Quadro P2000
- Comes with the maximum 64GB DDR4 RAM configuration
- The Intel Xeon E-2176M Processor is one of the best processors for heavy-duty workload in the market
- The sweet 512GB SSD + 1TB HDD storage configuration is more than enough to boot up your laptop in 5 seconds, load software faster and keep rendering times to the bare minimum.
- 15.6 inch and lighter than the first two options on this best laptop for architectural students list.
CONS:
- It is expensive
- It’s not pretty on the eyes
Where to Buy:
The FULLY UPGRADED option comes with a whopping 4TB SSD Storage. We featured this here because it’s a better option because of the massive SSD storage.
Where to Buy:
4. Lenovo ThinkPad P52s – Best Touchscreen Laptop for Architecture Students
The Lenovo ThinkPad P52s is the best touchscreen laptop for Architecture students because it comes with Nvidia Quadro P500 with 2GB of dedicated video memory and is also decent for playing low-demanding games.
There’s no other touchscreen laptop on this list that’s more suited to Architectural works and tasks than the Lenovo ThinkPad P52s.
Overall, the Lenovo ThinkPad P52s is a 15-inch touchscreen laptop with 64GB of RAM, Intel Core i7-8550U Processor with 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD for optimal speed and performance.
PROS:
- The best touchscreen laptop for Architecture Students
- Massive 64GB RAM capacity
- An impressive 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD Storage configuration
- Intel Core i7 8th Generation 4 cores Processor at 1.8Ghz boostable to 4.0Ghz.
CONS:
- The Nvidia Quadro P500 is not as powerful as the Nvidia Quadro P2000
- Some people don’t like touchscreen laptops
Where to Buy:
5. Dell XPS 15 – The Best 4K Laptop for Architecture Students
The Dell XPS 15 9570 is the best laptop for architecture students with a 4K display.
What makes the Dell XPS 15 stand out from the crowd is its tiny bezels that display that maximizes the screen space making you feel this laptop is more than 15 inches and it comes with a touchscreen 4K resolution of (3840 x 2160) which gives you the ability to edit images with pinpoint accuracy without worrying about blurriness or jagged edges or lines.
For Architecture Students that are fans of Dell laptops, this would be an excellent choice for you because it also comes with Nvidia GTX 1050Ti with 4GB dedicated graphics memory which would work well for all your tasks.
This Dell XPS 15 configuration also comes with 16GB DDR4 RAM, Intel Core i7-8750H Processor, 512GB SSD Storage all within a 15 inch IPS panel display.
PROS:
- Ultra-sharp 4K display
- Tiny bezels make the screen looks wider.
- 16GB DDR4 RAM
- Intel Core i7 8th Generation Processor
- 512 GB SSD Storage
CONS:
- The screen would cost a lot to repair without warranty or insurance
Where to Buy:
6. Microsoft Surface Book 2 – The Best Lightweight Laptop for Architecture Students
The Microsoft Surface Book 2 is the lightest laptop on this list weighing about 4.2 pounds.
The Surface Book 2 is the fastest surface book yet with four times more power than the Microsoft Surface Book.
This is an upgraded version with Nvidia GTX 1060 with 6GB of dedicated graphics memory built for an enhanced graphics performance experience.
What makes the Surface Book 2 stand out in this list is the fact that it has a detachable keyboard which when removed makes the Surface Book 2 a tablet great for moving around maybe for travels and getting things done as you go.
Surface Book 2 has one of the best batteries on this best laptop for architecture students list.
PROS:
- Lightweight
- Long-lasting battery
- Detachable keyboard turns the Surface Book 2 to a tablet
- Great for working on the go
- Intel Core i7 8th Generation Processor
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB Storage
CONS:
Where to Buy:
7. Apple MacBook Pro 16 inches – Why? For Apple Lovers
Yes, apple lovers, you can use the New Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, 16GB RAM, 512GB Storage) as an Architecture student, and you’ll be fine.
The MacBook Pro comes unrivaled when Apple lovers are concerns and seem to the best in doing everything well except playing AAA games.
PROS:
- Biggest Apple Macbook Pro size
- Ultra-fast 512GB SSD
- Touch Bar and Touch ID
- Brillant Retina Display
- And just because it’s Apple
CONS:
- Your love for Apple’s MacBook Pro may blind you from what you need as an Architecture student or professional in your Architectural related field.
Where to Buy:
8. Lenovo ThinkPad P51 Mobile Workstation – Below $1,000 Budget Pick
If you want to the best architecture student in your college or take your professional career to the next level and you have a budget of less than $1,000 then the Lenovo ThinkPad P51 Mobile Workstation is for you.
It comes with Intel Core i7-7700HQ, a brilliant 512GB PCIe SSD, robust 16GB RAM, 15.6″ Full HD IPS (1920×1080) Display, and NVIDIA Quadro M1200 Discrete Graphics with 4GB VRAM.
PROS:
- Affordable
- It still has all the necessary hardware you’ll require as an architecture student or professional.
CONS:
- Not the most beautiful laptop on the list.
Where to Buy:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best laptop for architecture students?
The best laptop for architecture students is the MSI WE73 and Lenovo ThinkPad P52 Premium because they have the best graphics card for workstation and architectural works.
How much do I need to buy the best laptop for architecture students?
It all depends on your budget, and we understand that not everyone can afford the high-end laptops, but it’s always good to make sure that you don’t buy a substandard machine. With a minimum of $1,000, you can get one of the best laptops for architecture students.
What is the cheapest best laptop for architecture students?
We have looked through 20 laptops to find out that the Lenovo ThinkPad P51 Mobile Workstation is the cheapest laptop an architecture student who is on a tight budget can purchase.
Why you Need the Best Laptop for Architecture Students
As an architectural student, the following factors should be taken seriously before making any purchase to avoid any future regrets:
GPU (Graphics Processing Unit)
A GPU is primarily used to manage and boost the performance of video and graphics. For smooth processing, a laptop with at least 2GB is preferred. NVIDIA and Radeon are always preferred.
The GPU is KING in any laptop for architecture students because it handles the workload of 3D rendering, house designs, animation, and architectural software load faster and performs better.
An excellent GPU will save you hours of rendering time.
CPU (Central Processing Unit)
The Brain of the computer which accepts raw facts (data) and processes into a meaningful output (information).
It compromises of three components, namely control unit ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit) and memory(storage unit).
Any architecture student or professional architect will be running powerful CAD and modeling software. It is wise to get a laptop with at least the following specs to be able to avoid any slow performance or rendering times:
- Intel Core i5 – preferably i7 processor or an AMD equivalent
- 2.6 GHz or higher
RAM (Memory)
Architectural software takes much space, especially when multitasking. To avoid any reduction in performance, it’s advisable to pick a computer with at least 8GB of RAM.
Storage
I’ll also recommend an SSD drive because your rendering times will improve drastically and you’ll be able to perform and execute tasks like modelling, designing, 3D rendering, animation much faster than when using an old Hard disk drive.
For people with a slightly lower budget, you can go for a dual storage setup where you have a minimum of 128GB SSD + 1TB HDD setup.
If you can afford a large capacity SSD, then go for it as it will give you an excellent performance.
Resolution and Screen Size
Resolution is the number of vertical and horizontal pixels on a display screen while the screen size is the physical size area where videos and pictures are displayed.
Please purchase a laptop with more pixels as it will give you a better display quality that will make working on your school projects fun and beautiful.
A higher resolution such as FHD(Full High Definition) should be enough for your everyday activities though now, you can go a notch higher and get yourself a UHD(Ultra High Definition), 4K or 8K resolutions are now available for the absolute best.
Not forgetting about the screen size, a laptop of 15 to 17 inches is the best size for screen rendering.
Conclusion
Every Architecture student needs a laptop to improve their architectural designs, turnaround time, and to make them a better student or architecture professional. If you want the best laptop for students under $500, you can get the best advice here.
