10 Best laptops for Autodesk AEC in 2023

As an avid user of Autodesk AEC software, I understand the unique requirements that come with selecting the best laptop for Autodesk AEC. Whether you're an architect, engineer, or construction professional, having the right hardware is essential to ensure smooth and efficient operation of these powerful applications, from AutoCAD to Revit, and Navisworks. To help you make an informed decision, I have reviewed an extensive laptop spreadsheet of recent releases, comparing specs and user-generated reviews to narrow down the top choices based on performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.

Autodesk AEC software, especially applications like Revit, demand a high level of performance from your machine to handle complex 3D models, renderings, and simulations. Therefore, finding the best laptop for Autodesk AEC involves evaluating key components such as the processor, graphics card, RAM, and storage, ensuring that they meet or exceed Autodesk's recommended system requirements. It's also crucial to consider the laptop's display quality, as you'll be spending countless hours working on detailed designs and visualizations.

Of course, no two professionals are the same, and your specific needs will depend on factors like project size, level of detail, and collaboration requirements. By considering laptops that excel in areas like processing power, graphics capabilities, and battery life, this guide will help you find a machine that caters to the demands of Autodesk AEC software. Rest assured that the recommendations provided are based on extensive research and take into account the preferences of fellow AEC professionals, from architects using AutoCAD to create 2D drawings to engineers working with Revit for complex BIM models.

Table of Contents

Powerful Processors

Today’s market is a battle between Intel and AMD when it comes to laptop processors. Apple has released its own ARM-based M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max and M2 system-on-chip modules, which offer exceptional single-core performance and battery life. AMD has managed to take around 20% of the market with its 6th generation Ryzen processors, while Intel is still on the 12th generation. Intel and Apple have both adopted hybrid performance/efficiency core designs (based on big.LITTLE). If you're looking for a laptop with great battery life, then you should definitely consider an AMD Ryzen model.

We won't be focusing on MacBooks for AEC applications, as the most popular OS in the AEC industry is Windows. However, if you're looking for a workstation-grade laptop, then you should look for one with at least 8 cores (or more). Note that some companies now allow employees to use their own laptops instead of company-issued ones; so make sure you know if your company has a BYOD policy before investing in a new laptop.

When choosing a laptop for AEC work, we prefer ultrabooks or business notebooks with long battery life. If you need more power, then you can go for a gaming laptop or even a desktop PC – it's not ideal but it'll do the job if you don't have any other option.

When comparing processors, we like to use PassMark and Cinebench scores since they're easy to find and give us an idea of how well each processor performs in general-purpose tasks such as web browsing or video editing.

A fast CPU isn't needed for most AEC applications, as most applications don't require intensive computations; it's just nice to have for 3D rendering tasks.

Which processors are best suited for AEC?

For budget options, you can go for an Intel i5-10500H or an AMD Ryzen 5 4600H. The i5-10500H is the more power-efficient choice, while the Ryzen 5 4600H provides better performance but with higher power consumption.

For mid-range laptops, I'd recommend either an Intel i5-11400H or an AMD Ryzen 7 4800H. Both chips provide excellent performance for their respective price ranges, with the Ryzen 7 4800H providing slightly better performance than the i5-11400H.

For high-end laptops, I'd recommend an Intel i9-11900H or an AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS. Both processors provide exceptional performance, with the Ryzen 9 4900HS being slightly more power-efficient than the i9-11900H.

Processor	Price Range	Performance/Watt
Intel i5-10500H	Budget	Good
AMD Ryzen 5 4600H	Budget	Great
Intel i5-11400H	Mid-Range	Great
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H	Mid-Range	Great
Intel i9-11900H	High-End	Great
AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS	High-End	Exceptional

Overall, when choosing the right processor for your Autodesk AEC laptop, make sure to consider your price range and battery life needs first. Consider an AMD Ryzen processor if battery life is important, and consider an Intel Core processor if you want better single-core performance. The table above should give you an idea of what to expect from each price bracket.

Graphics Power

Nvidia continues to dominate the laptop GPU market, and its latest notebook cards are in the RTX 30 series, such as the RTX 3070 Ti. Desktop GPUs are now a lot more power-hungry, so the gap between power-limited notebook graphics and desktop graphics cards has widened in the past few years. Additionally, Nvidia has discontinued the Max-Q label for its RTX graphics cards. Now, the exact GPU wattage is determined by the laptop manufacturer (OEM), leading to a wide variance in graphics performance even in laptops with the same GPU chipset.

A graphics card is not essential for most AEC applications, but it can come in handy if you're working with 3D models or rendering scenes in Revit. If you're looking for a gaming laptop, be prepared to spend some extra cash – they're not cheap!

Selecting a suitable GPU based on price range and performance requirements

At the lower end of the budget range, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 is capable of handling most Autodesk tasks with ease, while the GeForce RTX 2060 is a great mid-range option. For high-end performance, the GeForce RTX 2080 is a great choice.

You can use 3DMark to compare different GPUs, but I prefer to use benchmarks that stress the GPU directly such as Autodesk VIZ or SolidWorks since these applications are more popular in the AEC industry. Nvidia's latest generation of graphics cards are more energy-efficient than their predecessors, so there's no need to worry about battery life if you're working on the go.

My recommendations for each budget category

Minimum: GeForce RTX 3050
Recommended: GeForce RTX 2060
High-end: GeForce RTX 2080

Optimize RAM

When deciding on the right laptop RAM for Autodesk applications, the most important thing to keep in mind is the amount of memory needed. Most mid-range laptops come with 16 GB of RAM and high-end – 32 GB or more. The latest-gen Intel and AMD CPUs support DDR4 and DDR5, though DDR5 is still quite expensive and needs time to mature as a technology.

RAM is one of the most important components in a laptop for Autodesk applications. AEC professionals often need to load multiple models, scenes, and textures into memory at once, and they often need to do so simultaneously. This can be challenging if your laptop has only 16 GB of RAM, which is the bare minimum for most AEC professionals. 32 GB is a much better starting point. 64 GB is ideal for professionals working with complex models and scenes, but it's not necessary for most people.

When it comes to DDR5 vs DDR4, there's no reason to get DDR5 unless you're on a budget and don't mind sacrificing some performance for a lower price tag. If you're looking to buy a laptop that can last you for years to come – make sure it has upgradable RAM modules (not soldered-on).

How much RAM do I need for Autodesk applications?

At minimum, 16 GB of RAM is recommended, with 32 GB being ideal. If you're working with complex models and scenes, 64 GB would be the preferred choice.

Is there a difference between laptop RAM specs?

Yes, there are some key differences between laptop RAM specs. DDR4 is the standard for most laptops and offers good performance. DDR5 is the latest standard, offering improved performance and lower power consumption, though it is still expensive.

Secondary considerations when looking for RAM in a laptop

When choosing RAM for your laptop, there are several secondary considerations to keep in mind. First, make sure that the RAM you choose is compatible with your laptop's motherboard. Second, look for RAM with higher clock speeds and lower latency, as this can provide a noticeable performance boost. Finally, look for RAM that has good build quality and comes with a good warranty.

Table of what to expect depending on your budget

Price Range	RAM
Budget	8-16 GB
Mid-range	16-32 GB
High-end	32-64 GB

5 Best Laptops for Autodesk AEC

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$680

1.acer Nitro 5

Autodesk AEC laptop

Pros

Great processor (Ryzen 7 6800H)
First-class graphics card (RTX 3070 Ti)
One of most affordable laptops with an AMD Ryzen 7 processor
Mighty 1TB SSD

Cons

No IPS Panel (subpar viewing angles)

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Alternatives

$870

ASUS TUF A15

Pros

Great gaming performance at 1080p
Matte 144-Hz IPS display with accurate color reproduction

Cons

Mediocre webcam
Weak speakers

$1,160

2.ASUS TUF Dash F15

ASUS TUF Dash F15: A powerful and competitively priced laptop for those on a lower budget.

Pros

Lightweight and well-built
Good FHD 300Hz and QHD screen options
Significantly more powerful than the previous generation
76W battery with fair runtimes

Cons

Some quirks affecting everyday ergonomics
Ports squeezed together on the left edge
Be cautious of the FHD 144Hz panel option

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Summary

The ASUS TUF Dash F15 is an affordable yet powerful laptop that offers a balanced performance. It is lightweight, well-built, and comes with good FHD and QHD screen options. Just be cautious of the FHD 144Hz panel option and opt for the FHD 300Hz display if available.

Reviews

Ultrabookreview

Asus TUF Dash F15 review