Best Laptop for Adobe After Effects 2023

We live in a post-production world, but sometimes we can't afford the prices attached to those little "pro" logos. And I get it – editing software isn't something you want to skimp out on. This is especially true for Adobe After Effects. After Effects helps you breathe life into your creative vision by implementing stunning visual effects into your videos and films. To do this, it relies on extensive hardware resources as well as powerful computational power and memory management capabilities. If that sounds confusing – let's just say the more money you throw at Adobe After Effects, the better. But would you spend so much money if you could go down a notch? I hope my extensive research will be of use to you!

Let's begin with breaking down the specifics of this tool so we have all the components we need for a truly unbiased laptop comparison. Let's learn about…

Processor (CPU)

If you're looking to buy a new laptop to use with Adobe After Effects, you'll need to pay close attention to the processor. After Effects is a CPU-intensive application, so you'll need a fast processor to get the best performance. However, it's not the only thing that matters. In this section, we'll take a look at the different factors to consider when choosing a processor for After Effects, and give you our recommendations for the best CPUs for After Effects grouped by price range.

The state of the market

As of late 2022, there are two main types of processors available for laptops – Intel's 13th generation processors and Apple's M1 chips. Intel's 13th generation processors are the latest and greatest from Intel, and offer the best performance. However, they are also the most expensive. Apple's M1 chips are based on Arm architecture and offer great performance and battery life. They are also much cheaper than Intel's 13th generation processors.

CPU vs. GPU (CUDA, OpenCL) for After Effects

When it comes to choosing a processor for After Effects, you have two options – a CPU or a GPU. A CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the traditional choice for After Effects, and offers the best performance. However, a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) can also be used for After Effects, and offers some benefits over a CPU.

A GPU can be used for certain tasks in After Effects that are CPU-intensive, such as ray tracing. A GPU can also be used for certain effects that are not possible with a CPU, such as 3D rendering. However, a GPU is not necessary for most tasks in After Effects, and will not offer a significant performance boost over a CPU.

Multiple cores and multithreading in After Effects

When it comes to choosing a processor for After Effects, you should pay attention to the number of cores and the type of multithreading. After Effects is a multithreaded application, which means it can take advantage of multiple cores. The more cores a processor has, the better it will perform in After Effects.

However, not all multithreading is created equal. Intel's Hyper-Threading technology offers the best performance in After Effects, followed by AMD's Simultaneous Multi-Threading. If you're looking for the best possible performance in After Effects, you should look for a processor with Intel's Hyper-Threading technology.

A look at laptop processors – what to expect and what to avoid

When it comes to choosing a processor for your laptop, you have two main options – an Intel processor or an AMD processor. Both companies offer excellent processors for laptops, but there are some differences to keep in mind.

Intel's 13th generation processors are the latest and greatest from Intel, and offer the best performance. However, they are also the most expensive. AMD's Ryzen processors offer great performance and value for money. They are also much cheaper than Intel's 13th generation processors.

If you're looking for the best possible performance in After Effects, you should look for an Intel Core i7 or i9 H-series processor. If you're on a budget, you should look for an AMD Ryzen 5 or 7 processor. These processors offer the best performance per dollar ratio while still providing enough power to keep up with the latest features in After Effects.

Graphics (GPU)

It's late 2022 and you're in the market for a new laptop. You're a heavy Adobe After Effects user and you want to make sure you get a machine that can handle your workload. But with all the different types of graphics processors (GPUs) out there, it can be tough to know which one is right for you.

Here's a quick rundown of what you need to know about graphics cards for Adobe After Effects:

• A dedicated GPU is not required for After Effects, but it will offer a noticeable performance boost.
• After Effects is a demanding application, and it's not uncommon to see Adobe Premiere Pro or even Premiere Pro being used in conjunction with After Effects for video editing and color grading.
• There are many different types of GPUs. While some are better suited for gaming, others are more adept at handling complex visual effects in creative applications such as Adobe After Effects.
• I use 3DMark to compare different graphics cards since it's an industry-standard benchmark that can be found online for most popular graphics cards.
• If you're looking for a laptop with a long battery life, look for one with Nvidia Optimus or AMD Dynamic Switchable Graphics (DSG). These technologies allow the laptop to switch between the dedicated and integrated graphics card based on power requirements and performance demands – this results in longer battery life without sacrificing too much in terms of performance.

So what does this all mean for you? Here are some recommendations for what kind of GPU you should look for in a laptop, based on your budget:

• Minimum: 2 GB of GPU VRAM. You can find laptops with this amount of VRAM.
• Recommended: 4GB or more of GPU VRAM recommended. Laptops with 4GB or more of VRAM

Memory

Adobe After Effects is a demanding application that uses a lot of RAM. In fact, a single project can easily use up to 16 GB of RAM. This means that you need a laptop with a lot of RAM if you want to use After Effects effectively.

The good news is that most mid-range laptops come with 16 GB of RAM these days. This is enough to run After Effects without any issues. However, if you're looking for a laptop with a lot of RAM, it's best to get one with DDR5 memory. While it's not crucial, it will improve performance marginally.

In terms of choosing between DDR5 vs DDR4 – there's no reason to choose DDR5 unless you're working with 8K footage or using multiple GPU rendering (in which case – yes, get DDR5).

Other considerations include frequency, ECC, and CL/RL. However, these are not as important as the amount of RAM when it comes to After Effects.

So how much memory is enough for After Effects? The minimum amount of RAM you need is 16 GB. However, we recommend 32 GB for best results. For high-end laptops, you can get up to 64 GB of RAM.

5 Best Laptops for Adobe After Effects

Table of the Best Laptops for Adobe After Effects

Laptop	Price (approx)
HP Victus 15	$710
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro	$1,350
ASUS ROG Strix Scar	$2,310
ASUS ROG Strix Scar G733CX-XS97	$3,800
Dell XPS 17 9720	$5,600