Best Laptop for DaVinci Resolve 17

As a dedicated video editor, I understand that finding the best laptop for DaVinci Resolve 17 is crucial for your workflow. DaVinci Resolve, a powerful video editing and color grading software, demands a laptop with high-end specs and the ability to handle complex tasks. With so many laptops on the market, it can be a challenge to find the perfect one for your needs. In this guide, I'll help you navigate the choices and determine the best laptop to support your passion for video editing.

Having reviewed an extensive spreadsheet of recent releases, I've compared specs and gathered both professional and user-generated reviews to narrow down the top laptops for DaVinci Resolve 17 users. When considering a laptop for this software, there are a few key factors to keep in mind: the GPU, CPU, RAM, and storage. DaVinci Resolve relies heavily on GPU performance, so a dedicated graphics card is essential. Additionally, a powerful CPU, ample RAM, and fast storage options will ensure smooth and efficient editing.

As an active member of the DaVinci Resolve community, I'm aware of the challenges that editors face when working with 4K footage, complex visual effects, and color grading. With these specific requirements in mind, I've focused on finding laptops that not only meet the minimum requirements for DaVinci Resolve 17 but also provide a smooth and enjoyable editing experience. Stay tuned for my top picks for the best laptop for DaVinci Resolve 17, ensuring you have the performance and reliability needed to bring your creative projects to life.

The right processor

While DaVinci Resolve can utilize your CPU to some extent, it relies more on the performance of your GPU. And, when it comes to the best laptop processors for DaVinci Resolve 17, you want to find one with a fast GPU.

Requirements

It's hard to choose the best processor for DaVinci Resolve 17 since they're all in different categories. If you're just using DaVinci Resolve for editing footage, then you don't need a top-of-the-line CPU. But if you plan on editing in real time, you'll need a CPU that is designed for it. So in short – know what you want from your laptop and get the appropriate one.

Recommendations

If you are editing footage, I recommend at least an Intel Core i5-1135G7 or AMD Ryzen 7 5800H. If you are planning on editing in real time, I recommend at least an Intel Core i9-11900H or AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS.

TL;DR

for editing footage, use at least an Intel Core i5-1135G7 or AMD Ryzen 7 5800H
for real time editing, use at least an Intel Core i9-11900H or AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS

Deciding on a graphics card

Entry-level graphics

Entry-level graphics are the cheapest option. However, they are not ideal for DaVinci Resolve due to their lower performance.

An RTX 3050 card will be the most cost-effective choice, but if you can afford it, I recommend an RTX 3070 or higher. You might notice the occasional lag in processing, but that should be fine for smaller projects.

Recommended graphics ($1000 – $2000)

If you're working on smaller projects or want to work on multiple videos at once – you can get away with a midrange graphics card. These cards are more expensive than entry-level cards, but cheaper than high-end cards. These are perfect for DaVinci Resolve 17 due to their slightly better performance. For this price range, I recommend an RTX 3060 or RTX 2070.

The best options are RTX 3070 and RTX 3080. I would recommend them over other cards if you have a budget of ~$2,000+. You'll have no issues with DaVinci Resolve 17 at this level and won't need to worry about lags or crashes that come with low-performance GPUs (though keep in mind that GPU isn't the only factor in rendering).

Choosing a memory

Minimum (8 GB)

8 GB is the minimum RAM capacity for DaVinci Resolve 17. That means that it will work on an 8 GB laptop, but you're compromising on performance. I've never run it on 8 GB, so I don't know how it performs with such a low amount of memory.

But, unless you're a hobbyist, 8 GB is not enough for most professionals.

Recommended (16 GB)

I recommend 16 GB as the standard for most laptops that cost under $2k and are aimed at professionals. Though, if you're looking to invest in a brand new computer – it's probably worth investing in 32 GB instead of 16 GB, even if you can't afford it now.

Best (32 GB)

I recommend 32 GB as the best option for most professionals and people who plan to keep their laptop for the long haul.

If you're looking to invest in a brand new computer – it's probably worth investing in 32 GB instead of 16GB, even if you can't afford it now.

Though, as we've seen from my own experience with memory-hungry applications like SolidWorks 2021 and DaVinci Resolve 17 – more than 32GB doesn't necessarily mean more performance and future-proofing your laptop isn't necessary by any standard; we need to focus on other components like CPU or SSD.

TL;DR

8GB is not enough, get 16GB if you're a professional, but 32GB if you're going to be using your laptop for the long haul
32GB is enough for most professionals, but if you're looking to invest in a brand new computer – it's probably worth investing in 32 GB instead of 16 GB, even if you can't afford it now.

Picking a good storage

Finding the right size

Your storage requirements are fairly low. The recommended free space for DaVinci Resolve 17 is 30 GB. If you have that, then a laptop with 128 GB SSD should suffice. If not, then I recommend 256 GB SSDs. That's enough to install and run the software, plus install any additional applications you need, plus leave some overhead for downloads and personal files. You can get a 256 GB SSD for anywhere between $500 to $1,870. A laptop with 256 GB SSD would cost between $850 and $2,340 on average.

A 512 GB SSD is recommended for most people – it's enough to work with DaVinci Resolve 17 in peace while leaving room for other programs or samples. You can find laptops with 512 GB SSDs in the $650 – $2,340 range with a median price of $1,400.

For professionals that know they'll need more space – I recommend going up to 1 TB (or more). On the other hand, if you're working with multiple CAD and 3D modeling applications, then shelling out ~$2,200 for a brand new laptop with a 1 TB SSD shouldn't shock you.

Upgrading

Laptops come pre-installed with an M.2 SATA drive or NVMe slot depending on what the OEM deems best for the device. If you're looking at budget laptops – there's no telling what kind of drive will be inside it (and don't expect an NVMe slot). On the other hand, if you're considering higher-end laptops then chances are that they come pre-installed with an NVMe drive slot (or one can be easily added by installing an M.2 SATA drive).

TL;DR

get at least 30 GB of free space if you want to install DaVinci Resolve 17 on your laptop
128 GB SSD is recommended for most people, unless you know you'll need more space for other programs or samples
256 GB SSD is enough for working with Resolve 17 in peace while leaving room for other programs or samples
512 GB is recommended for most people, unless you know you'll need more space for other programs or samples
1 TB (or more) SSD is recommended for professionals that know they'll need more space, or if you're working with multiple CAD and 3D modeling applications

Deciding on a display

When it comes to choosing the best laptop display for DaVinci Resolve 17, you have a wide range of options. In fact, when I started researching this topic, I found that LCD monitors are a much more popular choice for video editing workstations than even pro-grade color-calibrated monitors.

Display basics

resolution – no matter what resolution you're looking for, it's going to be a good match for DaVinci Resolve 17. Though, I'd still recommend that you go with a 4K or UHD display. This way, you'll get enough screen real estate for high-quality video editing and your graphics card will have enough headroom to do all the heavy lifting without becoming too power hungry.
panel type – there are two main types of panels: TN and IPS/PLS. TN is the cheapest and most common panel type found in entry-level laptops. IPS/PLS is more expensive and more common in mid-range and premium laptops. It's not critical to choose an IPS panel – but it's certainly something worth considering if you're also editing videos on your laptop (or if you want better viewing angles). And if you're not planning on editing videos on your laptop – then just get a TN panel since it's cheaper and faster than an IPS panel.
brightness – brightness is hard to measure objectively and should be ignored in most cases when shopping for displays. But if we're talking about video editing – then we need a display that can keep up with what DaVinci Resolve 17 demands: at least 250 cd/sq. m brightness (you can find laptops with 300 cd/sq. m brightness). This is not something we should consider when looking at entry-level laptops (since TN panels don't come with such high brightness levels).
contrast ratio – not really something we care about in this case (since DaVinci Resolve 17 doesn't demand such high contrast ratios).

TL;DR

get a laptop with a 4K/UHD display if you're also editing videos on your laptop (or if you want better viewing angles)
get a TN panel if you're not planning on editing videos on your laptop (since it's cheaper and faster than an IPS panel)

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FAQ

What laptop is best for DaVinci Resolve?

It depends on your budget and what you want to achieve. For entry-level editing, a laptop with a Ryzen 5 3500U, GTX 1650, 8 GB RAM, FHD TN display, and a 256 GB SSD would suffice. For more intensive projects, something with a i5-10300H, RTX 3060, 16 GB RAM, FHD IPS display and 512 GB SSD should do the job. For the best performance possible, look into getting a laptop with a Ryzen 7 4800H, RTX 3070, 32 GB RAM, FHD IPS high refresh rate display and a 1 TB SSD.

What specs do I need to run DaVinci Resolve 17?

At the very least, you will need a laptop with a Ryzen 5 3500U processor, GTX 1650 graphics card, 8 GB of RAM, an FHD TN display and a 256 GB SSD. If you want to edit 4K video on it, you should get something with a i5-10300H processor, RTX 3060 graphics card, 16 GB of RAM, an FHD IPS display and a 512 GB SSD or higher. For the best performance possible, you will need a laptop with a Ryzen 7 4800H processor, RTX 3070 graphics card, 32 GB of RAM, an FHD IPS high refresh rate display and a 1 TB SSD or higher.

How to choose a laptop for DaVinci Resolve 17?

To choose the right laptop for DaVinci Resolve 17, consider your budget and what you want to achieve. Check out the recommendations table above for laptops that will perform optimally with DaVinci Resolve 17. Additionally, keep in mind that for 4K video editing you will need at least a i5-10300H processor, RTX 3060 graphics card, 16 GB of RAM, an FHD IPS display and a 512 GB SSD or higher.

Is RTX 3060 suitable for DaVinci Resolve 17?

Absolutely! The RTX 3060 can handle up to 4K video editing in DaVinci Resolve 17 and is suitable for most mid-level editing tasks. However, if you are looking for the best performance possible, you should look into getting a laptop with a RTX 3070 graphics card.

Can you edit 4K video on a laptop?

Yes! To edit 4K video on a laptop you will need at least a i5-10300H processor, RTX 3060 graphics card, 16 GB of RAM, an FHD IPS display and a 512 GB SSD or higher.

What laptops can run DaVinci Resolve 17?

Any laptop that meets the requirements listed in the table can run DaVinci Resolve 17. Additionally, check out the recommendations table above for laptops that will perform optimally with DaVinci Resolve 17.

Is AMD Ryzen 7 good for DaVinci Resolve 17?

Absolutely! Ryzen 7 processors are powerful enough to handle most mid-level editing tasks in DaVinci Resolve 17. However, if you are looking for the best performance possible, you should look into getting a laptop with a Ryzen 7 4800H processor.

How much RAM does DaVinci Resolve 17 require?

At the very least, you will need 8GB of RAM to run DaVinci Resolve 17. However, if you are looking to edit 4K video on it, you should get something with 16GB of RAM or higher.

Does DaVinci Resolve 17 run well on a laptop?

Yes! Any laptop that meets the requirements listed in the table can run DaVinci Resolve 17 smoothly. Additionally, check out the recommendations table above for laptops that will perform optimally with DaVinci Resolve 17.

Is 500GB SSD enough for DaVinci Resolve 17?

Yes, 500GB SSD should be enough for most mid-level editing tasks in DaVinci Resolve 17. However, if you are looking to edit 4K video on it, you should get something with at least 512GB SSD or higher.

5 Best Laptops for DaVinci Resolve 17

$640

1.ASUS Zenbook

ASUS ZenBook delivers powerful performance in a sleek, portable design, with some minor drawbacks.

Pros

Excellent battery life
Fast processor
Sleek design
Bright display

Cons

Soldered RAM that cant be expanded
Fan behavior can be annoying at times
High emissions under load
Weak Wi-Fi

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Summary

The ASUS ZenBook 14 is a compact, lightweight laptop that boasts excellent battery life and a fast processor. While it may get hot and have a weak Wi-Fi connection, the sleek design and bright display make it a good choice for those on the go.

Reviews

Notebookcheck

83%/100

Asus ZenBook 14 UM425U [5700U version]

Ultrabookreview

4.5/5

Asus ZenBook 14 UM425QA [5800H version]

Alternatives

$760

HP Victus

Pros

Strong entry-level gaming performance
Sophisticated design

Cons

Display could be brighter
Three-year-old GPU

$880

2.HP Victus 15

HP Victus 15: An Affordable Laptop with Decent Gaming Performance.

Pros

Excellent price
Good gaming performance
Can double as a work laptop

Cons

Bad battery life
Rather plain design

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