In the world of video editing and color grading, DaVinci Resolve 18 has emerged as an industry favorite, offering professionals and enthusiasts alike a comprehensive suite of tools for creating stunning visual content. With its growing popularity and powerful features, finding the best laptop for DaVinci Resolve 18 becomes a crucial decision for those looking to harness the full potential of this sophisticated software. As someone who has spent countless hours working with DaVinci Resolve, I understand the importance of a reliable and high-performance laptop to ensure a seamless editing experience.
When searching for the best laptop for DaVinci Resolve 18, there are several key factors to consider, such as processor speed, GPU capabilities, and sufficient memory to handle complex projects. To identify the top contenders in the market, I reviewed an extensive spreadsheet of recent laptop releases, comparing specs, professional and user-generated reviews, and evaluating each model's performance in relation to DaVinci Resolve's unique requirements. This process allowed me to narrow down the top laptops across various price ranges, ensuring that users from all backgrounds can find the perfect machine to meet their needs.
In addition to the technical specifications, it's essential to consider other factors like portability, build quality, and display quality, as these can greatly impact your overall experience when working with DaVinci Resolve 18. With the diverse range of laptops available today, there's no need to compromise on any aspect. By focusing on the specific demands of DaVinci Resolve users, this guide aims to help you find the best laptop for your editing and color grading projects, whether you're an established professional or an aspiring content creator.
Processor for DaVinci Resolve 18
Processor is not the most important spec for DaVinci Resolve 18. The most significant factor is RAM, and the second one is GPU. For the processor, you should only consider the latest Intel H-series CPUs or Ryzen processors if you have a professional laptop.
Requirements
In terms of processor, the best DaVinci Resolve 18 laptops are based on Intel Core i7 H-series CPUs. But they are more expensive and they are not necessary. If you're in a budget, then I recommend AMD Ryzen 7 processors or AMD Ryzen 5/6 processors.
Recommendations
For budget laptops – I would go with AMD Ryzen 5 3500U or AMD Ryzen 3 3200U as the minimum requirement for DaVinci Resolve 18. If you're on a really tight budget – an Intel Core i3-8100U might be a good choice as well (not recommended).
If you want to use DaVinci Resolve 18 on high-end workstation laptops, then go with any of these three:
- Intel Core i5-10300H
- Intel Core i7-10750H
- Intel Core i7-11800H
- the best laptops for DaVinci Resolve 18 are based on Intel Core i7 H-series CPUs
- if you're on a budget, go with AMD Ryzen 5 3500U or AMD Ryzen 3 3200U
- if you want to use DaVinci Resolve 18 on high-end workstation laptops, then go with any of these three: Intel Core i5 10300H, Intel Core i7 10750H, Intel Core i7 11800H.
Graphics
Nvidia continues to dominate the laptop GPU market. Nvidia recently released a few RTX 40 series cards, but these are not yet available on laptops (expected in 2023). Nvidia's latest notebook cards are in RTX 30 series (such as RTX 3070 Ti). Desktop GPUs are now a lot more power-hungry; thus, the gap between power-limited notebook graphics and desktop graphics cards has widened in the past few years. Nvidia has discontinued the Max-Q label for its RTX graphics cards. Now, an exact GPU wattage is determined by a laptop manufacturer (OEM). Unfortunately, that results in a wide variance in graphics performance even in laptops with the same GPU chipset.
Fortunately, Blackmagic has made it easy to choose a laptop for Resolve by only supporting Nvidia graphics. So, you can ignore AMD GPUs completely. The GPU is essential for rendering video in real time. If you're working with 4K footage or 8K RED RAW – you'll need a high-end graphics card. You can also use the GPU for other tasks beyond just rendering video, such as encoding or machine learning (ML). I use 3DMark to compare different GPUs because it's an industry-standard benchmark that measures the entire spectrum of GPU performance, from single-core to multi-core performance.
If you're looking for a high-end laptop with a long battery life – look for one with an Nvidia Max-Q chip instead of a full power chip; these chips are designed to deliver better performance while maintaining battery life, but they come at the cost of some performance (though not nearly as much as regular Nvidia chips).
How to choose a graphics card based on laptop price range
Low-cost laptops (under $1,000)
For low-cost laptops, you'll have to make do with entry-level GPUs such as the GTX 1650 or the MX330. These chips will allow you to do basic tasks such as video editing and color grading, but won't be suitable for any serious professional work.
Mid-range laptops ($1,000-$2,000)
At this price range, you can start considering some of the more powerful GPUs such as the RTX 2060 or the RTX 2070. These chips are more than powerful enough for professional work, allowing you to edit and color grade in 4K without any issues.
High-end laptops ($2,000 and above)
If you're looking for the best performance for your money, then look for laptops with RTX 3070 or RTX 3080 GPUs. These GPUs offer unparalleled performance, allowing you to work in 8K resolution with ease. Additionally, these GPUs will be more than powerful enough for any machine learning tasks you might have.
Recommended GPUs for each price bracket
Minimum: GTX 1650
Recommended: RTX 2060
High-end: RTX 3070
Choosing the right storage for DaVinci Resolve 18
Different types of SSDs
In general, most laptops come with an SSD nowadays. The only time you'll find a hard drive is on budget laptops. And, even then, it's a rarity.
Laptops with SSDs offer an improved experience in many ways – like booting up and launching applications more quickly. And if you're into photography or video editing, then you should know that SSDs make those operations much faster too.
NVMe SSD
If you want to optimize performance, seek out an NVMe SSD which regularly far outperforms cheaper mechanical drives and SSDs.
NVMe SSDs are usually found in more expensive laptops, but they are becoming more commonplace. And it's a great idea to upgrade your laptop with an NVMe SSD if you can.
The good news is that NVMe SSDs are easy to upgrade. They come with their own slot, so all you need to do is remove a few screws and install the new one. It doesn't get much easier than that.
- if you can afford it, buy an NVMe SSD for better performance
- NVMe SSDs are typically found in more expensive laptops
- upgrading an NVMe SSD is easy
5 Best Laptops for DaVinci Resolve 18
1.HP Victus 15
HP Victus 15 provides budget gaming with an excellent price tag and decent multitasking, but subpar gaming performance may disappoint hardcore gamers.- Excellent price
- Good multitasking capabilities
- Solid port selection
- Poor battery life
- Average design
- Weak GPU performance
- Mediocre display quality
Summary
HP Victus 15 is a budget gaming laptop designed for the price-conscious buyer, offering good gaming performance and multitasking capabilities at an affordable price. However, it falls short in terms of battery life and design, while the low-end GPU may not meet the expectations of hardcore gamers.
Alternatives
Dell Precision 7770
- Great processor (i9-12950HX)
- Terrific graphics card (RTX A4500)
- No IPS Panel (limited viewing angles)
2.Lenovo Legion 5 Pro
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro is a solid choice for gamers and creators.- Excellent gaming performance
- Good build quality and battery life
- Bright and color accurate display
- Easy to upgrade and expand
- Drab design
- Limited storage
- Heavy and bulky with large power brick
- No biometrics
Summary
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro with AMD Ryzen 7 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 delivers excellent gaming performance, while also offering good build quality and battery life. However, it falls short in design and storage.
Reviews
Alternatives
ASUS ROG Strix G15
- High-performance CPU and GPU
- Good workmanship
- Skimpy connectivity
- Coil whine in certain situations
3.ASUS ROG Strix Scar
ASUS ROG Strix Scar is a high-performance machine but with thermal issues.- Sturdy build quality
- Fast Wi-Fi 6E
- Excellent performance
- Wide color gamut coverage with Dolby Vision support
- Limited display angle
- High heat and noise emissions under load
- SSD throttling during continuous reads
- No biometric login
Summary
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 G533 packs the latest hardware, including Intel Alder Lake Core i9-12900H and a 150 W Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti. The laptop's WQHD 240 Hz panel offers excellent response times and color gamut coverage. However, the laptop faces thermal issues, SSD throttling, and limited display angles.
Reviews
Alternatives
Acer Predator Triton 500
- High performance capabilities
- Excellent, bright 240-Hz display
- Soldered-in RAM
- Inaccessible SSD
4.HP Omen 17
HP Omen 17 offers excellent gaming performance with a QHD display, but falls short in noise level and battery life.- QHD display with 165 Hz
- Advanced Optimus technology
- Expandable working memory
- High noise level
- Clattery case
- Meager battery life
Summary
The HP Omen 17 is a high-end gaming laptop that boasts a QHD display with a 165 Hz refresh rate and advanced Optimus technology, making it ideal for gamers and content creators. However, it suffers from a high noise level and short battery life.
Reviews
Alternatives
ASUS ROG Strix Scar G733CX-XS97
- Good QHD panel with 240 Hz refresh rate
- High and stable gaming performance
- Inconsistent SSD performance
- No webcam
5.Dell XPS 17 9720
Dell XPS 17 9720 is a high-performance laptop with a premium 4K display.- Excellent 4K display with AdobeRGB
- High-quality case
- Thunderbolt 4 PCIe 4.0
- Very high system performance
- Lower graphics performance than the predecessor
- Performance not completely stable under combined load
- Not Wi-Fi 6E compatible
- 720p webcam
Summary
Dell XPS 17 9720 is a powerful laptop that features an excellent 4K display with AdobeRGB, high-quality case, Thunderbolt 4, PCIe 4.0, fast card reader, and good speakers. However, it has lower graphics performance than its predecessor and not completely stable under combined load.
Reviews
Alternatives
HP OMEN 17t-cm200
- Awesome processor (i9-13900HX)
- Excellent graphics card (RTX 4090)
- Heavy (6.18 lbs)
FAQ
What laptop is best for DaVinci Resolve 18?
For minimum requirements, the Acer Swift X SFX14-42G-R607 or Lenovo IdeaPad 3i 15 are the best options, at the price of $880 each. If you have more money to spend, we recommend the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 or ASUS ROG Strix Scar, at $1,460 and $2,670, respectively. For higher performance, we recommend the Eluktronics MECH 15 G3R at $4,000 or the Dell XPS 15 9520 at $5,800.
How to choose a laptop for DaVinci Resolve 18?
It depends on your needs and budget. Generally speaking, the minimum requirements for DaVinci Resolve 18 include at least a 512GB SSD, a Ryzen 5 4600H or equivalent processor, and a GTX 1650 or RTX 2060 GPU. If you're looking for a laptop to run DaVinci Resolve 18 with maximum performance, you should be looking for a 2TB SSD, i9-11900H processor, and an RTX 3070 GPU.
What laptop specs do I need to run DaVinci Resolve 18?
Refer to the table of requirements. To run DaVinci Resolve 18 with minimum performance you need a 512GB SSD, a Ryzen 5 4600H or equivalent processor, and a GTX 1650 or RTX 2060 GPU. For maximum performance, you need a 2TB SSD, an i9-11900H processor, and an RTX 3070 GPU.
How much RAM is required for DaVinci Resolve 18?
DaVinci Resolve 18 requires a minimum of 8GB RAM. 16GB is recommended for most users, but for more complex projects and heavy-duty workflows, 32GB or more is recommended.
Is i7 enough to run DaVinci Resolve 18?
An i7 processor is enough to run DaVinci Resolve 18 at the minimum requirements, but it's not recommended for heavy-duty workflows or complex projects. For maximum performance, we recommend an i9 processor.
What laptops can run DaVinci Resolve 18?
Refer to the table of recommendations. We recommend the Acer Swift X SFX14-42G-R607 or Lenovo IdeaPad 3i 15 at the minimum requirements, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 or ASUS ROG Strix Scar for medium performance, and the Eluktronics MECH 15 G3R or Dell XPS 15 9520 for high performance.
Does DaVinci Resolve 18 run well on a laptop?
Yes, DaVinci Resolve 18 is designed to run on both laptops and desktop computers. It's important to note, however, that performance will vary depending on the specs of the laptop. If you need maximum performance for complex projects, we recommend getting a laptop with higher specs such as an i9 processor and an RTX 3070 GPU.
Is Nvidia GTX 1650 enough for DaVinci Resolve 18?
The GTX 1650 is the minimum requirement for running DaVinci Resolve 18. It should be enough for basic editing tasks, but for more complex projects and heavy-duty workflows an RTX 2060 or higher is recommended.
Does DaVinci Resolve 18 work on Macbook Pro?
Yes, DaVinci Resolve 18 will run on most Macbook Pros. However, it's important to note that the Macbook Pro's graphics card and processor will not provide the same level of performance as a dedicated gaming laptop with an RTX 3070 GPU and i9 processor.
Is 500 GB SSD enough for DaVinci Resolve 18?
500GB is the minimum recommended SSD size for running DaVinci Resolve 18, however for complex projects and heavy-duty workflows we recommend 1TB or more.
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Table of the Best Laptops for DaVinci Resolve 18
Laptop | Price (approx) |
HP Victus 15 | $880 |
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro | $1,600 |
ASUS ROG Strix Scar | $2,310 |
HP Omen 17 | $3,470 |
Dell XPS 17 9720 | $5,600 |