Welcome to the ultimate guide for finding the best laptop for SOLIDWORKS 2023. As an avid user of this powerful computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided engineering (CAE) software, I understand the unique requirements and preferences of fellow SOLIDWORKS enthusiasts. This guide is tailored specifically to meet your needs, providing valuable insights and recommendations to help you make an informed decision when purchasing a new laptop.
To find the ideal laptop, I have meticulously reviewed an extensive spreadsheet of recent laptop releases, comparing specs and reviews from both professional and user-generated sources. This process has allowed me to narrow down the top laptops based on topic-specific requirements and various price ranges, ensuring you get the most out of your investment. When working with SOLIDWORKS 2023, it's crucial to consider factors such as processing power, graphics capabilities, RAM, and storage, as well as the benefits of a high-resolution display for detailed modeling and simulation.
As a member of the SOLIDWORKS community, I'm well-versed in the features and updates that accompany each new release. With SOLIDWORKS 2023, users can expect enhanced performance, improved collaboration tools, and advanced capabilities for managing large assemblies and complex simulations. Therefore, it's essential to choose a laptop that can handle these demanding tasks without compromising on efficiency or user experience. So, whether you're a professional engineer, a product designer, or a student mastering the art of 3D modeling, this guide will help you find the best laptop for SOLIDWORKS 2023 that suits your needs and budget.
Choosing the right processor for SOLIDWORKS 2023
If you're looking for a laptop to run SOLIDWORKS 2023, you'll want to make sure that it's powered by a processor that can keep up with the demands of the software. The processor market has changed drastically over the last year, with Apple's own ARM-based M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max and M2 system-on-chip modules now offering exceptional single-core performance and battery life. AMD has managed to take a 20% share of the market with its 6th generation Ryzen processors, while we're still waiting for Intel's 13th-gen processors to reach laptops – 12th generation is Intel's latest. Both Intel and Apple have adopted a hybrid performance/efficiency core design (based on big.LITTLE). If you're looking for a laptop that offers good battery life in a PC laptop, then Ryzen models are your best bet.
In terms of deciding on the right processor for SOLIDWORKS 2023, it's important to note that the CPU is the most important part of a laptop for SolidWorks, especially if you're using a mid-range to high-end graphics card (e.g., Nvidia Quadro). If you're on a budget, don't expect miracles from an underpowered CPU; it's better to start with a slightly more expensive model and save some money on the display panel or battery life. To measure performance differences between different processors, I recommend using Cinebench R23 – this is a popular benchmark used by many professionals, although there are other benchmarks that can be used such as PassMark or 3DMark (note that these benchmarks are not ideal for comparing laptops with different performance levels). Finally, if you need a workstation-class processor, make sure it has an adequate amount of power delivery (PD) wattage; this is especially important if you plan on overclocking your CPU or GPU.
To help you decide which processor is right for your SOLIDWORKS 2023 needs, I've compiled the following table of recommended processors by price range:
| Price Range | Processor Model |
|---|---|
| Minimum | i5-10500H |
| Recommended | i5-11400H |
| High-end | i9-11900H |
Choosing the right graphics for SOLIDWORKS 2023
With the release of the new RTX 40 series cards, Nvidia continues to be the leader in laptop GPUs, though the 40 series won't be available in laptops until 2023. In the meantime, their current notebook cards are in the RTX 30 series (such as the RTX 3070 Ti). Compared to desktop graphics cards, laptop graphics cards have become a lot more power-hungry, widening the gap between power-limited notebooks and desktops. Additionally, Nvidia has discontinued the Max-Q label for its RTX GPUs, meaning an exact wattage is determined by laptop manufacturers instead. This has resulted in a wide variance in graphics performance even in laptops with the same GPU chipset.
SolidWorks is not a particularly demanding application, so you won't need to break the bank for a top-of-the-line GPU. You can get by with a mid-range GPU as long as you're running Windows 10 Pro; if you don't need to view your models in real-time or aren't working with complex designs, you can even get away with no dedicated GPU. For comparison, I usually use 3DMark scores to gauge the performance of different graphics cards; these scores provide an indication of how a card will perform across other applications (such as SolidWorks). If you're looking for a gaming notebook that also performs well in design and engineering applications, you can find great all-in-one solutions in the form of gaming notebooks.
When it comes to choosing a GPU for SolidWorks 2023, here are my recommendations based on budget:
| Price Bracket | Recommended GPU |
|---|---|
| Budget | GeForce RTX 3050 |
| Mid-Range | GeForce RTX 2060 |
| High-End | GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q |
The best memory that will work optimally with SOLIDWORKS 2023 in 2022
If you're planning to use SOLIDWORKS in 2023, you'd need to pay extra attention to the RAM of your laptop. SOLIDWORKS is quite memory-hungry, so if you're going for the minimum 8 GB, you might be disappointed with the performance. To make sure you have the best performance out of SOLIDWORKS 2023, let's take a closer look at what the current RAM market looks like.
SolidWorks memory requirements
Let's get started with the basics. If you're going to do some light work with SOLIDWORKS, 8 GB of RAM should suffice. However, for serious work with complex assemblies, 16 GB is a must-have. 32 GB of RAM would be ideal if you're going to be dealing with large assemblies or working with multiple documents at once.
For high-end setups, you should consider a 64 GB RAM upgrade, and make sure it's in the form of DDR5 RAM. While it might not be essential, it would provide some performance benefits over the standard DDR4 RAM.
Other components to consider
In addition to the RAM, make sure to take into consideration the other components of your laptop. A powerful processor like Intel's 11th generation or AMD's Ryzen 5000 series would be great. And if you can afford it, an NVMe SSD would be the perfect companion to your setup.
Recommended RAM configurations for SOLIDWORKS 2023
For a well-balanced SOLIDWORKS experience, here are the recommended RAM configurations for different price ranges:
| Price Range | Recommended RAM |
|---|---|
| Low | 16 GB |
| Mid-range | 32 GB |
| High-end | 64 GB |
If you're looking for an upgradeable laptop, make sure to check that the memory is easily accessible without disassembling the whole thing.
So if you're looking for a laptop for SOLIDWORKS 2023, keep in mind that RAM is essential and make sure to select the right amount of it. With 16 GB as a minimum, 32 GB as the recommended amount, and 64 GB as the high-end option, you should be able to find the right laptop for your needs.
6 Best Laptops for SOLIDWORKS 2023
1.HP
HP Victus is an affordable option for entry-level gaming and productivity, but with some trade-offs.- Strong gaming performance for the price
- Good productivity performance
- Affordable option for a gaming laptop
- Display and webcam quality could be better
- Too much pre-installed software
- Single-channel RAM may cause some performance issues.
Summary
The HP Victus offers a budget-friendly option for those looking for an entry-level gaming and productivity laptop. However, sacrifices were made to reach this price point, such as a mediocre display and webcam, bundled pre-installed software, and single-channel RAM in our review unit.
Alternatives
MSI GeForce
- Small SSD
- No IPS Panel (subpar viewing angles)
2.Lenovo Ideapad3i
Lenovo Ideapad3i - Affordable but not for high-end CAD software like SOLIDWORKS 2023.- Low price
- Reasonable productivity and 1080p gaming performance
- Good battery life
- Dark display
- Poor keyboard
Summary
The Lenovo Ideapad3i is an affordable laptop with a reasonable productivity and gaming performance, good battery life but unfortunately it has a lackluster screen, poor keyboard, and a much-too-small SSD which makes it not suitable for high-end CAD software like SOLIDWORKS 2023.
Reviews
Alternatives
HP Victus
- Attractive price
- Strong frame rates on lighter titles
- Comes with bloatware preinstalled
- Stiff touchpad
3.Lenovo Legion 5 Pro
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro with RTX 3070 Ti is a great choice for SOLIDWORKS 2023 with its powerful hardware, but lacks Thunderbolt support.- High quality 165 Hz 16:10 IPS display
- Relatively easy serviceability
- Integrated numpad
- Very fast charging
- Low resolution webcam with no IR or privacy shutter
- Very warm CPUGPU temperatures when gaming
Summary
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro is a powerful 16-inch laptop with an upgraded AMD Zen 3+ CPU and 150 W TGP GeForce RTX 3070 Ti that delivers excellent performance. It features a high-quality IPS display, fast charging, and MUX support, but has a low-resolution webcam, warm CPU/GPU temperatures, moderate-heavy backlight bleeding, and average battery life. Also, it lacks Thunderbolt support.
Reviews
Alternatives
ASUS TUF F15 FX507ZM-ES74
- Faster than most other GeForce RTX 3060 laptops
- 300 Hz IPS panel w full sRGB coverage
- Chassis base and lid exhibit some flexing
- No per-key RGB lighting
4.ASUS ROG Strix Scar
ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 G533 is a solid performer, but not without flaws.- Sturdy construction
- Fast Wi-Fi 6E
- Unhindered Core i9-12900H and RTX 3070 Ti performance
- Limited display angle
- No biometric login
- High heat and noise emissions under load
- Battery backup could have been better
Summary
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 G533 packs impressive hardware including Intel Alder Lake Core i9-12900H and a 150 W Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti, along with a sturdy build and fast Wi-Fi 6E. However, it falls short in areas like heat and noise emissions, limited display angle, no biometric login, and average battery life.
Reviews
Alternatives
Acer Predator Triton 500
- High performance capabilities
- Excellent, bright 240-Hz display
- Soldered-in RAM
- Inaccessible SSD
5.ASUS ROG Strix Scar G733CX-XS97
ASUS ROG Strix Scar G733CX-XS97 is a powerful gaming laptop with a QHD panel and impressive performance.- Good QHD panel with 240 Hz
- High and stable gaming performance
- Extensive case illumination
- TB4, Wi-Fi 6E, and PCIe 4.0
- Inconsistent SSD performance
- Premium for HX CPU isnt worth
Summary
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar G733CX-XS97 is an impressive gaming laptop with powerful hardware, including a Core i9-12950HX, GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, and 240 Hz display. It also has extensive case illumination, TB4, Wi-Fi 6E, and PCIe 4.0. However, inconsistent SSD performance, electronic noises, and the premium for the HX CPU may deter some buyers.
Reviews
Alternatives
ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo
- Sleek and elegant design, considering dual displays and sheer power
- Refined two-screen layout
- High cost, especially as configured
- Awkward keyboard and touchpad layout
6.Dell XPS 17 9720
Dell XPS 17 9720 with Intel Alder Lake processors and RTX GPUs delivers high performance but with slightly weak cooling.- Excellent 4K display with AdobeRGB
- High-quality case
- Thunderbolt 4 PCIe 4.0
- High system performance
- Lower graphics performance than the predecessor
- Slightly weak cooling
- Not Wi-Fi 6E compatible
- 720p webcam
Summary
Dell XPS 17 9720 with the new Intel Alder Lake processors and RTX GPUs from Nvidia delivers high performance with an excellent 4K display with AdobeRGB, high-quality case, Thunderbolt 4 & PCIe 4.0, fast card reader, and good speakers. However, it has slightly weak cooling, lower graphics performance than the predecessor, and not completely stable performance under combined load.
Reviews
Alternatives
ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo
- Elegant, thin design despite having dual displays and high performance
- Refined two-screen layout
- Very expensive, especially when fully configured
- Awkward keyboard and touchpad layout
Table of the Best Laptops for SOLIDWORKS 2023
| Laptop | Price (approx) |
| HP | $680 |
| Lenovo Ideapad3i | $920 |
| 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 |
