The Ultimate Guide to the Best Laptops for TurboCAD in 2022

Many people in my generation are turning to AutoCAD and other [CAD software applications](wikipedia article on cad software) to take their 2D and 3D designs to the next level. Because of this, it’s easy to see why TurboCAD is one of the most popular CAD programs out there. It offers so much more than any other CAD system out there. Plus, you get an amazing rendering engine with it too! What more could you ask for? Well… how about a great laptop?

In this article, I’ll try to help out those who are looking for the best laptops for TurboCAD. In the first part of the post, I’ll go over what exactly you need to run TurboCAD. This includes laptops with sufficient RAM, CPU cores, and hard drive space, as well as any additional extras needed to run TurboCAD smoothly on your machine.

Here are some examples of specific laptop requirements and suggestions.

Requirements for a TurboCAD laptop

Major My memory recommendations that will work optimally with TurboCAD

Minimum (8 GB)

You could make do with 8 GB RAM in the short term, but if you want to enjoy using your laptop for longer than a few months – 8 GB won’t cut it.

TurboCAD is an intensive application, so you’ll have to replace your computer every year or two – at the very least.

It’s not worth investing in expensive parts when all of them will die before they get any use out of them.

So, if you’re running out of options – go for 16 GB. It’s cheap enough that you won’t have to worry about upgrading in just a few months’ time.

Recommended (16 GB)

For my own laptop, I’ve been using 16 GB RAM for the past 2 years and I’m really happy with the performance of my machine. There are plenty of professional-grade laptops with 16 GB these days – at all price ranges. If you can afford one of those – go for it! You’ll love it!

However, if you’re on a tight budget – there are still plenty of machines available with 16GB. It might be an old model that doesn’t have the latest features or an entry-level one that offers fewer features overall, but in terms of memory capacity – they’re not too bad.

Plus, this is still enough for most applications nowadays – including TurboCAD 2021 version!

Best (32 GB)

If money isn’t an issue for you – why not go all out? I always upgrade my RAM when I get a new computer so I don’t have to worry about slowing down later on down the line. It’s an investment that pays off in the long run!

Major Picking a good processor

The speed of a processor is the most important factor in TurboCAD performance. Older CPUs can be sluggish when operating on large, complex files and layouts. The result – frustrating delays and longer rendering times.

Requirements

So, which processors should you be looking for? You’ll want something from the latest two generations, preferably something with a higher clock speed. I’d also recommend an [Intel Core i7 over AMD Ryzen](reddit thread on turbocad and intel vs amd) because of their single-core performance and lower power consumption.

Recommendations

The processors I recommend for TurboCAD are all from the latest two generations. That way, you’ll get a higher clock speed, more cores, and faster throughput.

If you’re on a budget, go for an Intel Core i5. The cheapest option I’d recommend is the Ryzen 5 3500U. If you’re looking for a solid middle-of-the-road laptop for TurboCAD, then the i7-10875H would be perfect. And if you’re looking for the best of the best – the ultimate professional laptop – then I’d recommend the i7-11800H.

Major The best graphics card for TurboCAD in 2021

What is TurboCAD?

TurboCAD is a 2D/3D CAD package for designing architectural and mechanical drawings. Its most popular feature is the ability to rotate the view of the drawing in real-time.

Design considerations for graphics

Since TurboCAD relies on 3D rendering, it’s best to get a card that can handle 3D work. The minimum requirements are an integrated graphics chip – which can be found in most modern laptops. For better performance, you should get a dedicated GPU with DirectX 11 support, such as GTX 1650 or RTX 2060.

Integrated graphics vs. high-end gaming graphics

The integrated graphics chip in your laptop is enough for basic work in TurboCAD. For more advanced work, you’ll need a graphics card with 3D rendering capabilities, such as RTX 2060.

Affordable workstation graphics

If you’re looking for an affordable workstation graphics, there are many options – starting with Quadro RTX 3000 (for ~$2000) and ending with Quadro RTX 5000 (for ~$4000). These cards are especially designed for SolidWorks and come with custom drivers for better performance.

Optional requirements for a TurboCAD laptop

Optional Choosing the right storage for TurboCAD

SSD storage options

When it comes to storage for TurboCAD, you have two main options. You can go with a traditional hard drive or with an SSD. While the difference in price is often negligible, there are significant differences in performance.

An SSD has no moving parts and offers instant access to data. It is also more durable than a hard drive and offers better read/write speeds. A traditional hard drive has moving parts that generate heat and use up more power than an SSD. They are less expensive but also slower than an SSD.

Typical laptop prices by SSD size

On average, 256 GB of storage costs $850, 512 GB of storage costs $1400, 1 TB of storage costs $2200, and 2 TB of storage costs $3310.

If you’re on a budget or only need the space for light use like browsing the web, then 256 GB of storage is sufficient. If you’re using TurboCAD for professional purposes like 3D modeling or rendering then 512 GB of storage is recommended. If you need space for all your projects then 1 TB or 2 TB will be necessary.

Optional The right display

When it comes to TurboCAD, we need to pay attention to contrast and brightness. More contrast and higher brightness mean better visibility of the shapes and colors. This is important for many features like dimensions, 2D rendering, and other graphical objects. So it’s worth looking for a display with high contrast and high brightness.

Essential display specs for TurboCAD

The only 2 specs about a display you need to know are:

• resolution – FHD is enough. But, if you’re also doing video editing, CAD work, or any other application that requires color accuracy – then a 4K or QHD screen would be a huge plus.
• panel type – TN panels are good enough for general CAD work and other office applications. But they’re not as good as IPS panels when it comes to displaying accurate colors and deep blacks. So it’s worth looking for an IPS panel.

For the average CAD user, I would recommend an IPS panel with high contrast. This will be a good enough display for most work, and it’s relatively affordable too. For a better screen, you’ll need to go for a 4K or QHD panel. That’ll be a good choice if you’re also doing video editing or any other color-sensitive work.

5 Best Laptops for TurboCAD