If you're a professional architect, engineer, drafter, or designer looking for a laptop for TurboCAD, you're in luck! This guide is the only resource you'll need to find the best laptop for TurboCAD in 2021 and beyond.
Whether you're working on technical drawings, molding models, or making 3D animations – you'll need a laptop that won't run out of power. That's why I've put together this guide to save you time and energy in finding the perfect laptop. Here you will get to know what specifications to pay attention to and the optimal combination of hardware to boost your productivity. We'll also offer some suggested options so you don't have to search further. Let's get right into it!
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.
- older CPUs can be sluggish in TurboCAD
- latest CPUs are faster and have more cores
- Intel Core i7 is faster than AMD Ryzen for single-core performance and power consumption
- i7-11800H is the best laptop for TurboCAD, while Ryzen 5 3500U is the cheapest option
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.
- TurboCAD is a 2D/3D CAD package for designing architectural and mechanical drawings
- it's best to get a card that can handle 3D work (GTX 1650 or RTX 2060)
- you can use integrated graphics for basic work, but more advanced work requires a graphics card with 3D rendering capabilities (Quadro RTX 3000 or Quadro RTX 5000)
- get Quadro drivers for SolidWorks for better performance in this software package
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!
- 8 GB is not enough for TurboCAD 2021 version!
- 16 GB is a good compromise between price and performance
- 32 GB is an investment that pays off in the long run!
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.
- a laptop with 256 GB of storage costs $850 on average, while 512 GB costs $1400 on average, 1 TB costs $2200 on average, and 2 TB costs $3310 on average
- 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
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.
- contrast and brightness are important for TurboCAD users
- high contrast and high brightness mean better visibility of shapes and colors in TurboCAD
- FHD is enough for most CAD work, but 4K/QHD are better if you're also doing video editing or any other color-sensitive work
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Table of Best Laptops for TurboCAD
Laptop | Price (approx) |
6 Best Laptops for TurboCAD
HP Victus 15
Pros and cons
- Awesome display (15.6 IPS WA)
- Sufficient memory amount (16GB)
- Average processor (i5-12450H)
- Middle-of-the-road graphics card (GTX 1650)
Alternatives
Lenovo ThinkPad P53 20QN001VUS
- Awesome display (15.6 IPS HDR Touch)
- Fair memory amount (16GB)
- Unexceptional graphics card (Quadro T2000)
GIGABYTE A5 K1
Pros and cons
- Splendid graphics card (RTX 3060)
- Great display (15.6 IPS)
- Average processor (Ryzen 5 5600H)
Alternatives
HP Victus
- Terrific display (15.6 IPS)
- Light-weight (5.06 lbs)
- Substandard processor (i5-12450H)
- So-so graphics card (GTX 1650)
HP Victus 15
Pros and cons
- Exceptional memory amount (64GB)
- Featherweight (5.06 lbs)
- Unexceptional processor (i5-12450H)
- Underwhelming graphics card (GTX 1650)
Alternatives
Acer Nitro 5
- Terrific processor (i5-12500H)
- Sufficient graphics card (RTX 3050)
- Middle-of-the-road memory amount (32GB)
GIGABYTE AERO 17 XE5
Pros and cons
- Very good processor (i7-12700H)
- Splendid graphics card (RTX 3070 Ti)
- Unexceptional memory amount (16GB)
- Run-of-the-mill battery life (334min)
Alternatives
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14
- Up to the mark processor (Ryzen 9 5900HS)
- Up to scratch graphics card (RTX 3060)
- No IPS Panel (subpar viewing angles)
GIGABYTE AORUS 15 XE4
Pros and cons
- Terrific processor (i7-12700H)
- Very good graphics card (RTX 3070 Ti)
- Underwhelming battery life (305min)
- Bulky (5.28 lbs)
Alternatives
ASUS ROG Strix G15
- Excellent graphics card (Radeon RX 6800M)
- First-class display (15.6 IPS G-Sync)
- Mediocre processor (Ryzen 9 5900HX)
Lenovo ThinkPad P15
Pros and cons
- Terrific display (15.6 OLED Touch)
- Very good memory amount (128GB)
- Underwhelming processor (Xeon W-10855M)
Alternatives
Dell XPS 15 9520
- Terrific processor (i9-12900HK)
- Splendid display (15.6 OLED Touch)
- Mediocre graphics card (RTX 3050 Ti)
- Garden-variety memory amount (64GB)
Table of the Best Laptops for The Ultimate Guide to the Best Laptops for TurboCAD in 2022
Laptop | Price (approx) |
HP Victus 15 | $710 |
GIGABYTE A5 K1 | $790 |
HP Victus 15 | $1150 |
GIGABYTE AERO 17 XE5 | $1400 |
GIGABYTE AORUS 15 XE4 | $1750 |
Lenovo ThinkPad P15 | $6050 |