The Ultimate Guide to the Best Laptops for TurboCAD in 2023

As a TurboCAD enthusiast, I understand that finding the best laptop for TurboCAD can be an overwhelming task, especially with a wide range of laptops available in the market. TurboCAD is a powerful CAD software suite that requires a capable device to run smoothly and efficiently. This guide is tailored to help you choose the ideal laptop for handling all your TurboCAD projects, whether you're a professional architect, engineer, or an aspiring CAD designer.

Since TurboCAD is a resource-intensive application, it is crucial to invest in a laptop that has a strong processor, ample RAM, and a dedicated graphics card. Moreover, it is essential to consider factors like portability, screen size, and battery life, depending on your specific needs and preferences. To find the best laptop for TurboCAD, I've carefully reviewed an extensive laptop spreadsheet of recent releases, comparing specs, and analyzing both professional and user-generated reviews. I've narrowed down the top laptops based on TurboCAD-specific requirements and various price ranges.

I've been using TurboCAD for years, delving into its various features like 2D drafting, 3D modeling, and photorealistic rendering. Over time, I've developed a strong understanding of the hardware requirements for different types of TurboCAD projects, such as architectural design, mechanical engineering, and woodworking. In this guide, you'll find valuable insights and recommendations that cater to different user needs, from those who primarily use TurboCAD for 2D drafting to power users who rely on the software for complex 3D modeling and rendering tasks. Rest assured that the laptop options presented here will help you make the most of your TurboCAD experience.

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.

TL;DR

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.

TL;DR

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!

TL;DR

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.

TL;DR

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.

TL;DR

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

TurboCAD FAQs

null

Table of Best Laptops for {topic}

Laptop	Price (approx)

5 Best Laptops for TurboCAD

$700

1.Lenovo Legion 5 Pro 16

TurboCAD laptop

Pros

Terrific processor (Ryzen 9 6900HX)
Terrific graphics card (RTX 3070 Ti)
Splendid display (16)
Terrific memory amount (64GB)

Cons

No IPS Panel (subpar viewing angles)

View on Amazon

Alternatives

$640

ASUS Zenbook

Pros

excellent battery life
compact dimensions

Cons

soldered RAM that cant be expanded
fan behavior annoying at times

$850

2.HP Victus

HP Victus: An Affordable Gaming Laptop That Falls Short.

Pros

Easy serviceability
Attractive visual design
Relatively cool surface temperatures
Smooth 144 Hz refresh rate

Cons

Buggy battery life and fan behavior
No Thunderbolt or USB-PD support
Subpar Turbo Boost sustainability
Weak hinges

View on Amazon

Summary

Though the HP Victus 15 is attractively designed and has smooth graphics, its high price tag ($850) in combination with weak performance from the RTX 3050 Ti GPU makes it a less than ideal choice.

Reviews

Notebookcheck

HP Victus 15 laptop review: Expensive for a budget gamer