For example, not many people think about the 3D modeling software they’re going to use. It might sound trivial, but using a proper tool makes your work way easier. And this applies to games development as well. Blender is one of the tools you might use for creating textures, models, or animations. And since it’s free and open-source – you’ve got no excuse not to try it out! Just make sure you have a decent laptop capable of running Blender first!
I’ve put together a short overview of the laptop requirements for Blender – depending on your budget and what do you want to get out of it. Whether you’re planning on modelling monsters or animations for your intro video – rest assured that I’ll have the best options covered in this article. All you need to do is read through my findings!
- when it comes to games development, you’ll need more than just a fancy engine
- Blender is a great tool for 3D modelling, animation, and texture creation
- the best laptops for running Blender are…
Requirements for a Blender laptop
Major Choosing a memory
Minimum (8 GB)
I’m not sure if 8 GB is enough for Blender. That’s the old standard, but that was when it was the only 3D software that mattered. You can still use 8 GB, but there are more powerful options out there.
Recommended (16 GB)
That said, 16 GB will do just fine for most people. But I think it’s more sensible to go with 32 GB if you can afford it. That way you’ll have plenty of RAM for multitasking and running different software in the background. I have two laptops with 16 GB of RAM and they’re both due for an upgrade soon.
Best (32 GB)
The sweet spot seems to be 32 GB of RAM, which makes up 39% of all laptops on the market right now. It has just enough room for running professional applications, while also being future-proof for running multiple demanding programs simultaneously in 2021 or later years to come. If you’re going over $2000 – then there’s a 99% chance that you’ll end up with a laptop with 32 GB of RAM already installed.
- you’ll need at least 8 GB of RAM for Blender, but more is better
- 16 GB is the most common amount of RAM on laptops, but 32 GB is better for running multiple programs at once
Major Graphics card
Minimum graphics (under $1000)
I know, it sounds bonkers – getting a laptop under $1k for Blender. If you cut enough corners – you can get a cheap notebook for Blender. That could be done by either going for integrated Intel/AMD graphics (far from ideal) or an entry-level dedicated GPU such as GTX 1650. You might see much slower rendering. But that’s fine for small assemblies. I’m not recommending a cheap laptop for Blender, but it’s an option for a very tight budget.
Recommended consumer graphics ($1000 – $2000)
If you can’t go over $2000 – just go for a consumer-grade card. End of discussion. This includes most students, part-time freelancers, and hobbyists. Non-workstation cards are mainly acceptable for general assemblies with basic parts. One of the biggest reasons you’d want a powerful GPU is for rendering. If you’re looking to spend less than $2000, I recommend these cards:
- GTX 1660 Ti, this is now the best choice if you don’t want to spend more than $2k; however I recommend going with RTX instead if possible;
- RTX 2070 is also very good if you can’t afford RTX 3080 or RTX 4000/5000 or don’t mind spending another $1k or so
Major The best processor for playing Blender in 2021
Requirements
Blender heavily relies on a CPU’s multi-core performance. What this means is that you want to find a laptop with a good multi-core performance. Luckily, most laptops have CPUs that will be sufficient for Blender use. That said, there are some CPUs which are more desirable than others. For example, AMD Ryzen 7 has up to 8 cores, so it will perform better in parallelized tasks than Intel Core i5-8265U which only has 4 cores.
Recommendations
If you’re on a budget and looking for the best cheap laptop for Blender, Intel i3-10110U should suffice. However, if you’re willing to spend just a little more on your laptop, then I would recommend AMD Ryzen 7 4700U. It’s one of the most popular processors for professional laptops because it’s inexpensive but still performs well enough to run Blender smoothly. Lastly, if you have an unlimited budget and want the best laptop for Blender – Ryzen 7 5800H is your go-to option.
- multi-core performance is important for running Blender smoothly
- most laptops have CPUs that will be sufficient for Blender use
- if you’re willing to spend just a little more on your laptop, then I would recommend AMD Ryzen 7 4700U
- if you have an unlimited budget and want the best laptop for Blender, Ryzen 7 5800H is your go-to option.
Optional requirements for a Blender laptop
Optional Storage for Blender
What kind of SSD is right for you?
There are many types of SSDs. These include MLC, SLC, eMLC, and NVMe. MLC is the cheapest but has the shortest lifespan. SLC is more expensive but offers more longevity. eMLC is in between MLC and SLC. And NVMe is the fastest option but also the most expensive.
Size matters
It’s important to get the right size SSD for your needs. If you’re just using Blender on a low-powered laptop for a few hours a day, then a small 256 GB drive will be fine for you. But if you’re a professional who needs a lot of space, then I recommend going with a 1 TB or 2 TB drive. For professionals, I also recommend going with an NVMe drive because it’s much faster than an HDD or SATA SSD and can be easily upgraded later on if you need more space.
- There are many types of SSDs
- MLC is the cheapest but has the shortest lifespan. SLC is more expensive but offers more longevity. eMLC is in between MLC and SLC. And NVMe is the fastest option but also the most expensive.
- Size matters
- For professionals, I also recommend going with an NVMe drive because it’s much faster than an HDD or SATA SSD and can be easily upgraded later on if you need more space.
5 Best Laptops for Blender
MSI GF63035
Pros and cons
- Sufficient processor (i5-10200H)
- Excellent graphics card (RTX 3050)
- Garden-variety memory amount (8GB)
Alternatives
Lenovo ThinkPad P53 20QN001VUS
- Awesome display (15.6 IPS HDR Touch)
- Fair memory amount (16GB)
- Not the best processor (i7-9850H)
- Unexceptional graphics card (Quadro T2000)
HP Pavilion 15
- Decent processor (Ryzen 5 4600H)
- Light-weight (4.4 lbs)
- So-so graphics card (GTX 1650)
- Run-of-the-mill memory amount (8GB)
Dell XPS 9710
Pros and cons
- Splendid processor (Ryzen 7 5800H)
- Up to scratch graphics card (RTX 3050 Ti)
- No IPS Panel (worse viewing angles)
Alternatives
MSI GF65 Thin
- Terrific graphics card (RTX 3060)
- Fair memory amount (32GB)
- Substandard processor (i5-10500H)
ASUS TUF FX706
- Good processor (i5-11400H)
- Sufficient graphics card (RTX 3050 Ti)
- So-so memory amount (32GB)
Dell XPS 9710
Pros and cons
- Great processor (Ryzen 7 5800H)
- Exceptional memory amount (128GB)
- Bulky (5.4 lbs)
- No IPS Panel (inferior color reproduction)
Alternatives
Acer Predator Helios 300
- Excellent processor (i7-11800H)
- Very good graphics card (RTX 3060)
- Mediocre memory amount (32GB)
Lenovo Legion 5
- Solid processor (Ryzen 7 5800H)
- Awesome graphics card (RTX 3070)
- Mediocre memory amount (32GB)
- Weighty (5.3 lbs)
Acer Predator Helios 300
Pros and cons
- Exceptional processor (i7-11800H)
- Good graphics card (RTX 3060)
- Bulky (5.1 lbs)
Alternatives
Eluktronics MECH-15
- Exceptional display (15.6 240Hz IPS)
- Very good memory amount (64GB)
- Middle-of-the-road processor (i7-12700H)
- Middle-of-the-road graphics card (RTX 3060)
Eluktronics Prometheus XVII
- Great display (17.3 240Hz IPS)
- Awesome memory amount (64GB)
- Mediocre graphics card (RTX 3060)
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen
Pros and cons
- Awesome processor (i9-11950H)
- Splendid graphics card (RTX 3080)
Alternatives
ASUS ROG 16
- Great processor (i9-11900H)
- Fair memory amount (40GB)
- Underwhelming graphics card (RTX 3060)
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-45-R9QH
- First-class processor (Ryzen 9 5900HX)
- Very good graphics card (RTX 3080)
- Unremarkable memory amount (32GB)
Comparison spreadsheet
If you’re looking for the best laptops for Blender, take a look at the link I’ve provided. It has all the information you need to make an informed decision!
Table of Best Laptops for Blender
Laptop | Price (approx) |
MSI GF63035 | $650 |
Dell XPS 9710 | $1140 |
Dell XPS 9710 | $1410 |
Acer Predator Helios 300 | $1840 |
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen | $3650 |