As a digital artist and a tech enthusiast, I understand the importance of finding the best laptop for Krita, a versatile and powerful open-source painting program. With a plethora of options available in the market, it's crucial to focus on the unique requirements and preferences of artists who rely on Krita for their creative pursuits. With that in mind, I've gone through an extensive laptop spreadsheet, comparing specs and reviews from both professional and user-generated sources, to shortlist the top laptops tailored to Krita users with varying budgets and needs.
When selecting the best laptop for Krita, it's essential to consider key factors such as processor performance, RAM capacity, and display quality. While Krita can run on modest hardware, artists who work on complex projects or large canvases will benefit from a powerful CPU and ample RAM to ensure smooth performance. Equally important is a high-quality display with accurate color reproduction, as it enables artists to create visually stunning and true-to-life digital artwork.
Moreover, it's vital to keep in mind the portability and battery life of your laptop, especially for artists who are constantly on the go. As a Krita user, you'll likely spend hours working on your digital masterpieces, so it's crucial to have a laptop that can keep up with your creative flow. By considering these factors and relying on my experience with Krita, I've curated a list of laptops that will help you unleash your artistic potential without hindrance. So, let's dive in and discover the best laptop for Krita that meets your specific requirements and budget.
Deciding on a processor
Processor is on of the most important specs for Krita performance. A few extra bucks for a first-rate processor might be what keeps a laptop from choking on a full brush stroke.
Requirements
The first thing to consider is how you plan to use Krita. If you're an artist who mainly uses Krita for painting and sketching, then I recommend to get a 2.0GHz+ Quad-core CPU. If you plan to use video or animation tools like Blender, 3ds Max, Maya, After Effects, etc., then make sure your laptop has at least a 6th generation Core i5 CPU or Ryzen 5 CPU with 16GB of RAM or more.
Recommendations
I recommend Intel Core i7-10875H as the best CPU for Krita. Also, I recommend to choose a laptop with 16GB RAM and SSD storage for better performance and lower power consumption.
get a Core i7/Ryzen 7 or Core i9/Ryzen 9 processor if you want to work with video or animation tools in addition to painting and sketching in Krita
Choosing the right graphics card for Krita
Krita graphics
We're not looking for the cheapest card, or the most expensive. What we want is a card that meets Krita's requirements. If you need to save money, you can buy a less expensive card and still be able to use Krita.
Krita is bit picky about the OpenGL requirement, so make sure your GPU supports OpenGL 3.0 or higher before purchasing.
Graphics card examples
There are many cards that meet Krita's requirements, and we're not recommending one over the other. The best choice is up to you.
If you're looking for a graphics card that fits within your budget, here are some examples:
- GTX 1650
- RTX 3050
- RTX 2060
Mid-range graphics
The GTX 1650 is the cheapest card that can be used with Krita. But even this card will work well with Krita. It might not be as fast as higher end cards, but it will still do the job.
Recommended professional graphics
For Krita, I recommend either RTX 3050 or RTX 2060. If you're not sure which one to get, just go for the RTX 2060.
- if you want to use Krita, you need a graphics card that supports OpenGL 3.0 or higher
- if you want to save money, buy a less expensive card and still be able to use Krita
- for most people, GTX 1650 is the best choice for running Krita smoothly
Memory that will work optimally with Krita
Minimum (8 GB)
If you are on a tight budget, 8 GB should be more than enough for Krita. But what is the point of getting an expensive laptop if you are not going to maximize its potential? For this reason, I recommend that professionals with any type of serious work load consider 16 GB laptops for the best experience.
Recommended (16 GB)
At this price range, most laptops come with 16 GB of RAM. So, in order to get the best bang for your buck, this is the best option if you are working in Krita and need all of your RAM for it. Even though I am not sure how much ram Krita will take up in 2021, I am sure that 16 GB should be more than enough.
Best (32 GB)
For professional artists who want to run both Krita and Photoshop on their laptop at the same time – 32 GB is recommended. It's true that there are options for upgrading RAM once you buy a laptop, but why spend extra money when it's just sitting there unused? You can save it for other components that might break down or get outdated quicker.
The sweet spot is around $2000-2500 where 32GB laptops will be commonplace. Anything lower than that will only have 2 slots for upgrades and anything higher will make it very hard to stay within budget limits while still maximizing RAM capacity.
- 16 GB is the most popular choice for laptops used in Krita (professional artists who want to run both Krita and Photoshop on their laptop at the same time)
- 32 GB is recommended for professional artists who want to run both Krita and Photoshop on their laptop at the same time, or if you need all of your RAM for Krita (in 2021)
- 8 GB is recommended if you are on a tight budget (if you are not going to maximize its potential)
- anything lower than that will only have 2 slots for upgrades and anything higher will make it very hard to stay within budget limits while still maximizing RAM capacity.
Picking a good storage
Different types of SSDs
There are many different types of SSDs, but the two main categories are SATA and NVMe. These two types of drives can be used in tandem in some laptops, but for the most part SATA drives are not up to the task of professional applications.
NVMe drives are faster, easier to upgrade, and much more affordable than SATA drives. But when picking out laptop recommendations for Krita, we've prioritized laptops with NVMe support.
Getting the right size
Storage requirements aren't exceptionally high. You'd need at least 30 GB of free file storage space to install and run Krita. In theory, that even a basic 128 GB drive could match that. In practice, I recommend getting at least 256 GB to fit any additional software and leave some overhead for downloads and personal files. A laptop with 256 GB SSD would cost anywhere between $500 to $1,870. But in general, 256 GB SSDs should be only an option if you're buying a laptop under $1,000.
For most, I'd recommend a 512 GB SSD (0.5 TB). Brand new laptops with 0.5 TB SSDs are typically found in the $650 – $2,340 range, with a median price of $1,400. That's an excellent spot for a mid-range laptop. That's also plenty of space for a typical Krita workload.
For professionals that know that they'll need more – I'd recommend going up to 1 TB (or more, if finances are not an issue). On the other hand, if you're working with multiple CAD and 3D modeling applications, then shelling out ~$2,200 for a brand new laptop with a 1 TB SSD shouldn't shock you.
Upgrading
Usually professional laptops come with room for expansion via M2 slots or USB ports that allow you to add an external drive or flash stick. So upgrading isn't too difficult or expensive if you need more space in the future!
- SSDs are divided into two main categories: SATA and NVMe
- NVMe drives are faster, easier to upgrade, and much more affordable than SATA drives
- For Krita, get at least 256 GB SSD if you're buying a laptop under $1,000. For most, I'd recommend 512 GB SSD (0.5 TB). Professionals should go up to 1 TB (or more) if finances allow it.
Display that will work optimally with Krita
Krita is a 2D painting application that benefits from an IPS panel with high contrast and brightness.
Best laptop display for Krita
This one is simple. A good screen for Krita should have an IPS panel with high contrast and brightness.
Panel types for Krita
The most popular panel type for laptops is TN. It's not bad for work that does not require color accuracy, but it's absolutely horrible for photo editing and painting. There are a few alternatives that might fit the bill – IPS, PLS, or AHVA. You can always go with an OLED display as well, but these are usually too expensive and still not as good as IPS.
Recommendations
The best laptop display for Krita should have an IPS panel with high contrast and brightness. The best laptop displays will also support HiDPI resolutions of up to QHD+ (5K).
- if you want to use Krita, look for an IPS display with high contrast and brightness
- avoid TN panels if you can afford it
- you can also look for PLS, AHVA, or OLED panels, but these are usually more expensive than IPS and offer no significant advantages over IPS in this case
Krita FAQs
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Table of Best Laptops for {topic}
| Laptop | Price (approx) |
5 Best Laptops for Krita
$7001.Lenovo Legion 5 Pro 16
Krita laptop- First-class processor (Ryzen 9 6900HX)
- Solid graphics card (RTX 3070 Ti)
- Solid memory amount (64GB)
- Thin (5.48 lbs)
- No IPS Panel (worse contrast)
Alternatives
HP Victus 15t
- Low price
- Intel or AMD CPU options
- Weak GPU yields unsatisfactory frame rates
- Screen only so-so despite 144Hz refresh rate
$8502.HP Victus
HP Victus offers decent gaming performance for budget buyers- Easily serviceable
- Attractive design
- Cool surface temperatures
- Smooth 144 Hz refresh rate
- Buggy battery life and fan behavior
- No Thunderbolt or USB-PD support
- Subpar Turbo Boost sustainability
- Weak hinges
Summary
Despite its low price, HP Victus 15 offers solid gaming performance but struggles to compete with RTX 3060 alternatives when priced above $1000.
Reviews
Alternatives
$1,150Lenovo Legion 5 Pro 16
- Competent processor (Ryzen 9 6900HX)
- Great graphics card (RTX 3070 Ti)
- Bulky (5.48 lbs)
- No IPS Panel (limited viewing angles)
3.Lenovo Legion 5 Pro
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro offers powerful performance for Krita, but comes with a subpar webcam and battery life.- High-quality 165Hz IPS display
- Fast charging
- Integrated numpad for productivity
- MUX support for switching between dedicated and integrated graphics
- Low-resolution webcam with no IR or privacy shutter
- Warm CPUGPU temperatures during gaming
- Moderate to heavy backlight bleeding
- Average battery life
Summary
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro is a powerhouse with upgraded CPU and GPU that delivers fast performance for Krita. However, it falls short in webcam quality and battery life.
Reviews
Alternatives
$1,500Lenovo ThinkPad P17
- First-class graphics card (RTX A5000)
- Awesome display (17.3 IPS HDR Touch)
- Mediocre processor (i9-11950H)
4.Lenovo Legion 5 Pro
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro offers solid performance but sacrifices design for value.- Excellent CPU and gaming performance
- High-quality display with good color reproduction
- Good cooling performance and battery life
- Many replaceable modules and available M.2 slot
- Drab design with poor RGB illumination
- 512GB SSD limits storage capacity for games
- USB connections are placed awkwardly on the sides
- Noisy fans on the Balanced and Performance profiles
Summary
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro combines an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor with GeForce RTX 3070 graphics to deliver solid gaming performance at a reasonable price. However, the laptop design is not flashy, and the 512GB SSD limits storage capacity for gamers.
Reviews
Alternatives
ASUS ROG Strix G15
- High-performance CPU and GPU
- Sleek design and good workmanship
- Limited connectivity options
- Coil whine in certain situations
5.ASUS ROG Strix Scar
ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 G533 offers high-end performance but with thermal management concerns.- Sturdy construction
- Excellent performance
- Fast Wi-Fi 6E
- Wide color gamut coverage with Dolby Vision support
- Limited display angle
- Heavy SSD throttling during continuous reads
- High heat and noise emissions under load
- No biometric login
Summary
ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 G533 is a powerful gaming laptop that boasts of Core i9-12900H and Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti. However, the laptop has some thermal management concerns which lead to high heat and noise emissions under load.
Reviews
Alternatives
Dell XPS 17 9720
- Excellent 4K display with AdobeRGB
- High-quality case
- Lower graphics performance than the predecessor
- Performance not completely stable under combined load
Table of the Best Laptops for Krita
| Laptop | Price (approx) |
| Lenovo Legion 5 Pro 16 | $700 |
| HP Victus | $850 |
| Lenovo Legion 5 Pro | $1,500 |
| Lenovo Legion 5 Pro | $1,600 |
| ASUS ROG Strix Scar | $2,310 |
