Best Laptop for Lumion 11 in 2023

As an experienced user and a fan of Lumion 11, I understand that finding the best laptop for Lumion 11 can be a daunting task. Lumion is a powerful real-time 3D architectural visualization tool, and the latest release, Lumion 11, has introduced new features that take rendering and presentation to a whole new level. To fully enjoy and utilize these features, you need a laptop that is capable of handling the software's demanding requirements, while also providing a smooth and efficient workflow.

When searching for the best laptop for Lumion 11, it's crucial to prioritize a system with a high-performance GPU, fast CPU, and ample RAM. I've reviewed an extensive laptop spreadsheet of recent releases, comparing specs and reviews (both professional and user-generated) to narrow down the top laptops that cater to the needs of Lumion 11 users. In the process, I also considered price ranges and topic-specific requirements, such as the ability to handle large and complex scenes, as well as real-time rendering and virtual reality support.

As a Lumion 11 user, you know the importance of having a laptop that can keep up with your creativity and the demands of your projects. Whether you're working on architectural visualization, interior design, or landscape architecture, a laptop with the right combination of performance and portability will ensure you can bring your ideas to life, even when you're on the go. By focusing on the unique requirements and preferences of Lumion 11 users, this guide aims to help you find the best laptop for your needs, allowing you to create stunning visuals with ease and efficiency.

Picking a good processor

If you're buying a laptop for Lumion 11, then I can't say that CPU is the most important factor. The main component that affects the performance of Lumion 11 is graphics card. A good CPU will not make a big difference in a laptop's performance when compared to a gaming-grade GPU.

Requirements

A quad-core processor would be sufficient for Lumion 11 because it doesn't utilize any more than four cores at once. In this regard, I don't think there's much to say about the Intel Core series of processors – they all perform similarly. A new AMD Ryzen or an older Intel Core i5 would be perfect as well.

I would stay away from laptops with dual-core processors because Lumion 11 will simply use two cores, but won't benefit from a dual-core configuration. So yeah, if you see a laptop with a quad-core CPU and a dual-core CPU – just don't buy it. It'll have twice as many idle cores as working ones!

Recommendations

For this application, you can ignore all of my advice on choosing processors and go for the latest graphics card instead. In my opinion, it's possible to notice an improvement with the latest graphics cards on some new laptops with high-end CPUs, but it depends on how powerful your previous GPU was. If you have no idea what kind of laptop to buy for this application – go for graphics card first and then worry about the CPU later on (and never worry about RAM).

TL;DR

when it comes to Lumion 11, graphics card is more important than CPU
quad-core CPU is good enough for Lumion 11, but latest graphics card is better for this application

What's the best graphics card that will work optimally with Lumion 11?

Workstation vs. consumer graphics

Lumion 11 is a powerful application that relies on the GPU to render 3D images. This means that you'll need to choose between two main options: certified cards for Lumion 11 and consumer-grade (gaming) cards.
Professional cards are the best option because they offer better performance, stability, and support for features such as RealView. The downside is that they're more expensive than consumer-grade cards. You can either go for a certified card or a high-end gaming card, but if you want the best possible experience – go for a professional card.

Minimum graphics (under $1000)

A low-end graphics card will be enough for Lumion 11 if you're on a tight budget. If you're willing to spend under $1000, then I recommend these GPUs:

GTX 1650 ($850)
RTX 3060 ($1600)
RTX 3070 ($2500)
RTX 2070 ($1800)

You might see a few more crashes with this option, but Lumion 11 will still work fine – especially with the use of "Software OpenGL" option in case of crashing or system freezes. However, Lumion 11 will run much better on professional cards or high-end gaming cards – so if you can afford them, it's worth it to get one of those instead.

TL;DR

you'll need a certified card or high-end gaming card for Lumion 11, but if you're on a tight budget – GTX 1650 or RTX 2070 are fine options

Choosing the right memory for Lumion 11

Lumion 11 is a 3D rendering application. For best performance, you'll need a powerful PC with a graphics card and at least 16 GB of RAM. But it's difficult to predict how much RAM Lumion 11 will require for a particular project.

As a result, I recommend going for 32 GB to future-proof your laptop, or if you have the budget for it, 64 GB. If you're just running Lumion 11 and nothing else, then 16 GB will do just fine.

But if you're considering the other applications on your laptop as well – make sure to go for 32 GB or more.

32 GB or more?

In terms of performance, the more RAM the better – as long as it doesn't exceed the laptop's capacity. The default configuration of most laptops is 8GB – but if you're going for something powerful, 16GB should be enough.

If you're using CAD software or any other memory-hungry program that can use up all your system resources in an instant – don't take any chances and go for 32GB or more to future-proof your computer. And remember that there are no extra slots for RAM upgrades in laptops so if you can afford it, buy two sets of 16GB and put them in both slots to increase the total amount of RAM to 32GB (or even 64GB).

TL;DR

go for 32 GB or more if you're running other programs on your laptop
16 GB is enough if you're only running Lumion 11

My storage recommendations that will work optimally with Lumion 11

Laptops for Lumion 11

There are a lot of laptops with SSDs. But how many of them are worth buying? The laptop's price, brand, storage size, and other features can be more important than the type of storage.

If you're looking for the best laptop for Lumion 11 – I recommend looking for an affordable computer with at least 256 GB SSD. Ideally, it should also have an NVMe slot to upgrade to 1 TB or 2 TB SSD in the future.

I'd recommend browsing our list of recommended laptops for more information on what to look for when buying a laptop.

TL;DR

you can get any laptop with an SSD, but there are some that are better than others
if you're looking for a good laptop for Lumion 11, I recommend looking for an affordable computer with at least 256 GB SSD and NVMe slot for future upgrades
if you're interested in more information on what to look for when buying a laptop, I recommend browsing our list of recommended laptops

The right display

If you're new to 3D work, then you're probably thinking: "I need a 4K display and a 120Hz refresh rate". And yes, that is a great idea. But it's not what we're going for in this guide. We want to get the best value for our money – and there are many, many more things that make a display better than resolution and refresh rate.

Best-value laptop displays for Lumion 11

You need an IPS panel (or AHVA/PLS/eDP) with decent brightness and contrast. For color accuracy, I recommend you to go with a professional-grade IPS panel if you can afford it. If not, then look for a budget laptop with a decent TN panel. You should also pay attention to screen size – most laptops have 15" or 17" screens these days.

TL;DR

get a high refresh rate display if you can afford it
an IPS panel is a good choice for a gaming laptop if you can afford it
TN panels are more affordable and usually have higher contrast ratio and brightness

FAQ

Which laptop is best for Lumion 11?

It depends on your budget and what you need from your laptop. You should consider the recommended specs and decide which components are the most important to you. For example, a laptop with an RTX 3070 and 32GB of RAM will deliver excellent performance, but it may be out of your budget. Our recommendations are the Gigabyte A5 K1, Acer Predator Triton 500, ASUS ROG Strix Scar, MSI Titan GT77, Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 4, and Dell XPS 17 9720.

What are the minimum requirements to run Lumion 11 on a laptop?

You should look for a laptop with at least 16GB of memory, an Intel i3 processor, a FHD display with a TN panel, a GTX 1650 graphics card, and a 256GB SSD.

Can you run Lumion 11 on a laptop?

Yes, it is possible to run Lumion 11 on a laptop, as long as it meets the minimum requirements.

What laptop specs do I need for Lumion 11?

The recommended specs for Lumion 11 are 32GB of memory, an Intel i7 processor, a FHD display with an IPS panel, an RTX 2070 graphics card, and a 512GB SSD.

Is 8GB RAM enough for Lumion 11?

8GB of RAM is the absolute minimum for Lumion 11, and it will most likely not be able to deliver a satisfactory user experience. It is highly recommended that you look for a laptop with at least 16GB of memory.

What laptops are compatible with Lumion 11?

Any laptop that meets the minimum requirements will be compatible with Lumion 11. You should consider the recommended specs and decide which components are the most important to you. Our recommendations are the Gigabyte A5 K1, Acer Predator Triton 500, ASUS ROG Strix Scar, MSI Titan GT77, Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 4, and Dell XPS 17 9720.

How to choose a laptop for Lumion 11?

You should consider the recommended specs and decide which components are the most important to you. The most important component for Lumion 11 will be the graphics card, as Lumion 11 is heavily dependent on GPU performance. Beyond that, you should also consider other specs such as RAM, processor, display, and storage.

Can I run Lumion 11 on an Intel i3?

Yes, you can run Lumion 11 on an Intel i3 processor, but it will be slower than with an i7 processor. The Intel i3 processor is only recommended if you are on a tight budget and cannot afford a more powerful processor.

Is a 500GB SSD enough for Lumion 11?

A 500GB SSD should be enough for Lumion 11, but if you want to maximize performance, you should look for a laptop with at least a 512GB SSD.

How to optimize laptop for Lumion 11?

You should make sure that your laptop has at least the minimum requirements for Lumion 11 and upgrade any component that falls short of those requirements. If you want the best performance, you should aim for the recommended specs and make sure your laptop has an RTX 2070 graphics card and at least 32GB of RAM. Additionally, you should make sure that your laptop is adequately cooled and regularly maintain it to ensure peak performance.

5 Best Laptops for Lumion 11

$700

1.Lenovo Legion 5 Pro 16

Lumion 11 laptop

Pros

Awesome processor (Ryzen 9 6900HX)
Superb graphics card (RTX 3070 Ti)
Very good memory amount (64GB)
One of most affordable laptops with an AMD Ryzen 9 processor

Cons

No IPS Panel (worse viewing angles)

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Alternatives

$880

HP Victus 15

Pros

Good gaming performance
Affordable price

Cons

Poor battery life
Plain design

$1,300

2.ASUS TUF F15 FX507ZM-ES74

ASUS TUF F15 FX507ZM-ES74 is a powerful laptop for Lumion 11 but lacks some key features.

Pros

Faster than most other GeForce RTX 3060 laptops
300 Hz IPS panel w full sRGB coverage
2x SODIMM, 2x M.2 PCIe4 x4
MUX switch

Cons

Chassis base and lid exhibit some flexing
Shorter WLAN runtimes
Larger power brick
Spongy clickpad

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Summary

The ASUS TUF F15 FX507ZM-ES74 is a great choice for Lumion 11 with its 140 W TGP GeForce RTX 3060 and high-performance Alder Lake-H CPU. However, the laptop lacks per-key RGB lighting, USB-C Power Delivery, and has a spongy clickpad.

Reviews

Notebookcheck

87%/100

Asus TUF Gaming F15 FX507ZM laptop review: Peak GeForce RTX 3060 performance