12 Best laptops for creating Virtual Tours with Pano2VR

It's 2022, and the world has changed a lot. People expect more from their virtual tours and photographs. But one thing hasn't changed – the need for a good laptop to support a professional workflow for photography. That's why I'm taking the chance to craft this guide to help you find the best laptops for Pano2VR.

For those of you who aren't familiar with Pano2VR – it's an application used to stitch together 360° photographs into virtual tours. Its main purpose is to make this sort of media easily accessible and shareable on the web. Doing so requires a bit of technical prowess, which is why having the right laptop is so important.

Therefore, I'm here to provide advice on the specific features you should look for in a laptop to ensure smooth and successful virtual tours with Pano2VR. We'll also compare the different hardware specs to give you an idea of what your options are. Ready to embark on this journey? Let's get started.

Processor Power

The choice of processor for a laptop is essential when it comes to Panorama stitching software such as Pano2VR. With the release of Apple’s own ARM-based M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, and M2 system-on-chip modules, and the rise in market share by AMD’s 6th generation Ryzen processors, it’s now more difficult to decide on the right processor. Although Intel's 13th-gen processors are yet to reach the laptops, their 12th-gen chipsets have adopted hybrid performance/efficiency core designs based on big.LITTLE architecture.

It’s possible to run Pano2VR on both Windows and macOS laptops. However, the CPU is only critical for stitching the image while the GPU is important for rendering the panorama. Even so, the CPU doesn’t play as much of a role as in other panorama stitching applications like Hugin or PTGui. To make it easier to compare processors, we recommend using Cinebench R23, which is a popular benchmark that can be easily found online and isn’t too demanding.

In terms of laptop processors, if you’re using a MacBook don’t expect to see much improvement in performance if you upgrade the CPU. Apple locks down its CPUs so they won’t reach their full potential – instead they focus on improving battery life and heat management, which makes sense given how thin their laptops are.

For users who are looking for the best processor for VR rendering, here are our recommendations based on Linus' findings:

CPU	Minimum	Recommended	High-end
Intel i3-1115G4	YES	–	–
Intel i5-10310U	–	YES	–
Intel i7-1180G7	–	–	YES

Graphics Power

Graphics cards have come a long way since the days of NVIDIA's Max-Q GPUs. NVIDIA's latest offering, the RTX 30 series, is the top of the line for laptop graphics. However, these cards have not yet been released for laptops and are expected in 2023. In the meantime, NVIDIA's previous RTX 20 series of GPUs are still the best option for gaming and 3D rendering.

For panorama rendering, though, you don't need a dedicated GPU. Since stitching and rendering are mostly done by the CPU, any low-end GPU like the GeForce GTX 1650 is more than enough. However, if you want to work with 360-degree panoramas or use real-time rendering, then you should consider a more powerful GPU like the GeForce RTX 3050.

To get an idea of the performance level of different GPUs, you can use 3DMark. For example, a GeForce RTX 2060 scores 17,812 on 3DMark Time Spy and 6,531 on Fire Strike Ultra, while the GeForce RTX 3050 scores 18,102 and 7,074 respectively. Of course, the final choice of graphics card will depend on your budget.

Finally, if you're planning to work with VR or AR, you should make sure that your laptop has multiple DisplayPort or Thunderbolt 3 ports so that you can connect an external display with an HMD (head-mounted display).

Here's a summary table of recommended GPUs and their expected laptop prices:

GPU	3DMark Time Spy	Fire Strike Ultra	Laptop Price Range
GeForce GTX 1650	6,106	2,836	Under $500
GeForce RTX 3050	18,102	7,074	$500-$1,000
GeForce RTX 2060	17,812	6,531	$1,000+

Pano2VR FAQs

Which laptop is best for Pano2VR?

When it comes to laptops for Pano2VR, it depends on your budget and needs. For basic VR content creation, an ASUS TUF A15 with an Intel Core i5-10310U processor, GeForce GTX 1650 graphics, and 8 GB of RAM should be enough. For more intensive tasks, like interactive panoramas, we recommend the GIGABYTE AORUS 15 XE4 with an Intel Core i7-1180G7 processor, GeForce RTX 3050 graphics, and 16 GB of RAM. If money is not a problem, consider getting the MSI Titan GT77 12UHS-064 with an Intel Core i7-1180G7 processor, GeForce RTX 2060 graphics, and 32 GB of RAM.

What laptop specs do I need to run Pano2VR?

Pano2VR requires a laptop with at least an Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor, GeForce GTX 1650 graphics, and 8 GB of RAM. However, for better performance, we suggest an Intel Core i7 processor, GeForce RTX 3050 or higher graphics, and 16 GB or more RAM.

Does Pano2VR work on a laptop?

Yes, Pano2VR works on laptops. It requires at least an Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor, GeForce GTX 1650 graphics, and 8 GB of RAM.

What laptop should I buy for Pano2VR?

For basic VR content creation, an ASUS TUF A15 with an Intel Core i5-10310U processor, GeForce GTX 1650 graphics, and 8 GB of RAM should be enough. For more intensive tasks, like interactive panoramas, we recommend the GIGABYTE AORUS 15 XE4 with an Intel Core i7-1180G7 processor, GeForce RTX 3050 graphics, and 16 GB of RAM.

What are Pano2VR requirements for a laptop?

Pano2VR requires a laptop with at least an Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor, GeForce GTX 1650 graphics, and 8 GB of RAM. However, for better performance, we suggest an Intel Core i7 processor, GeForce RTX 3050 or higher graphics, and 16 GB or more RAM.

Can Pano2VR be used on a laptop?

Yes, Pano2VR can be used on laptops. It requires at least an Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor, GeForce GTX 1650 graphics, and 8 GB of RAM.

Is i7 enough for running Pano2VR?

An Intel Core i7 processor is usually enough for running Pano2VR on a laptop. However, if you plan to do more intensive tasks like interactive panoramas, it's best to get a laptop with an Intel Core i7 processor and better graphics.

What do you need to run Pano2VR on laptop?

To run Pano2VR on a laptop, you need at least an Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor, GeForce GTX 1650 graphics, and 8 GB of RAM. However, for better performance, we suggest an Intel Core i7 processor, GeForce RTX 3050 or higher graphics, and 16 GB or more RAM.

Can Pano2VR run on a laptop?

Yes, Pano2VR can run on laptops. It requires at least an Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor, GeForce GTX 1650 graphics, and 8 GB of RAM.

Is 500 GB SSD enough for working with Pano2VR?

500 GB SSD should be enough for working with Pano2VR. However, if you plan to create more complex VR content, you may want to consider getting a larger capacity SSD.

Optimize RAM

Pano2VR is a memory-intensive application, so having enough RAM is essential for smooth performance. Laptops are usually equipped with 16 GB of RAM, and high-end laptops often have 32 GB or more. However, if you're looking to work with large panoramas, more RAM will be needed.

The latest Intel and AMD CPUs support both DDR4 and DDR5, but the latter is still expensive and needs time to mature as a technology. To get the most out of your laptop, you'll need a minimum of 32 GB of RAM. If you're going to be working with large panoramas, or if you plan to use multiple memory-hungry applications at once, then you should aim for at least 64 GB of RAM.

When shopping for RAM, you should also keep in mind the distinction between ECC (Error-Correcting Code) and non-ECC memory. ECC RAM is better for mission-critical tasks and data processing, but it's also more expensive.

To help you make an informed decision, here's a table of recommended RAM configurations by price range:

Price range	Recommended RAM
Entry-level	8 GB
Mid-range	16 GB
High-end	32 GB
Workstation	64 GB (ECC)

6 Best Laptops for Pano2VR

Table of the Best Laptops for Pano2VR

Laptop	Price (approx)
HP Victus 15	$710
HP Victus 15t	$900
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro	$1,350
GIGABYTE AORUS 15 XE4	$1,600
ASUS ROG Strix Scar	$2,310
MSI Titan GT77	$5,500