When it comes to creative professions, you need some decent software to get your ideas from your mind to the digital page. This is where SolidWorks comes in. Generally accepted to be the industry standard and the benchmark by which all other CAD softwares are judged, it is the must-have product. It is only in the last decade or so that this software has moved from desktop PCs, to being able to be supported on laptop models. This has come with some innovative technologies being slimmed down and made portable. So, which are the best laptops for SolidWorks in this day and age?
Join us as we take a look at what system requirements you need to run SolidWorks, which makes and models are best, and which new companies are snatching our attention! We delve into the world of NVIDIA graphics cards, processing units, and clock speeds to make your processes run smoothly. By the end, we promise you will be a pro at unearthing those best laptops for SolidWorks!
9 Best Laptops for SolidWorks
With so much going on in the world of SolidWorks, you need something that will last. This is what you need to keep in mind when looking for best laptops for SolidWorks. There is lots to consider. The software takes up a lot of memory, and requires huge amounts of processing power to function well.
In this review we will take you through what you will need to support all the forms and functions that lie under the CAD umbrella. From 2D and 3D modelling, to rendering and simulations. Every form and function undertaken on design software, whether that be by the professional or the novice, is supported by the laptops you see below. It all depends on how much money you can spend, and what your output will be.
With so many laptops out there, it can be a tough choice to make. But have no fear, by the end of this review, you should have a solid idea of the best laptop for you!
Razer Blade 15 Advanced
First up in our review of best laptops for SolidWorks comes with a warning. You might find a few gaming laptops littering this review, and that is to be expected. A lot of the best hardware advances in laptop terms have been made with the gamer in mind. But these advances extend to a range of digital creative pursuits. The Razer Blade 15 is no exception. Whilst there are entry level models in the Blade series, we have opted for the advanced model. Quite simply, it packs far more rewarding hardware into its thin frame. And at a price that is less eye-watering than its competitors.
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This 15.6 inch laptop comes with a 9th generation processor, Intel Core i7-9750H with a clock speed of 4.5GHz, and a GPU with some surprising heft. This is the NVIDIA RTX 2070 with Max-Q , a discrete chipset which powers your delicious graphical creations. But what does this new term Max-Q mean?
Borrowed from aeronautics terminology, the Max-Q in NVIDIA terms refers to the amount of output a GPU can withstand before overheating becomes an issue. With companies like Razer desperately trying to cram powerful hardware into portable devices, this technology is definitely needed. Inside the deck, the liquid-filled, copper vapor chamber provides a unique cooling system. Spread out to cover all components that may overheat, this gives the user max performance capability without any concern! While also keeping the whole product super portable.
If you travel a lot, this is the kind of device you want to consider. At .7 of an inch, the Razer Blade 15 is on of the smallest laptops with a NVIDIA GPU under the hood. And still with enough screen real estate to create with ease!
With the i7 core, RTX 2070 graphics card and 16GB RAM, SolidWorks has a solid grounding to truly perform. But its the 1080p resolution, Full HD display and a 240Hz refresh rate that brings the magic together in front of your eyes. Those buttery smooth graphics will please the heck out of you! And for storing projects and important software, you have a 512GB PCIe SSD (solid state drive) as standard.
This model looks slick too, though admittedly it is set up for gamers. The CNC aluminium body is slick and slim, and ultra thin bezels surround the screen, with little flex to the lid. Its keyboard has a fully customisable, incredibly mesmerising RGB backlighting system for lowlight settings.
The Razer Blade 15 is the laptop of champions for gamers and creatives. Rendering, modelling and running simulations are all well within its capabilities thanks to the impressive GPU, CPU and cooling system. Work as long and hard as you wish, then relax with some heavy-duty gaming! Despite its weight and thickness, it feels like a premium product that is also durable, designed with the creative traveller in mind.
Product Features
- Storage: 512GB PCIe SSD & 16GB RAM
- 1080p resolution with 144Hz refresh rate
- Intel Core i7-9750H
- NVIDIA RTX 2070 with Max-Q
- Windows 10 Home operating system
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HP OMEN 15-DH1010NA
For a mid-priced laptop that is again advertised towards gamers, this is one of the best laptops for SolidWorks. This is due to boosting technology, like the HP Omen Command Center. With the Intel Core i7-10750H, a clock speed of 2.6GHz, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 graphics card with Max-Q, you also have the power to build on performance. Monitor GPU, CPU and RAM capacity from the deck, and manage the tools that allow you to overclock your system. This is when you run processing units over its intended capacity.
Whilst predominantly a gaming tool, these features enable you to boost 3D modelling and rendering power so that it becomes a smooth routine. With the support of the 144Hz refresh rate on the 15.6 inch, 1080p resolution full HD display, the HP Omen will quickly become your go-to device. Whether at home or travelling! With crisp clean colour rendering and deep contrasts, you will be able to work with all manner of CAD software with epic results. And with the 16GB RAM powering your chipset, and the 1TB SSD, you have plenty of space and oomph to play with!
Workaholics will be pleased to note that Tempest Cooling Technology wont let you down, with three-sided venting combining with a five-way airflow system. This prevents your system from ever overheating, and regulates performance to a constant premium.
Using the keyboard is a dream, with great tactility and a full number pad on the right side. It also has four distinct sections of RGB backlighting. Again, great for the gamer but offering the SolidWorks aficionado some useful direction when using the keyboard in lowlight settings.
The trackpad is responsive, though it has two physical buttons below, and a double tap click function on the pad itself. This is fine, but can be quite annoying when accidentally double-tapping the trackpad. Also, while the Dual HP Speakers with Audio Boost are passable, they lack the range and base that you would get from an external speaker system. The brightness level is also a little substandard, preventing outdoor use. However, using it inside in all but the brightest areas is absolutely fine. And that anti-glare coating helps eliminate annoying light flares. These are minor gripes that do not take away from its solid hardware offerings.
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Encased inside of a premium all-metal chassis and lid, with angular accents presenting a premium feel, you can forgive the bulky overall look and feel. And with three USB 3.0, one Thunderbolt, one HMDI, Ethernet, Mini DP and one SD slot, you do have a decent amount of connectivity for peripherals.
Product Features:
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 (with 8GB VRAM) with Max-Q
- 10th generation Intel Core i7-10750H quad core processor
- Storage: 1TB SSD & 16GB RAM
- 144Hz resolution screen with 7ms response time
- Windows 10 operating system
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DELL XPS 15 7590
If you’re looking for best laptops for SolidWorks, Dell might be the maker for you. Dell have been making PCs and laptops a long time, and it shows. This option is perfect for large assemblies, 3D rendering and scaling. The XPS laptop comes with an 8th generation Intel Core i7-9570H with 8 cores, with a clock speed of 4.5GHz, with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 with 4GB VRAM and a whopping 32GB RAM. On top of that, if you are into laptop mods the RAM is expandable. And this all fits inside a CNC aluminium and carbon fibre chassis with aluminium lid, and Corning Gorilla Glass 4, 4K resolution IPS screen. the whole thing is just 16mm thick, weighing 2kg.
tough, savvy, easy to travel and with a 1TB solid state drive! Dell have advertised 100% on the Adobe RGB and sRGB scale, and it is close to that at 95%. The 500 nits brightness is pleasing however, and colours are near perfect, so even video and photo editing is a dream on this thing. The InfinityEdge display on the 15.6 inch screen give it an uninterrupted feel, bringing focus to your CAD pursuits.
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If you need beautifully rendered detail on a pixel saturated screen, this is your best laptop for SolidWorks. The 4K, 2160p resolution screen delivers again and again. Work hard, then relax with a movie in cinematic quality! The Waves MaxxAudio® speakers are of a decent quality, though when the cooling fans are maxed out, it can be a little competitive. It is best to stick with headphones or external speakers in this instance. This fan noise can be distracting to some, though this can be managed via the Dell settings menu. However, we wouldn’t advise lowering the fan speed when in the throes of a heavy workload!
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The power button is a nice touch as it also doubles as Fingerprint reader. This adds an ultra-secure edge, with logging in and out of your laptop a thoughtless task. The keyboard also has a nice tactility to it, though the lack of number pad could be a deal breaker to some! The trackpad has pinch to zoom capability which is great when modelling, and you can ‘left click’ anywhere on the mat for ease when scrolling.
Overall this is a solid device, putting it in the running for one of the best laptops for SolidWorks. Aesthetically pleasing, with Ultra HD display at 2160p and an impressive CPU/GPU combo support by that 32GB RAM. And don’t forget that this can be upgraded!
Product Features:
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 (with 4GB VRAM)
- 9th generation, hexa-core Intel Core i7-9750H
- Storage: 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD & 32GB RAM
- Ports: 1 x USB-C Tunderbolt, 1 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 3.1, 1 x SD slot, and 1 x HDMI 2.0
- Windows 10 Home operating system
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Lenovo IdeaPad L340
For those of your looking for a bargain, the Lenovo IdeaPad L340 is one of the best laptops for SolidWorks. The 15.6 inch laptop has an i5 Intel Core Processor (clock speed 2.4GHZ), with a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 dedicated graphics card, with 4GB VRAM. Whilst on the lower end of the processing power scale, it can still clock some pretty impressive speeds, leaving you to run software smoothly. And that GPU does support Turing shaders, though this is true for most NVIDIA products. Plus that 8GB RAM and 256GB solid state drive helps things along nicely.
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Overall it looks nice, though the plastic lid with brushed finish does offer a little flex despite its thickness. With just 2.2kg weight, and under 1 inch thickness it is very portable, though not as durable as some models in our review of best laptops for SolidWorks. The thicker bezels you would expect from an entry-level option, and sadly this model only supports 60Hz refresh rate. That anti-glare coating, however, does give the 1080p IPS screen a bit of extra quality.
Measuring the colour gamut, you get around 49% of Adobe RGB, and 65% of sRGB, which of course reflects its entry-level status. This isn’t likely to affect the overall outcome of your CAD processes, though it can be a little frustrating to some when performing other tasks or watching movies. However, this comes down to personal preference, and is a minor caveat overall. This would not be one of the best laptops for, say, video or photo editing. At around 275 nits brightness on the IPS screen, this is an indoor laptop for sure, with ultra bright conditions likely to halt productivity.
The backlight on the keyboard is monochrome blue, with two brightness levels. Its full-size keyboard and number pad is decent, though with a small amount if key travel. Again, this comes down to personal preference. However it is comfortable to type on with extended use, and the responsive trackpad has multi-gesture capability, if not a little loud when clicked. Most other laptops in this review will support around 5 hours or more battery life. And while L340 will support this with light web browsing, heavy duty use with high-powered software isn’t likely to get more than a couple of hours use before needing charge.
While advertised as a gamers laptop, it doesn’t quite have the power required to render those buttery smooth images. This may not be one of the best laptops for gaming, but its powerful GPU and CPU combine to make it a contender for one of the best budget laptops for SolidWorks. Though it can fall short of withstanding parametric rendering in 3D with huge numbers of parts, it could definitely suit less complex modelling and engineering students. You also have the option to upgrade to 17.3 inch for a small cost.
Product Features:
- 9th Generation Intel Core i5-9300
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics (with 4GB VRAM)
- Ports: 1 x USB-C, 1 x USB 3.1, 1 x Ethernet and 1 x HDMI 2.0
- Storage: 256GB SSD & 8GB RAM
- Windows 10 Home operating system
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Acer Aspire 5 A515-54G
This is another options for best laptops for SolidWorks on a budget. With a surprisingly powerful CPU and GPU under the hood, you can rest easy knowing that renders and 3D models, even editing photo and videos, will be a doddle. Though you may have to make sacrifices on the more parts intensive models, anything over 500 parts could throw up a little resistance in terms of speed. However, with the NVIDIA MX350 graphics card with 2GB VRAM supported by the 10th gen Intel Core i7 CPU, you will have plenty of power to play with. Though sadly the 1.8GHZ clock speed does let the side down a little.
This is supported by the mid-level 8GB RAM, and the supercharged 1TB SSD. This machine can store plenty of CAD designs and creative software, no problem. It looks great too, with a sleek minimalist aluminium lid and durable deck. The narrow bezels surrounding the 1920 x 1080 px resolution IPS screen also lend a premium feel to the overall aesthetic. At just under 18mm, and less than 3kg this is a decent portable offering from Acer. When travelling, you will do well to get around 6 hours battery life before requiring a power-supply, and this is with medium to heavy duty use.
As a Full HD model, the 15.6 inch screen renders the full colour gamut with little issue, supported by Acer Colour Intelligence to keep things fresh. Though that 278 nits brightness will keep you from using this model outdoors. However, workaholics will be pleased to note that with BlueLightShield technology, you can happily work away the hours knowing your eyes are well cared for.
The embedded fingerprint reader allows you to log in seamlessly. Plus, with the support of your personal assistant Cortana, you can make voice commands without having to take your eyes from the task at hand. Acer TrueHarmony speakers do perform well, bringing a pleasing reproduction to both dialogue and music overall, with brighter bass notes and a richer feel.
As an entry-level model, Acer have thrown in a fair few premium hardware elements, and the whole thing looks and feels good without breaking the bank. As with most budget options, this will suit students and professionals who work with smaller designs and professional software.
Product Features:
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX MX350 (with 2GB VRAM)
- 10th generation Intel Core i7-10510U quad core processor
- Storage: 1TB SSD & 8GB RAM
- Ports: 1 x USB 3.1, 2 x USB 3.0 & 1 x USB 2.0
- Windows 10 OS
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Acer ConceptD 7 Pro CN715-71P
If you want to run SolidWorks and drive assemblies with huge numbers of parts, or model high quality 3D renderings, this is a hell of an option for you! With the NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 GPU in the driving seat, powered by an Intel Core i7-9750H (clock speed 2.4GHz) and 16GB RAM, the power is all yours.
This is one of the best laptops for SolidWorks if you like the highest quality graphics. The benefit of NVIDIA’s Quadro range is in the real-time ray tracing. Bringing the true quality in natural light, your creations look more professional. Work with CGI, AI and supercharged shader programming to bring your CAD creations to life. With a 1TB solid state drive, you have all the space for that high end creative software, and yet more space to keep those models and renderings. And this is all possible on a light and thin device.
The 15.6 inch is encased in an 18mm thin aluminium chassis, weighing a total of 2kg. Micro-Arc Oxidation (MAO) has been harnessed to make this ultra durable. Impressive, but not as impressive as the 4K Ultra HD IPS screen, bringing you impressive rendering of the full colour gamut on the sRGB and Adobe RGB scales. This model looks and feels true to life at every turn.
Such powerful hardware requires some impressive cooling technology, and with the AeroBlade 3D fan system designed by Acer, you are in good hands. Super quiet at a max of 40dBA, super charged and able to withstand some pretty lengthy session, this 4th generation system cools your entire unit with ease. And without the annoying fan buzz.
This is a premium product all round, though at a premium price. Model in 2D, model in 3D, build with AI and with graphics intensive rendering. All in the knowledge that this will speed you through the process. Its definitely one of the best laptops for SolidWorks if you are a professional with lots of projects going on. You do also have the option to make a few upgrades to customise your ride. Buyers can also opt for the Quadro RTX 5000, though this will cost you a little more. To be quite honest, the RTX 3000 worked comfortable on high-end design software with no problems at all!
Product Features:
- NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 (with 6GB VRAM)
- 9th generation Intel Core i7-9750H
- UHD 4K display
- Storage: 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD & 16GB RAM
- Microsoft 10 Professional OS
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MSI GL65 Leopard 10SER-011
A mid-range offering from MSI in our review of best laptops for SolidWorks brings with it some lovely features that would work well for a gamer. It also has the slight caveat of looking like a gamers laptop, which some professionals can find off-putting. Overall, however, the laptop looks and feels fairly good quality. Viewers will first note the RGB backlit keyboard, fully customisable with an array of colours and great for low light settings. Perfect if you’re burning the midnight oil!
This laptop comes with the Intel Core i7-10750H, 6 cores and a clock speed of 2.4GHz supporting the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 with 6GB VRAM. What makes for a great gamer laptop brings ultra-smooth processing power to the creative! Plus that 120Hz refresh rate on the 1080p resolution screen makes for some buttery smooth viewing. Render and review models without tearing or blurring, no matter how hard you work. And with 320 nits brightness, you can take this outside on a relatively sunny day and still work! With 8GB RAM and a 512GB solid state drive, you have a passable amount of storage space, though upgrading to the 1TB model s possible.
Another neat feature is the MSI Dragon Center, designed for gamers in mind, but as we know by now this also has a great knock on effect for CAD software users. Monitor your CPU, GPU and RAM, and control your experience with boosts and overclocking speeds. This allows you to level-up your creations on SolidWorks, making 3D modelling more powerful at faster speeds. It works harder, so that you don’t have to. But you will probably want to!
And while you work, MSI’s Cooler Boost 5 keeps your system cool so you can keep going. This consists of two fans and seven heat pipes, arranged where they’re needed most.
At 2.3kg and made of hard plastic, it is only slightly heavier than other models in this review, but relatively thick. It seems more of an entry level option than a mid level option, though at a slightly higher price. The Steelseries Keyboard itself is fairly good, with a full size number pad and decent sized keys with a good amount of distance between. And it is super tactile with a good amount of key travel. The multi-gesture trackpad is very responsive, and the two click buttons at the bottom prove useful for things like drag and drop gestures. Though some may find this style a little off-putting.
With around 7 hours battery life advertised by MSI, the reality is actually slightly different. A working commute is likely to bring you about 4-5 hours of use with medium to heavy software running. However, the higher spec you go, the more drain you will get. This is the case for many models in this review, however, so isn’t likely to be a deal breaker.
Product Features:
- Intel Core i7-10750H with 6 cores
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (with 6GB VRAM)
- Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD & 8GB RAM
- MSI Dragon Center for additional hardware control and monitoring
- Windows 10 Home operating system
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Microsoft Surface Book 3
With the Surface Book having debuted in 2105, and with no discernible large updates thus, Microsoft have come under a little fire. Which is understandable, though we have to say it does hold up against some pretty powerful software. SolidWorks will run smooth as anything on this 15 inch model. With an Intel Core i7 CPU and an impressive clock speed of 3.9GHz powering the dedicated NVIDIA 1660Ti GPU with 6GB VRAM, complete with 32GB RAM to support, you will not be displeased! Sadly, storage space maxes out at 512GB with this model, though with one USB-C and two USB-A ports, an external hard drive can be introduced. However, this is enough to be getting on with in the main.
It has to be said, however, that certain design elements haven’t aged overly well. With so much space around the keyboard, you wonder why they haven’t utilised this area. the trackpad is a pretty sizeable chunk though, and pleasing enough with super responsive multi-gesture capability and a pleasing amount of tactility on the click function. With an all metal and fabulously tough build quality, rigid deck and very little screen flex, it has to be said that the above design flaws are minor caveats. It also feels super smooth and soft to the touch. There is no doubt, this feels like a premium product, but it does have a price to match.
One of the elements that make this the best laptop for SolidWorks is PixelSense touchscreen display and serves as a 2-in-1 device. Simply click the button and lift the screen away, and boom, hello 15 inch tablet! Perfect for showcasing designs on the fly. And thats not all: in previous iterations of this model, you would have to save any SolidWorks projects before detaching, or else suffer the rage of lost creations! However, Microsoft have fixed this little bug, allowing you to safely disconnect from the deck with an automatic switch to the GPU house under the screen Beautiful.
The impressive colour rendering at 98% on the sRGB scale brings awesome depth in contrast and highlights to the the FHD, 1920 x 1080 px resolution display. And with 360 nits brightness all but the brightest lighting levels are workable. When working with the touchscreen, Microsofts handy S Pen (sold separately) works beautifully, and simply attaches magnetically to the side when you’re done!
If you do opt for this device, the Surface Dock is also well worth your money, allowing for extra Thunderbolt ports, and giving the option to attach up to two additional 4K, 60hz screens. Making this an epic tool whether in the office, home or away. This is one of the best laptops for SolidWorks that also gives you super versatile functionality. If you can spend the cash that is!
Product Features:
- Intel Core i7 processor
- Storage: 512GB SSD & 32GB RAM
- 1660Ti NVIDIA Graphics with 6GB VRAM
- 2-in-1 Laptop and Tablet design
- Windows 10 Home OS
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PNY PREVAIL PRO P4000
The final in our review of best laptops for SolidWorks, is a bit of a curve ball. Hailing from mainland Europe, PNY is possibly not a make you have heard of before. But this could be about to change forever. In fact, this could be the best laptop for SolidWorks on the market! Best established in their exclusive partnering with NVIDIA for the Quadro graphics cards, PNY also make some pretty incredible desktop worthy laptops. And the Prevail Pro P4000 model is pretty exciting.
With an Intel Core i7-7700HQ CPU powering the NVIDIA Quadro P4000 graphics card, and a huge 32GB RAM as support, the possibilities seems limitless. According to the guys in the know, this latest graphics chipset from NVIDIA allows for “32Kx32K texture/render processing, 20% increased bandwidth with 4th gen lossless delta compression”, and also “scalable geometry architecture, hardware tessellation engine” [PNY Website].
Simply put, it boosts 2D and 3D modelling speeds against benchmark testing, and has been said to deliver up to five times the speed of other graphics cards. It packs some serious GPU accelerated rendering. In fact, this new generation of GPU works eight times faster when running intensive software than previous NVIDIA products. Computational fluid dynamics, Ray Tracing, a wide range of tasks and systems! The emphasis here is on all-round precision in all mechanical and creative pursuits. Even video editors and animators will be inspired by the incredible speeds this can achieve. Plus, the P4000 is VR ready, so the potential really is limitless!
9 Best Graphics Cards For VR: GTX, RTX, RX And More
Such high powered hardware and accompanying high-end creative software is draining on battery life of a laptop. However, PNY have given another option. You can now switch from the Quadro graphics card to the integrated Intel HD 630 graphics built into the CPU when necessary. When answering emails, browsing the web or watching movies, simply switch to save battery life!
This truly is the perfect workstation laptop. It is desktop level performance inside a portable device. And at just 2.18kg and 185mm thin, this is super portable ultra-performance at that! And the sheer amount of storage that this laptop comes with is dizzying! 2TB HDD and 512GB solid state drive! It also has a decent amount of connectivity options for peripherals. With 3 USB 3.1 gen 1 ports, a USB-C, one Mini DP, an HDMI, one Memory card reader, and one Ethernet port. And it has the capability to support an additional four 4K screens!
Seriously, we could go on and on about the capabilities of this thing, but it might be worth just checking it out for yourself. You are severely unlikely to be disappointed.
Product Features:
- Intel Core I7-7700HQ with integrated Intel HD 630 graphics card
- Storage: 512GB M.2 PCIe 2280 PCIe NVMe SSD, 2 TB SATA HDD & 32 GB RAM
- NVIDIA Quadro Embedded P4000 Graphics (with 8GB VRAM)
- Supports up to four additional 4K screens
- Windows 10 Professional OS
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Best Alternative to SolidWorks
Whilst it is a very good product, it can be expensive to run SolidWorks. A personal licence can cost you thousands, thought there are student options available for those in school. However! There are a few other creative solutions out there, and some which could be financially beneficial to you too.
Fusion 360 is CAD software that is free for new businesses, students and hobbyists. Even if you don’t qualify for one of these, the cost to subscribe is under £40 a month for a standard version. Though the Ultimate version will cost you just under £200 a month! Users can enjoy a range of 3D modelling tools, as well as assembly modelling, simulation tools and even motion
FreeCAD is open source, and as such is completely free to all users! It runs as a parametric 3D modelling program, but with the ability to apply a range of plugins to expand its functionality. You also have the choice to export your files in a wealth of formats when you are ready to.
Sketchup is a great option for hobbyists to professionals. Whilst it is free online, a desktop version can be downloaded for a fee. Though this is still less than the license for SolidWorks. This is an extremely versatile software, usable for just about any drawing application: from architectural and mechanical engineering to film, and video-game design!
nanoCAD does have an unlimited free version, though you can pay for the plus version or pro version for a monthly. This is a great tool as it houses a lots of APIs (application programming interface) plus a really valuable table editor. 2D and 3D modelling is a doddle with this industry standard software. It also has a huge array of customisable features.
TinkerCAD is a fantastic option for those of us learning to model. Whilst mostly aimed at kids, it does have a tremendous array of usable services. Available for anything from 3D modelling, electronics and coding, there is lots to explore! You can also import and convert your own vector shapes to 3D versions, and use their 3D printing service. It is only available in-browser, but is totally free and really fun!
If you were looking for the best laptops for SolidWorks, but you are thinking of opting for a more cost-effective version, the laptops featured above are all valid. So all CAD software options mentioned above will likely still require a lot of the hardware requirements as above. However, it is worth noting that with options like TinkerCAD that are web browser based, you actually have less system requirements. This being due to the fact that nothing needs be downloaded. Whilst you still require a decent graphics card and processing chipset, the RAM required is minimal.
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Which Laptop for SolidWorks gets your vote?
With so many options out there, finding the best laptops for SolidWorks is really a personal game. But by now, you will know what to look out for, and what to avoid!
Just remember, when searching for your perfect portable option, the requirements to look out for are:
- An Intel Core i5 Processor with around 2.2 GHz or higher clock speed. Preferably 4 GHz if you can
- Windows 10 or higher operating system
- Preferably 16GB or 23GB RAM, or 8GB if going for a budget option.
- A high level solid state drive of 512GB or more
- Graphics card such as the NVIDIA GeForce 1610Ti or above, with around 2GB VRAM. AMD Radeon options are also available (Radeon Pro WX series are decent), though NVIDIA is generally accepted to be better all-round
- For professionals requiring large assemblies and many parts the NVIDIA Quadro P4000 series or above is prime
We hope you have found this review of the best laptops for SolidWorks useful! If you did, share it with a fellow professional or hobbyist!
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