Sunday, April 24, 2016
For those looking to get into architecture, the best laptops for architecture students and architects should be acquired. Architecture is made much less complex via computational software, which makes drafting architectural designs more feasible. However, not any computer will do. While there are any number of computers that can run the software, that doesn’t mean those computers can run it well; or at least, not well enough to make digital drafting more amenable than longhand drafting.
It’s no good waiting half an hour while some simple model gets rendered. Not when that same rendering on a decent computer could take place in a matter of minutes or seconds. So, any best laptops that fit the architecture students’ or professional architects lifestyle, should at least have following key specifications:
CPU: Any architecture student or a professional architect will be running powerful CAD and modeling software. It is wise to get at least Intel i5 or above to avoid any hassle.
GPU: You will be using hardcore graphic software like Rhino, Adobe creative suite, Photoshop, 3DsMax, ArchCAD, Revit, Sketchup, Vectorworks that require a formidable graphic card. Thus, we recommend getting at least 2 GB of dedicated GPU for smooth processing. Personally, we prefer NIVIDA and Radeon.
RAM: Architectural software will account for a big chunk of your RAM and particularly in the case when any student or professional are multitasking. Therefore, a laptop with at least 8 GB of RAM, preferably places you on the safe spot.
HDD Vs SSD Vs Hybrid drive: Architecture works files required significant space, hence the higher the storage the better off you are. SSD is faster and reliable than mechanical hard drive, but comes at the expense of higher price tag. So, to enjoy the pros of both SSD and HDD, we recommend getting Hybrid drive. You can install the OS and architecture software in SSD and all other files in HDD for the optimum performance.
Mac VS Windows: It all comes down to your personal preferences. Both are well geared to handle the challenges offered by the job. Windows are more user friendlier as they support a wide array of software, but are exposed to more viruses than Mac. Mac on the other hand is well perceived by professional as great for the graphic use but considered overly priced.
Screen Size and Resolution: Considering the level of mobility yet without ignoring needed attention to detail, a laptop with a screen size between 15 to 17 inches are the best size for architectural rendering.
The FHD resolution will be enough for the work. However, getting higher resolution like UHD, 4K or 5K prepares you for the upcoming future trends.
Now, lets move on to our list! Below are explored best laptops for architecture students/architecture on the market right now. They have a variety of features, and between them architecture students should be able to find that computer which best fits their needs.
HP ZBook 17 G2 Mobile Business Workstation-best laptop for architecture work-2016
This computer comes with a fourth generation Intel Core i7-4710MQ processor with a clock speed between 2.5 and 3.5 gigahertz. It features a Quad Core CPU, and furthermore has a Windows 7 Professional 64-Bit Operating System. The screen is 17.3 inches and backlit by LED technology.
Furthermore, it has a full High Definition 300cd/m2 display featuring anti-glare technology and a 1920 x 1080 maximum resolution. It has a drive of the SuperMulti DL DVD+/RW Optical variety, and exceptional graphics. It has a 2GB GDDR5 AMD FirePro M6100 Graphics facility, a Display Port 1.2; VGA slots, and 1600 megahertz PC3-12800 Ram.
The hard drive is a 1 TB, and runs at 7200RPM. Finally the computer has a keyboard, which is also backlit and spill-resistant to boot. The battery is an 8-cell 83Whr battery, and the computer comes with a three-year warranty. The expansive storage space, top-of-the-line graphics card, DTS surround sound system and backlit amenities make it stand out above the rest as far as architectural computers are concerned.
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MSI GE72 APACHE PRO-242 17.3-Inch- Top laptop for architecture rendering-2016
Specially designed for hardcore gaming, professional architecture will definitely find this beast as their next favorite thing. Powered by Intel Core i7-5700HQ 2.7 GHz Processor, it sure can run any programs in ultra fast speed.
Its NVIDIA GeForce GTX970M with 3GB GDDR5 VRAM GPU is what makes it great for architecture works. Based on 2ND gen Maxwell architecture, its GPU is undoubtedly one of the powerful GPU that you will find in todays market. Also, the 5th Generation of GDDR offers twice the speed than GDDR3.
Its dedicated dual cooling system prevents this laptop from overheating and excels your creativity without giving any hassle even when the GPU is Overclocking. With 16 GB DDR3L RAM, the multitasking is limited to you not the laptop anymore.
Its 17-inch IPS panel screen displaying 1920 x 1080 pixels offers the crisp, clear image quality with great attention to details. The colorful backlit full-size keypads are designed for easy and fast typing with all the needed shortcut keys.
The 1TB hard drive @7200 RPM is enough for storing all the files and folders. The 3 USB 3.0 ports, DVD drive, SD card slot and Bluetooth make this laptop ideal for multi-connectivity. Also, fitted with dynamo premium sound speakers with active subwoofers make it great for watching movies and listening music.
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Lenovo ThinkPad W541 20EF000HUS- one of the best windows laptop for architecture design-2016
Lenovo’s entry on this list has an Intel Core i7-4710MQ Quad Core Processor. It has a speed, like the previous entry, between 2.5 and 3.5 gigahertz. Its hard drive has 500 GB @ the speed of 7200-RPM.
The Ram on this computer is 16 GB of DDR3. It includes an NVIDIA Optimus K110M 2 gigabyte GDDR5 graphics card. There is also a featured 16GB RAM upgrade option. It does include a three-year warranty, and the high rpms of the hard disk recommend it for architectural software. The terrific NVIDIA graphics card is definitely a plus, and integral to a variety of architectural applications.
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Acer Aspire V17 Nitro Black Edition- best laptop for architecture students under 1000 dollars-2016
Acer’s entry on this list includes an Intel Core i7-4720HQ processor of 2.6 gigahertz. It has 8 GB of DDR3 RAM. The hard-drive is 1 TB in size and has a 5400-RPM hard drive.
The screen of this computer is 17.3 inches, and powerful NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M graphics card is included. This computer has a large screen, and it does include the NVIDIA graphics card, meaning it will be able to run those graphic intense architectural programs with solid proficiency.
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Best Budget laptop for architecture students
If you are an architecture major student looking for a laptop that doesn’t break your bank, but offers you better bounce for the ounce than you might want to check this out!
Dell Inspiron i7559-763BLK 15.6″ Full-HD Gaming Laptop- Our top recommended laptop for architecture students-2016
This computer features an Intel i5-6300HQ 2.3 GHz Quad-Core processor with a 6M Cache and Turbo speed up to 3.6 gigahertz. Priced under 800 dollars, this beast includes all the bells and whistle needed by architecture students
To find a laptop with mighty NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M 4GB GDDR5 under this price range is something that makes this laptop attractive and admirable. Based on 1st gen Maxwell architecture, GTX 960M is powerful enough to run any graphic intense software offered by architectural works. This GPU is tested and approved by professional communities for its hardcore graphics processing attributes. The dual cooling fans, three exhausts and large vents prevent this laptop from overheating.
Its 8 GB DDR3L of RAM is perfect for multitasking and running heavy software. Fitted with 256 GB of solid-state drive, it offers faster data transfer speed and eliminate the hassle of frequent hard drive crashing than mechanical HDD.
Its 15.6-inch FHD IPS panel screen offers wide viewing angle, awesome image quality and anti-glare protection. The 3 USB 3.0 ports, HDMI port, Ethernet ports, Bluetooth capable and media card reader slots geared this laptop for multi-connectivity. Furthermore, the MaxxAudio Pro audio system with active subwoofers polishes this laptop’s entertainment productivity.
Weighing around 5.65 pounds, you can expect around 10 hours of battery life from a single charge. With only 1 inch thick, it is one of the thinnest laptops that can harness great productivity.
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Toshiba Satellite C55-C5241 15.6 Inch- best cheap laptop for students under $500-2016
If you are starting your study as a beginner in the architecture field and want to go easy on your wallet then, this laptop might be your best bet. Don’t let the price tag misjudge its capabilities. Powered by Intel Core i5-5200U Processor, this laptop will avoid any nuisance while running and rendering your college works.
Its Mobile Intel HD 5500 Graphics is obviously not the best in the market but considering the price tag, it is still the one of the best GPU that can get you through your assignments.
Its 15.6-inch screen displays 1366X768 pixels and comes equipped with 1 TB of HDD. The 8 GB of RAM is good enough for multitasking. This laptop was designed to work with windows 10. Furnished with 3 USB ports, HDMI ports, DVD drives and SD card slots, connecting multi-devices will not be an issue.
Weighing around 4.8 pounds with 1 inch thick, this laptop delivers a stylish thin premium look. You can squeeze up to 8 hours of battery life with this beast. It sure is a laptop with a great many features for less of a price.
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Conclusion
Thank you for reading all the way through. We hope our article was informative and suffice enough to make your purchase decision. All our listed laptops are the best sellers that the reason why they keep showing in the post like this. Good luck with your purchase! Shop Smart!
Image Credit: amazon.com
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