These days the market is awash with a myriad of laptop models with varying specifications. Therefore, you can easily make the mistake of buying a laptop that will not serve you right. Since laptops are generally an expensive investment for engineering students, there are vital factors to consider choosing an ideal laptop. Besides sheer power, you should ensure the laptop comes with the best graphics. Additionally, the machines should handle complex applications such as simulation software, CAD, CAM, and computational tasks.
Whether you are pursuing aeronautical, chemical, computer, electrical, mechanical, or civil engineering, you will find a laptop capable of running software that you will encounter in your studies. However, computer requirements vary depending on the engineering course. For instance, a snappier process and visualization support will appeal most to computer science engineers.
Computer engineering students in college mostly deal with programming languages such as c++, python, and circuit simulators, which most laptops can handle. On the other hand, massive system memory is more desirable to civil and mechanical engineers. The good news is that most laptops nowadays can run any engineering software save for one or two programs.
Since many students operate under tight budgets, the laptop should be relatively affordable. Also, a suitable laptop should boast of excellent battery life. Regardless of the course, a good laptop should be portable and speedy. Other essential considerations when buying a good laptop for engineering students include long-lasting battery life, sizeable display, and faster storage.
Minimum and recommended system requirements.
When looking for a suitable laptop for an engineering student, there are some must-have specifications. These features help to handle demanding tasks with ease. While the market is becoming increasingly crowded, students’ exacting needs make it easy to narrow down your options.
Whether it is a professional or academic level, you must choose a machine that offers better processing performance. Features of an ideal laptop should be equal to or better than the specs listed below.
CPU: the minimum CPU requirement for an ideal laptop is 10th gen Intel core i5. However, the recommended system requirement is 9th generation core i7.
Ram: a good machine should have at least 8 gigabits of random access memory. However, experts recommend investing in a machine with 16 GB ram.
Storage: when buying a laptop, ensure it has enough storage. At the bare minimum, consider getting a computer with at least 512 GB SSD. However, 1TB SSD is the most recommendable system requirements.
Display: since most engineering software involves graphics, you will need a laptop with an amazing screen. Ideally, 14-inch FHD IPS (1920 x 1080) display is a decent choice. However, 15-inch FHD IPS (1920 x 1080) machines will serve you best.
GPU: you are probably wondering about the right GPU for a laptop. If you are an engineering student, 2 GB NVidia GeForce mx350 GPU should be your bare minimum. However, an ideal laptop should come with a GPU equal to or better than 4 GB NVidia GeForce GTX 1650.
Battery: battery life is one of the primary considerations when buying a laptop. An ideal laptop should last at least 5 hours. However, whenever possible, buy a pc that can last at least 8 hours before the next charge.
Best laptops for engineering students 2021
With the above information in mind, let’s explore some of the best college laptops for engineering students in that are available in 2021. If you have not made your mind, here is the best place to start.
Let’s delve right in…
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Acer predator Helios 300 (ph315-53-72xd): Best Laptop for Mechanical Engineering Students.
Helios 300 is a top of the class engineering laptop from Acer. It comes with a 10th generation Intel Core i7-10750h 6-core processor, which delivers 5.0 processing speed. The latest i7 processor and RTX 2060 graphic card are great for simulations, calculations, and iterations, making the Helios an excellent laptop for mechanical engineering students. The features are great for playing games when relaxing after dealing with taxing engineering work.
Also, the laptop has a powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 GPU with 6GB VRAM. This means it handles almost all your engineering tasks pretty much effortlessly. Besides its outstanding performance and stylish design, the Helios comes with a 1920 x 1080-pixel screen resolution. The widescreen has a 144 HZ refresh rate, 300 nit brightness, and a 3 ms overdrive response rate.
This sleek laptop has massive 16 GB RAM, expandable to 32 GB, while the 512 GB hard disk can be expanded to 2TB. This storage space is more than you need to store all your classwork, including designs and simulation files. Moreover, the laptop is designed with top-notch heat management technology.
The computer’s keyboard is well laid out to help achieve maximum accuracy and high typing speed. Also, it features 4 Zone RGB backlighting, which comes in handy when studying in low lights. The best part is that the Predator Helios will remain whisper-quiet even if you subject it to heavy tasks thanks to the Acer CoolBoost technology. When you invest in this machine, connectivity will the least of your worries thanks to its Bluetooth connectivity and 1000 GB Ethernet. In a nutshell, Helios 300 is an excellent laptop for both work and play. It is the absolute best laptop recommended for mechanical engineering college students.
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Razer Blade 15 Base Model: Best laptop for Civil Engineering Students
If you are looking for a good laptop for an engineering student with enough power to handle all your engineering tasks and software, the Razer Blade 15 is ideal. The base model has gamer-friendly specifications that offer diverse requirements that make it a resourceful notebook for engineering students and professionals. With 16 threads and eight cores, responsiveness and performance will be the least of your concern.
The laptop comes equipped with a Core i7 -10750 H 10th generations processor. The processor is designed with a speed of 5.0 GHz max turbo for ultimate performance. The Hexacore processor turbo, virtualization, Turbo Boost support, and hyper reading makes it an ideal laptop for all engineering disciplines, including civil, electronic, electrical, and mechanical. Also, it has excellent NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 GPU architecture.
You will also love the 15.6 inches screen display, which provides incredible performance. What makes this laptop a superb choice is the massive 16 GB RAM, which can process data at a speed of a whopping 2933MHz. Supporting the 10th generation CPU is the RTX 2060 GPU integrated with a 6GB VRAM. The dedicated graphics prove to be a handy tool for advanced rendering and texture-based tasks.
What’s more, the laptop features a 156-inch display and a cumulative resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels for exceptional angle viewing. The screen is endowed with a 144 Hz refresh rate, which is quite a resource for gaming but can prove quite handy for engineering students. As if that is not enough, the laptop provides intuitive connectivity thanks to the WIFI 6 compatibility, Gig Ethernet and HDMI. Without a doubt, it is one of the best laptops for civil engineering students in college.
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ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14: Perfect Laptop for Electronics engineering students.
While the ASUS G14 is designed like a gaming laptop, it boasts of all-around capability. It’s excellent performance aside; it boasts impressive battery life, super portability, and a fast screen, which boost productivity. Its lightweight and slim chassis make it ultra-portable. The laptop comes with NVidia RTX 2060 Max-Q GPU and an Intel Core i7 10th generation fast Ryzen 9-4900 HS processor. This modern processor helps you multitask, and hence complete tasks fast.
The laptop offers an excellent experience thanks to its lightweight, thin body and fast screen. You can, therefore, carry it around easily. One of the features that make this laptop stand out is its long-lasting battery life- lasting up to 11 and a half hours. This means that you can comfortably do your engineering tasks and finish them without worrying about getting stopped midway. Besides its epic battery life, it boasts good AMD performance.
Asus Zephyrus G14 features a GTX 1650 graphics and 16 GB dual-channel RAM. These specs enable you to tackle demanding engineering tasks that students encounter every day. Whether it is 3D modeling or programming, this laptop is pretty much capable of anything. The 14-inch display has a 120 Hz refresh rate for an outstanding experience. The keyboard design is student-friendly, making it easy to type fast. The laptop decks lift slightly when you open the lid allowing air to flow easily and enhance the typing angles.
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ASUS TUF Gaming A15: Best ASUS gaming laptop for engineering students.
If you are looking for a versatile laptop, then ASUS TUF is your ideal choice. The laptop boasts of top-end eight cores AMD Ryzen 5 4600H processor, NVidia graphics, and Ryzen Zen 5 processor. The massive SSD specs enhance the performance of the CPU. The best part is that it comes with a 90Wh battery, which keeps your laptop powered for a better part of the day without the need to recharge.
The GTX1650 dedicated graphic card combined with the 9th gen Intel CPU will last many years after graduation. It is one of the most powerful multi-core silicon thanks to the eight cores and 16 threads of the Ryzen APU. It provides much power within quite an affordable budget.
If esthetics tickles your fancy, then A15 got you covered. It perfectly balances the performance with aesthetic appeal. The laptop comes with a slim bezel and a sleek, metallic finish on the lid, to be specific.
For students, the keyboard design matter a lot. When you open it for the first time, it splashed different colors. Here is the good news. The keyboard can be controlled through an Armoury Crate keyboard. This means that you can set the color to the static blue. While everyone has a specific keyboard preference, Asus A15 keyboards are quite soft and offer a pleasant experience.
The laptop is fitted with USB ports and an Ethernet port for easy connectivity, whether you transfer data or connect to the internet for research purposes. What’s more, you get 8GB and 512 hard disk space for optimum performance. The laptop is also designed with self-cleaning dust technology to last long.
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Asus ROG Strix G GL531GT (2019): Budget engineering laptop
Another superb laptop choice for an engineering student is the ASUS ROG, thanks to the powerful configurations. It is designed to withstand high performance. To be specific, this laptop is designed with the latest Intel Core i7 9th generation Hexa core processor and 16 GB RAM, making it suitable for multitasking and seamlessly handle heavy tasks.
Moreover, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU with a 4GB dedicated RAM enhances graphic quality. This feature gives the laptop a high performance and rich color for an ultimate experience. Designed with a 15.6 Full HD display, doing your assignment will be a breeze. Also, the 1920 x 1080 IPS Slim Bezels with a 60 Hz refresh rate deliver excellent visuals and crisps images. The features come in handy when doing intensive simulations on your machine.
What more, the keyboard is enhanced with an N-key rollover, which supports multi-key input. Also, the RGB lighting allows you to work in lowlights.
Remember, a suitable laptop should have sufficient storage. ROG Strix G comes with a 1TB memory, which is spacious enough to store your files. It also makes the machine relatively faster than a conventional hard drive. The best part is that the laptop is designed with anti-dust technology, adjustable fan mode to enhance performance and longevity. The smart cooling thermal system is fitted with dual fans to balance performance and enable the machine to work in silence. It is also equipped with anti-dust technology. This is an ideal laptop for college engineering students who frequently use Matlab software.
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Dell G5 2020: Best Lightweight Laptop for electrical engineering students.
Dell G5 is a good laptop for electrical engineering students. 9th generation Intel with 12 threads powers the laptop’s Hexa core processor. The processor base speed is 2.60 GHz with a potential to reach 4.5 GHz when turbocharged.
Another feature that makes Dell 15 stand out is its outstanding performance. The chip delivers 4K playback at 60 Hz. You can therefore expect a top-level multimedia performance and as well as a seamless gaming experience.
Since engineering software is graphic intensive, you will need a laptop with a powerful GPU. This Dell laptop comes with an NVidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, making gaming and photo editing a breeze. Moreover, working with computation will be seamless thanks to the 6GB graphic card. The laptop is designed with metal and plastic to enhance durability.
Besides the durability and reliability, the laptop provides 512 GB of SSD and 16 GB of RAM. Moreover, it has a hard drive storage of 1TB to cater to all storage needs. Another area where this Dell laptop shines is in connectivity. Specifically, the laptop offers an HDMI port, USB 3.1 ports, and a Thunderbolt 3 port. But that is not all. Working with the dell laptop is easy thanks highly responsive touchpad and monochrome backlit keyboard.
Dell G5 provides incredible graphic processing capabilities ideal for all engineering software, including 3D design software and graphic-intensive applications. It combines reliable performance and affordability. In general, it is one of the best laptops for engineering students on a budget. The best part of its battery lasts relatively long.
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HP – OMEN 15-EK0013DX: Best Engineering laptop with Core i7 processor.
Many engineering students are ardent gamers. While HP Omen is primarily a gaming machine, its features make it ideal for both work and display. It is designed with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 graphics, which offers a top-notch quality resolution. Since engineering software pushes the laptop to work at a high-performance rate, temperature control is always vital. Luckily this HP laptop comes with an advanced coloring system. Besides, it is endowed with a fast refresh rate, which comes in handy in programming.
Coming with excellent battery life and weighing about 5.3 pounds, you can carry it around without worrying the power will run out. Besides, it boasts a high display screen resolution of 1920 x 1080, which provides vivid and high-quality images. The high graphics and FHD display provide glossy photos. Whether you are designing simulations or 3D images, you will see all the details.
When choosing a good laptop or your engineering work, you must ensure that it has enough memory capacity to store your work and function efficiently. This laptop comes with a 16 GB DDR4, which smoothly runs multiple, heavy programs and accesses data. You can, therefore, perform academics jobs while enjoying your favorite game.
Omen 15 is designed with the latest Intel Core I7 8750 H CPU, which boasts an insanely high procession speed of up to 4.1 GHz. A 15.6-inch screen ensures that you enjoy the large and color display for a great working and gaming experience. HP omen is a good choice for mechanical and controls engineering students thanks to its excellent graphics and high performance.
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Lenovo ThinkPad P53: Best Lenovo laptop for engineering and architectural college students.
If you are a college student pursuing an engineering or architecutural course, Lenovo P53 is one of the best laptops you can buy to help you with academic tasks. Lenovo P series boasts of subtle performance when operating heavy applications. P53 is highly recommendable for engineering professionals and students who use 3Dmodeling, AutoCAD, and other intensive software. The laptop is powered by a 9th generation Hexa Core i7. The processor clock speed reaches up to 4.5 GHz and is paired with massive 32 GB RAM and 1 TB hard disk.
The massive storage also helps the laptop run smoothly. Also, the gadget has an extra slot that allows you to add more storage. What’s more, the RAM is expandable up to 64 GB, which is more than enough for all your drawing, architect, 3D, and any other engineering work.
ThinkPad P53 is also designed with NVidia Quadro T1000 graphics, which is ideal for CAD work. You will also enjoy wide viewing angles, accurate and precise colors thanks to the 15-inch ultra HD display. The HDR 400 FHG IPD display gives you the best viewing experience, including IPS panels and an in-depth color display. This feature will prove handy in all your drawing jobs. The best part is that the laptop provides more than 12 hours of continuous usage, which means you can use it anywhere without worrying about the battery running out of power. Remember, modeling and CAD applications are power-intensive, meaning the laptop’s battery life is crucial.
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Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 2: Best choice for Computer Engineering students.
The Lenovo ThinkPad is arguably one of the top laptops for architects and engineers in power and portability. In essence, this laptop is designed to handle the most complex and demanding engineering and computational tasks seamlessly. Whether you are using designing software or AutoCAD, this machine will get the job done.
Powered by an Intel Core i7 9th generation, you can rest assured of optimum performance. Also, the all-new and capable NVidia Quadro T2000GPUensure engineering software application runs smoothly. ThinkPad P1 is certified for SolidWorks, AutoCAD, 3dsMax, and Decision Space, among others. Also, the laptop is approved by the Independent Software Vendors (ISV). This means that all engineering software will work optimally and reliably on the hardware.
Since, contemporary engineering curriculum involves a lot of design, simulation, and modeling on computers, you will want a laptop with stunning graphics. ThinkPad P1 is endowed with a 15.6 inch (1920 x 1080) display that you can upgrade to 15.6″ UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) OLED. Either way, your engineering and design work will be perfect, thanks to the stunning graphics. But that is not all. It has a slim and lightweight design, which makes it easy to carry around.
What’s more, this machine comes with 1TB SSD storage and 32 DDR4. This means large file storage and hanging issues will be the least of your worries. Additionally, the machine boasts of solid build. To be specific, it is made of magnesium alloy and carbon fiber. You do not have to worry about data security. The laptop comes with a fingerprint reader around the edges for easy login and security reasons. Therefore, if you are seeking suggestion for the best laptop for students in computer sicent and engineering, the ThinkPad P1 is the laptop you should go for.
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MSI WF65 (10TH-1201) Mobile Workstation: High-performance laptop for tech college students.
If you are looking for a powerful workstation, MSI WF65 is your laptop of choice. It has a W shaped golden color at the center representing the workstation. What will attract you to the laptop is its exquisite appearance. It comes with a sleek design featuring a white backlight in the keyboards and golden forts for the gadget. The laptop’s chassis is made of layered aluminum with a diamond rim. Besides, the screen is perfectly vivid thanks to the wide 15.6 inch 3840 x 2160 pixel displays.
Besides the aesthetic appeal, MSI WF65 performance stands out from its peers. It is designed with a 10th generation Intel core i7-10750H with a 2.6 to 5GHZ on Turbo Boost. The processor has six cores and 12 threads, enabling it to handle SolidWorks applications for rendering and modeling tasks. The graphics are also top-notch—an NVIDIA Quadro P100 powers this PowerStation with 4GB of VRAM. With a 512 GB SSD and 16 GB DDR4 RAM, you can rest assured of speedy operations. The RAM is expandable to 64 GB.
A good laptop for an engineering student should be lightweight and durable. Well, MSI WF65is light and can withstand shocks, vibrations, and pressures. Additionally, the laptop comes with an impressive battery life averaging over 9 hours. Also, connectivity is well taken care of. To be precise, it comes with type-A ports, HDMI port, Ethernet port, thunderbolt port, and a mini DisplayPort.
The machine is designed with modeling in mind. The MSI Creator Center software takes optimization to the next level. Whether you will be using the CAD software device, modeling, or render, the WF65 has got you covered.
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Lenovo ThinkPad P17 Mobile Workstation: Ideal for aerospace engineering students.
ThinkPad P17 is another laptop from Lenovo that will not disappoint as far as engineering and architecture jobs are concerned. Whether it is engineering simulation or product design, the P series workstation is designed to sustain computer Aided Engineering, Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Mechanical Computer-aided simulation (CAS), and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM). Its processing power and superior reliability are unmatched. It is powered by NVIDIA Quadro T2000 4GB graphics for an excellent user experience.
The mobile workstation is designed with a 10th generation Intel Core i7-0750H processor. Its incredible processing speed clocks 2.60 GHz with the potential to reach 5.00 GHz on Turbo Boost. Whether it is running models, intensive simulations, multimedia, or transferring files, this ThinkPad P17 from Lenovo will seamlessly get the job done.
One of the best features of the laptop is its massive 17.3-inch screen. The (1920 x 1080) IPS also comes with anti-glare and 300 nits display. The laptop also features 16 GB DDR4 RAM and 512 GB hard disks running on Window 10 pro. The massive storage space comes in handy for storing large data files. Also, processing data and file transfers are a breeze.
In regards to ports and input/output, you will get anything you desire. In other words, it comes with an HDMI port, USB-A ports, USB- C ports, headphone jack, microreader slot, and USB –C Thunderbolt 3.
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Dell Precision 5510 Mobile WorkStation: Best mid-range engineering laptop.
Dell Precsions5510 features prominently in the list of top rated laptops for college engineering students. Modeling software and CAD require hardware intensive machine. The M5510 is designed with an NVidia Quadro M1000M graphics card tailored explicitly for intensive design applications. The graphic card is certified by SolidWorks. The laptop also comes with an Intel Core i5 processor, which clocks a speed of 2.3 GHz. The processor offers a balance between practicality and performance.
Another great feature of the M5510 is that it can last up to 10 hours without charging. This means that you can concentrate on working on your job anywhere without worrying about the battery running out. The laptop weighs just 3.93 lbs meaning you can carry them anywhere and do your projects on the go.
Designed with a 15.6 inch full HD display, the pc gives you the best view possible. The 1920 x 1080 resolution display with IPS panel offers excellent color representation and broader viewing angles. It has an infinity-edge bezel, which means the screen touches the edges of the laptop. This gives you a big viewing area for an enhanced user experience.
Precision 5510 has a massive, sleek design with a black and silver color combination. In addition to massive power under its hood, the laptop comes with a 512 GB of hard disk storage and 32 GB of RAM. Whether you are a professional or a learner, the Dell precision is ideal for Solidworks, architectural and engineering tasks.
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ASUS TUF Gaming FX505: Engineering Laptop with a trackpad.
If you are an engineering student looking for the most preferred general engineering laptop that will provide the right balance of graphics display, affordability, and gaming needs, ASUS TUF should be your laptop of choice. TUF FX 505 gaming essentials deliver great perfect essential for engineering tasks such as modeling and programming. The best part is that it is one of the most affordable options in the market.
The laptop offers decent power thanks to the Intel Core I5 8300H four-core processor, which clocks a 2.3 GHz processing speed and 3.92 GHz with Turbo Boost. Your computer will not lag when running intensive simulations and 3D models.
X505 is a lightweight yet powerful laptop. Specifically, the Windows 10 laptop features an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti GPU that powers a 6GB graphics card. FX505 is designed with storage in mind. Specifically, it comes with 256 SSD, a 16 GB DDR4, and a 1TB hard drive. This means the laptop is relatively faster than conventional PCs.
This spec makes the machine ideal for engineering tasks. In essence, it delivers excellent graphics, which makes it compatible with SolidEdge and SolidWorks. The battery lasts more than four. But power should not be a big worry because the laptop comes with a fast charging technology which enables to charge the laptop up to 60% within one hour.
Once you open the laptop, you will notice a big trackpad and full-size keyboard with RGB lighting all over the body.
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MSI Prestige 14:
Are you looking for a budget-friendly engineering laptop to help you with coursework? Then you will want to consider MSI Prestige 14. This prestigious laptop is fitted with an Intel Core i7- 10510U processor, which has an impressive processing speed of 4.9GHz. The processor is supported by octa thread architecture to help applications and processes that require multi-threads. Regarding graphics, the laptop features a power-efficient GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU with a 4GB VRAM.
Prestige 14 is also designed with storage in mind boasting 512 GB SSD and 16 GB RAM. This means that you can multitask with heavy engineering software without worrying about hanging and lagging.
Unlike conventional computers, prestige 14 comes with a 14-inch screen boasting of a 3840 x 2160 pixels resolution. The screen delivers a 4K panel that offers a thin bezel. What stands out is the 100 percent RGB color gamut, which provides incredible color accuracy.
For students, laptop portability matters a lot. The MSI prestige is one of the lightest and slimmest gadgets, weighing a mere 2.64 pounds. This means carrying it around will not be tiresome. As if that is not enough, its battery can last for almost 0 hours, allowing you to work on your projects anywhere.
Some engineering tasks will require multimedia support. The laptop is endowed with windows 10 PRO speakers. Also, it features a thunderbolt USB for easy connectivity.
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ASUS Vivobook K571
Without a doubt, Zenbook is a hand-down laptop choice for engineering students due to its power and performance. This gadget is designed with a hexacore Intel Core i7 processor, which can clock 4.5 GHz. Additionally, it is powered by an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 graphic card, which comes in handy for running 3D software with ease. The features help it handle multi-thread applications with ease. The 9th generation chipset enables you to perform engineering tasks such as spreadsheet management and programming. The most engineering-friendly feature is the 16 GB DDR4 RAM, which allows you to multitask with ease.
Whether you want to perform spreadsheet management or CAD modeling, or other storage-intensive activities, the VivoBook K571 has got you sorted. It features a dual-storage model, which includes 256 GB SSD storage and 1 Terabyte HDD.
While a 15.6-inch display is a pretty much standard feature, ASUS goes an extra mile to ensure you have a better viewing experience. For instance, the display screen has a 120 Hz refresh rate supported by Nano Edge bezels. An IPS technology ensures you do not strain your eyes when running the design and 3D modeling tasks.
Connectivity is also well taken off with Type-A, Type-C, HDMI ports. Also, Wi-Fi 5 support takes wireless connectivity to a whole new level. When running engineering applications and software, heating and battery can be a problem. The unit can last for about 5 hours. In regards to thermal layout, the machine has a dual-fan cooling setup. Weighing 4.7 pounds, portability will not be a problem.
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Acer Aspire 7
Aspire 7 is a reliable laptop for electrical engineers and the rest of the engineering fraternity. This AMD powered machine also performs as a gaming station with unmatched affordability and efficacy. This gadget runs on AMD Ryzen 5 3550H chipset, which clocks up to 3.7 GHz. The processor supports multi-threaded processes and applications with ease.
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU has a dedicated 4GB VRAM that offers graphics support. Besides exceptional gaming experience, the graphics come in handy for 3D modeling. The exception processing and graphical capability enable the computer to support modeling software pretty well.
Storage is also top-notch. The laptop has an 8GB RAM with a processing speed of 2666 MHz, which is completed by 512 GB. This massive storage ensures great storage needs and high performance. It loads pretty faster thanks to the windows 10 operating system, which features a dual-channel storage drive and NVMe comparability.
The 15.6-inch display has a 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution complemented by color intelligence technology, which ensures incredible color accuracy.
If you are working in a low light area, you do not have to worry about typing. The laptop comes with a backlit keyboard. The best part is that the machine is portable, weighing 4.75 pounds, and steady power back up to 7 hours.
Connectivity is also top-notch thanks to dual-band WIFI 5, HDMI, and a variety of USB types. In general, the ultra-fast storage and powerful processor make this laptop from Acer a suitable notebook for engineering students.
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Asus ZenBook 15 UX534FT: Touch Screen Laptop for engineering students.
Zenbook 15 has one of the best designs from ASUS. To be precise, it is made of all metallic material with the screen running to the edges of the gadget with the ergonomic display offering 95% of screen to body ratio. Investing in this laptop means that you will enjoy smart control and multitasking thanks to a 5.65-inch interactive touchscreen. This feature comes in handy for drawing and similar tasks. On the same note, the keyboard is responsive and comes with an auto backlight technology that allows you to work in low light rooms. Better still, you can choose the brightness setting that appeals to you most.
The compact design features Intel Core i7 8565u chips with a dedicated 16 GB RAM. The processor can clock 4.6 GHz, which is a handy feature. You can practically multitask and open up to 30 tabs without adverse effects on the systems’ overall performance.
The Asus Zenbook allows extensive connectivity thanks to Bluetooth, HDMI, USB, and WIFI 5 features. The laptop takes security to a whole new level with a built IR camera, which allows you to sign in with facial recognition.
As an engineering student, you will need a machine to work anywhere without worrying about charging. This laptop from ASUS has fast-charge technology that enables you to charge it within one and half hours and lasts up to 10 hours. With a 60Hz IPS panel, the 1080p screen display is friendly to your eyes. The ASUS Zenbooks ranks among the best touch-screen laptops for engineering students in college.
I could not help it but add this one bonus laptop that is also good for engineering students….
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HP Spectre x360
Our last pick on suitable laptops for college engineering students is the Spectre x360. This HP laptop has an elegant design and top-notch performance. First, it comes with w0th generations Intel processor. The quad-core process has a 1.3 GHz processing speed and eight threads that support multi-thread applications. It comes with hyper thread technology.
The processor will amicably handle intense engineering software. Hp manufacturer pack this laptop with an Intel Core i7-9750H chipset that can clock up to a 4.5 GHz on turbo boost. Therefore, you can simultaneously perform several engineering processes, including VBA coding, 3D rendering, and spreadsheet management. Additionally, you get an NVIDIA GTX 1657 GPU with a dedicated 4GB video RAM. Whether you are running MATLAB, Mathcad, or CAD, this machine has got you covered.
Also, if elegance tickles your fancy, you will love HP Specter. The computer comes with an elegant and sleek design, which is complemented by white color. The laptop is convertible and can be used as a tablet. Also, you get touch screen access for easy operation. As if that is not enough, Hp provides another backlit enable keyboard and an HP tilt pen to help you take note with ease.
Regarding memory size, spectre 360 comes with a 16 GB dual-channel RAM with an insanely high speed of 2666MHz. This means that you can retrieve and send files in a fraction of a minute. Additionally, it has a reliable 512GB SSD storage and 32 GB Optanea. This accelerates your system, delivering responsiveness and high speed without compromising your system storage capacity.
Best Buy laptop Guide: For Engineering Students Looking for a good laptop.
When looking for a laptop to help you with engineering tasks, there are crucial things you must consider. First, engineering programs are complex and graphics-intensive. Therefore, the laptop should have the sheer power to support all the engineering software. Below are ideal considerations when selecting a suitable laptop for your needs.
Choose a Top-notch Processor
The processor is among the most vital components when it comes to executing large frameworks. For 3D tasks, a Core i5 processor will get the job done, although core i7 is more recommendable. Core i7 will give you the best performance for 3D software. Some typical good process from AMD and Intel include Intel Core i5-10600K and AMD Ryzen 7 3700X.
However, a modern processor will do just fine for heavy stuff such as SolidWorks, ANSYS, and CATIA. A CPU with adequate speed helps multitask and open several software at the same time. Otherwise, the software will take longer to boot when running Matlab and AutoCAD.
The ideal choice should have a Good Dedicated Graphics Card.
If your engineering tasks involve running 3D software, you will need a top-notch GPU. For example, a dedicated card helps to run some computational software and ANSYS. Similarly, civil, mechanical, and Aerospace engineering assignments require dedicated graphics cards with 2GB of VRAM.
The good news is that most modern dedicated graphics cards come with 2 GB VRAM and NVIDIA graphic card, which is recommendable for most students. Note most engineering tasks require graphical work. Graphic cards reduce lag and boost visuals, including video editing and graphic design. Also, an integrated graphic card helps with computational tasks.
Internal Storage
Decent storage capacity and speed come in handy multitasking such as computational tasks and rendering CAD. Therefore, both SSD and HDD are vital. SSDs tend to be faster than HDD, meaning that they expedite performance when launching the application, start the computer, and save files. They perform massive tasks while creating minimum noise and heat. Therefore choose a laptop with SSD regardless of the software you plan to run.
Screen Size and Resolution
In regards to display, you need to consider the size and resolution. Regardless of which application you plan to run, ensure you get a laptop with 1920×1080 resolution. A high resolution helps to run multiple windows. You will also be able to follow your job’s logic and see more paragraphs without having to scroll up and down. Luckily, most laptops nowadays come with 4K quality.
Small screen size limit screen are you have for designing and programing 12-.15 inch screen weighing less than 1.5 kg is recommendable for modeling software and 3D drafting.
Connectivity
Some essential tools that your laptop should have are Bluetooth and WIFI. This helps to share your work with other devices. Luckily, most laptops come with these features, so you don’t have to worry about them. You will need a laptop with a serial port to deal with projects involving programming, circuitry, and robotics. This feature is crucial for connecting data acquisition systems. A projector port is also essential when running class presentations. Fortunately, most systems come with an HDMI connection for connecting to an external display or projector.
Operating System
Do you opt for windows or mac? Well, that depends on your preference and the software you plan to run. However, Windows comes across as the ideal choice because of its versatility. It supports almost all engineering software. On the other hand, mac supports only a few engineering software. You will experience compatibility issues with SPICE, LabVIEW, and other software. However, Mac supports Mathlab and AutoCAD, which are essential for engineering tasks.
Battery
The run time and lifestyle of a battery is another essential consideration. Life cycles mean the number of times you can charge before the battery gets spoil. A battery with a long life cycle means you can recharge it frequently. Run time is the number of hours the battery can last before the next recharge. The longer the run time, the better.
Weight
Ideally, you should go for a laptop weighing less than 4lb. Anything above this will be challenging to carry around campus the whole day. However, you will need a high-end laptop if you plan to run high-end software. Essentially you should find a balance between weight and performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How Much RAM is Required by an Engineering Student?
The bare minimum for engineering students dealing with moderate tasks browser usage, online tasks, and spreadsheet management is 8GB. However, for students in civil engineering and similar domains, 16 GB is the ideal RAM size.
2. Do Engineering Students Require 10th Gen H-Series Processors?
If you want to use your laptop for heavy engineering tasks, a 10th generation processor is a decent choice. They are also future proof meaning it is unlikely to become obsolete quickly. However, if you are into basic tasks H series can overwhelm you. For basic processes, are U series is sufficient.
3. Why Engineering Students Prefer A Mid-Range GPU?
Essential specifications such as RAM and storage matter most for an engineering student. With an extensive engineering curriculum, you do not want to overspend on high-end gaming stations and luxuries. Therefore, investing in a GTX 160 and other mid-range GPUs will suffice.
4. Is MacBook Good For Engineering Students And Professionals?
MacBook will prove a great choice if you are primarily into coding. However, window-enabled notebooks are ideal for students in Civil, mechanical, and other core engineering courses.
5. Some important yet underrated laptop traits preferred by engineering students.
Engineering task involves the storage of massive data volumes. As a result, engineering students prefer a laptop with substantial storage size. If possible, consider buying a laptop computer with dual storage. Also, engineering tasks involve a lot of typing. The keyboard layout is therefore very vital. As an engineering student, you may find yourself moving a lot while carrying your gadget with you. Therefore, a lightweight and autonomous device with decent power back up is an ideal choice.
Our Verdict
Whether you are a student or a professional engineer, you require a computer with sufficient system memory and excellent processing power. However, the choice of a specific laptop depends on your specialization and domain. In other words, a computer engineer and structural engineer may have varying needs and requirements. Nevertheless, a decent computer will cut across the needs of all engineers.
Our specific recommendation includes Razer Blade 15, Hp specter x360, Acer Aspire 7. Razer Blade is endeared due to future proof and highly resource features. Similarly, Spectre x360 is a handy device but also beat competitors due to aesthetics. Lastly, Aspier7 is a perfect investment, thanks to its budget-friendly price. If you are operating on a tight budget, it will prove a great choice.
In a nutshell, most engineering students work with graphics-intensive programs such as Matlab, CAD, and Solidworks to perform video rendering and 3D modeling tasks. Therefore laptops with dedicated graphic cards prove to be a suitable choice. It is no wonder that the best gaming laptops with decent graphics and an amazing screen display double up as the ideal laptop of choice for engineering students.