Best Laptops for Solidworks in 2024

A laptop with a lot of processing power is required in order to get the most out of Solidworks. Solidworks is 3D modeling software designed for use in a professional setting.

Before making a final decision on a laptop, check to see that it satisfies the minimal hardware requirements imposed by the software. At a minimum, Solidworks requires 16 GB of random access memory (RAM), with 32 GB being the recommended amount. Find a portable computer that has an Intel Core i7 processor or above.

Best Laptops for Solidworks

Top 5 Laptops for Running Solidworks Smoothly

  1. Apple 2023 MacBook Pro Laptop M2 Max
    (Ranked 9.9 of 10)buy on Amazon
  2. Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 2
    (Ranked 9.2 of 10)buy on Amazon
  3. Dell Precision 7000 7670 16″ Mobile Workstation
    (Ranked 9.2 of 10)buy on Amazon
  4. Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
    (Ranked 8.6 of 10)buy on Amazon
  5. HP Pavilion 15.6″ Touchscreen Laptop
    (Ranked 7.4 of 10)buy on Amazon

Apple 2023 MacBook Pro Laptop M2 Max

BrandApple
Model NameMacBook Pro
Screen Size14.2 Inches
ColorSpace Gray
Hard Disk Size1 TB
CPU ModelUnknown
Ram Memory Installed Size32 GB
Operating SystemMac OS
Graphics Card DescriptionIntegrated
Graphics CoprocessorApple M2 Max

Both the M2 Pro and M2 Max CPUs are able to multitask well and handle demanding tasks. Up to 32 gigabytes of unified memory as well as up to 12 CPU cores and 19 GPU cores may be supported by the M2 Pro. In the M2 Max, the unified memory can reach a maximum of 96 gigabytes, and the GPU cores can reach a maximum of 38.

Both the M2 Pro and the M2 Max processors are very power efficient, which enables you to use them without having to worry about running out of charge throughout the course of the day. In addition, the performance of your MacBook Pro will remain consistently high regardless of whether you choose to run it off of its internal battery or an external power supply.

Your Mac and iOS devices are capable of running professional software at breakneck speeds, like Adobe Creative Cloud, Xcode, Affinity Designer, and Microsoft 365, amongst a great many more.

The 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display is an absolute need for mobile professionals given its support for high dynamic range (HDR) content, its over 1000 nits of brightness, and its Extreme Dynamic Range (EDR).

Get the studio experience with a FaceTime HD camera that records in 1080p, three microphones of exceptional quality, and a sound system that has six speakers and supports Spatial Audio.

The MacBook Pro is equipped with a number of different ports and connectors, including a normal MagSafe charging port, three Thunderbolt 4 connections, an SDXC card slot, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack. In addition, take delight in trouble-free wireless connection since Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 are also included.

The Magic Keyboard’s Touch ID and full-height function key row make it fast and easy to log in to websites and programs on your Mac while maintaining a high level of security.


Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 2

BrandLenovo
SeriesThinkPad E15 Gen 2
Screen Size15.6 Inches
ColorBlack
Hard Disk Size1 TB
CPU ModelIntel Core i7-1165G7
Ram Memory Installed Size32 GB
Operating SystemWindows 10 Pro
Card DescriptionIntegrated
Graphics CoprocessorIntel Iris Xe Graphics

In order to support individuals in realizing their full potential despite the challenges they confront in their professional and academic lives, Lenovo created these laptops.

Investing in a Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 2 Laptop is something you need to do if you consider yourself to be a serious and committed professional. Your standard enterprise applications will operate faultlessly with the 11th generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 Quad-Core 2.8GHz CPU. This is supported by a solid-state drive (SSD) with 512 gigabytes of storage space for storing a wide variety of files and data, as well as 32gb of DDR4 SDRAM for multitasking purposes.

Additionally, the Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 2 has a touchscreen display measuring 15.6 inches and having a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels. When working with various kinds of materials, you will be able to view the information you need to see with enhanced clarity, accuracy, color, and level of detail as a result of the use of these visual aids. It comes preconfigured with Windows 10 Professional 64-bit, and its user-friendliness is enhanced with Intel Iris Xe Graphics as well as many keyboard shortcuts.

So, why should we wait? Those in the market for a new laptop should not hesitate to get the Lenovo ThinkPad E15, Second Generation.

Detailed explanation and the rationale for its application:

  • The performance of the 11th generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 Quad-Core 2.8GHz CPU is guaranteed to be blazingly quick in order to fulfill all of your requirements.
  • 32gb of DDR4 SDRAM; enhances productivity by reducing the amount of time it takes for programs to load.
  • The very huge SSD storage capacity of 512 gigabytes provides you with adequate room for all of the data and documents related to your job.
  • The operating system (OS) recommended for maximum usability and program compatibility is 64-Bit Windows 10 Professional.
  • WiFi and Bluetooth 5.1 allow for the transfer of data in a rapid and uncomplicated manner, as well as the connection to a network.

Dell Precision 7000 7670 16″ Mobile Workstation

BrandDell
SeriesPrecision 7000
Screen Size16 Inches
Hard Disk Size512 GB
CPU ModelCore i7
Ram Memory Installed Size32 GB
Operating SystemWindows 10 Pro
Special FeatureAnti-glare Screen
Card DescriptionGeForce RTX A2000
Graphics CoprocessorNVIDIA GeForce RTX A2000

Both the M2 Pro and the M2 Max CPUs have the capability of delivering electricity to the system. The M2 Pro is capable of supporting up to 12 CPU cores, 19 GPU cores, and 32GB of unified memory. In addition, the M2 Pro is designed to be very energy efficient. Up to 96 gigabytes of unified memory and up to 38 GPU cores are available in the M2 Max.

Because the M2 Pro and M2 Max processors have a low power consumption compared to other CPUs, you may use them continuously throughout the day without having to worry about running out of juice. Whether you choose to run the MacBook Pro off of its built-in battery or an external power source has no impact on its performance, which is a handy feature to have.

On Macs and iOS devices, professional applications such as Adobe Creative Cloud, Xcode, Affinity Designer, Microsoft 365, and a great number of others work at a breakneck pace.

Because of its Extreme Dynamic Range, over 1000 nits of brightness, and compatibility with HDR content, the 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display is an absolute must for mobile professionals.

You have access to a recording environment of studio quality, replete with a FaceTime HD camera capable of 1080p recording, three microphones of the highest quality, and a six-speaker sound system that is capable of supporting Spatial Audio.

A variety of ports and connections are included in the MacBook Pro. These include the standard MagSafe charging connector, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an SDXC card slot, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack. In addition, you may take advantage of trouble-free wireless connections thanks to support for Wi-Fi 6E as well as Bluetooth 5.3.

The performance of this CPU is quite similar to that of the Core i7-12800H and the Core i7-12800HX. There is not much of a difference between the three. The MSI GE67 HX features a cooling system that is more powerful than that of the i7-12800HX, but its performance across multiple threads is around 30 percent slower. Despite this, a large number of competitive workstations continue to use Intel CPUs from the 11th generation; as a result, its performance is among the fastest.

The long-term durability of Turbo Boost was an area in which we could have performed better. The large performance gap when compared to the Core i7-12800HX that was mentioned earlier may be partially explained by the fact that performance drops by as much as 25 percent after two or three iterations of CineBench R15 xT when it is performed in a loop. Specifically, this may be the case because of the fact that CineBench R15 xT is performed in a loop.

The PCMark 10 results are equivalent to those achieved by comparable workstations that make use of processors from the Core H-series and graphics processors from Nvidia Quadro. When it comes to GPU-intensive applications such as digital content creation, machines such as the HP ZBook Fury 15 G8 that have the faster RTX A5000 still outperform our Precision 7670 assessment device.

All of the configurations that are offered can handle up to two M.2 SSDs, and some of them can even support three of them. Our testing setup is capable of achieving sequential read and write rates of about 13000 MB/s and 9200 MB/s, respectively, while using RAID 0 with two SK Hynix PC801 PCIe4 x4 NVMe SSDs. In spite of the fact that the drives were stressed for a lengthy amount of time while running DiskSpd, there were no signs of performance throttling seen in the drives. The solid-state drives (SSDs) that are provided have heat spreaders or thermal pads attached to the tops of them so that the drives can more effectively dissipate heat.

The RTX A2000 and the GeForce RTX 3050 Ti have almost equivalent raw performance ratings. This is due to the fact that both GPUs are built on the same architecture. If you want to boost the performance of your system, you should think about upgrading to the RTX A3000 or RTX A5500 graphics card.

Unexpectedly, despite the fact that both computers were equipped with the same RTX A2000 GPU, the Precision 6520’s performance in ray-tracing Port Royal was much superior than that of the older 5560. This anomaly may be explained by the fact that our Precision 7670 has the most recent version of the Nvidia driver (512.36 as opposed to 472.12) and a considerably higher TGP objective (95 W vs. 45 W).


Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 (15″ Touch Screen)

BrandMicrosoft
SeriesSurface Laptop
Screen Size15
ColorBlack
Hard Disk Size512 GB
CPU ModelAMD Ryzen 7
Ram Memory Installed Size16 GB
Operating SystemWindows 11 Home
Card DescriptionIntegrated
CPU Speed2

Accessing the most advanced PixelSense touchscreen technology with only one finger is the easiest way to maximize your productivity. You have the option of personalizing either a 13.5″ model that is perfect for use while traveling or a 15″ model that is more suited to doing a number of tasks all at once.

Rich tones that blend into one another, which may be purchased in either a velvety Alcantara fabric or a chilly metal finish. The previously available colors of Sandstone, Matte Black, and Platinum are now joined by the brand-new Ice Blue option.

These color variations are only available on a select few models. There may be variations in the available CPU speeds, forms, and sizes across different areas, stores, and even individual models.

Provided with Intel Core processors of the 11th generation for enhanced multitasking capabilities and increased responsiveness in your web browser.

These color variations are only available on a select few models. There may be variations in the available CPU speeds, forms, and sizes across different areas, stores, and even individual models.

Wherever you are, you can take advantage of a battery life that lasts the whole day, lightning-fast charging, and the most pleasant typing experience available in the industry.

As a result of enhanced key travel and decreased reaction times, you will experience higher typing speed in addition to better accuracy.

You will be able to use all of your existing equipment thanks to the headphone jack, as well as the USB-C and USB-A connectors, as well as the Surface Connect charging port.


HP Pavilion 15.6″ Touchscreen Laptop

BrandHP
Series15-eh2085cl
Screen Size15.6 Inches
CPU ModelRyzen 7
Ram Memory Installed Size16 GB
Operating SystemWindows 11
Card DescriptionIntegrated AMD Radeon™ Graphics
CPU Speed2 GHz
Hard Disk DescriptionSSD
Resolution1080p

This laptop, which has a screen of 15 inches, is a good match for HP’s consumer mid-range Pavilion brand, which the Pavilion name has traditionally symbolized; it’s a notebook that’s not quite an ultrabook but has a lot going for it. This device is jam-packed to the gills with cutting-edge components, such as 16 GB of random access memory (RAM), a blazing-fast 512 GB solid state drive (SSD), a touch-screen 15.3-inch Full High Definition display, and a 4th-generation AMD Ryzen 7 central processing unit (CPU). It’s deserving of a spot in our list for being one of the best laptops currently available.

The vast majority of the time, it performs well with those components, generating results that are reasonable but fall short of the standard set by the most powerful of Intel’s 11th-generation mobile CPUs.

It has more than enough ports to be entirely useable for whatever you have in store for it, and its internals are jammed (literally to the point of bursting) inside a stunning and boldly fashionable housing. This makes it completely usable for anything you have in store for it.

In addition, there is a full-size keyboard that is easy to use and a large touchpad that is quite sensitive. Regular desktop activities, such as light photo editing, web browsing, and “working” in front of a movie or two may be accomplished with it without causing it to overheat, such as in the examples given (or, critically, too noisy).

The fact remains, though, that this is a laptop that costs $849 (£850, or AU$1,000), and HP is not exactly known for its super capabilities. The shortcuts that have been taken have been thoughtfully chosen, and they are all things that you probably wouldn’t miss even if they weren’t taken.

A few of examples: the chassis is well-braced, yet it’s constructed entirely of plastic, and the keyboard doesn’t have a backlight. Both of these things are disappointing. Also, the HP Pavilion 15 does not come equipped with any form of separate graphics hardware, so it is forced to rely on the integrated graphics provided by the Ryzen SoC, which are, at most, just marginally superior than average. Because of this, anybody who is thinking about using the laptop for serious media consumption or specialized design work is likely to change their mind.


Laptop requirements for running Solidworks

In order for Solidworks to operate properly on your laptop, it has to have a number of features and technical specs that meet certain requirements.

Because Solidworks is a demanding 3D design program, it is advised that you use a laptop with a powerful CPU if you want to use it. Try to buy a computer with a Core i7 or Ryzen 7 central processing unit (CPU) from Intel or AMD, respectively, for the best possible performance.

RAM: Solidworks requires a minimum of 16 GB of RAM, and the use of 32 GB is suggested for optimal performance.

ROM Solidworks requires a minimum of 500 gigabytes, while the recommended amount for serious work is 1 terabyte.

The graphical user interface of Solidworks requires the usage of a dedicated graphics card that has at least 2 GB of video memory (VRAM). To get the most possible performance out of your graphics card, go for one that has NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics or above.

Solidworks is fully compatible with both the Windows operating system and the Mac operating system.

It is best to have a larger display. To get the most out of your experience, go for a laptop with a screen that is at least 15 inches in size.

Since Solidworks is a program that consumes a lot of power, you will need a laptop that has a long battery life. You should look for a laptop that has a battery life of at least 8 hours if you want the best performance possible.

After going through these suggestions, you should be able to choose a laptop that is capable of running Solidworks.

FAQ

Can any laptop run SOLIDWORKS?

In principle, the answer is yes; SOLIDWORKS could operate on any laptop; however, the performance could be less than ideal. To get the most out of SOLIDWORKS, the processing power of your laptop, the amount of random access memory (RAM), and the graphics card should all be adequate.

How much RAM do I need for SOLIDWORKS? Do you need 32 GB of RAM for SOLIDWORKS?

The quantity of random access memory (RAM) that is needed by SOLIDWORKS will vary depending on the size and complexity of the models that you are working with. The majority of users won’t need more than 8 GB of RAM, but those working with really large models should consider upgrading to 16 GB or even 32 GB of RAM.

What graphics card is required for SOLIDWORKS?

It’s possible that you’ll need a different graphics card for SOLIDWORKS, depending on the jobs you run through it. If all you want to do is do some basic 3D modeling, you probably won’t need a high-end dedicated graphics card anyhow. However, in order to do more taxing activities, such as rendering or simulation, you will require a specialized graphics card. Of course, it is better to have a separate graphics card, such as the GeForce RTX A2000. However, with powerful RAM (16 GB or more) an integrated one will do.

Do you need an i7 for SolidWorks?

It’s possible to run SOLIDWORKS on hardware that’s not as powerful as an i7 CPU. The majority of individuals can get by with an i5 central processing unit (CPU), but if you’re doing a lot of demanding work, you should probably consider upgrading to an i7.

Is the CPU or GPU more important for SOLIDWORKS?

SOLIDWORKS puts a greater emphasis on the central processing unit (CPU) than it does on the graphics processing unit (GPU) when it comes to its software (GPU). The majority of the calculations and processing that take place in SOLIDWORKS are taken care of by the central processing unit (CPU), while the graphics processing unit (GPU) is used only for rendering and visualization.

Does SOLIDWORKS benefit from SSD?

It is correct to say that a solid-state drive (SSD) is beneficial for SOLIDWORKS. It might cut down on wait times and improve performance overall.

Are gaming laptops good for SOLIDWORKS?

A gaming laptop is not necessarily a terrible decision, especially when it comes to SOLIDWORKS. You’ll need a powerful laptop to get the most out of SOLIDWORKS, and the vast majority of gaming laptops have most of necessary specs.