Best Laptops For 3D Modelling and Rendering
The tools used for 3D modelling are graphics intensive. Some of these programs are Auto CAD, Maya, 3D Max and Revit. When working with these graphics intensive programs, you will require a good GPU such that the workload on your CPU and RAM is significantly less.
Along with a powerful GPU, a large storage and high RAM is also required. A computer with a higher screen resolution and a relatively large screen size serves you the best. The gaming laptops have great graphics and performance, and hence suits your needs for 3D modelling too.
Most CAD applications like Solidworks, Revit have published minimum hardware and system requirements on their website. Solidworks for instance needs atleast 8gb ram and 64bit processor with SSE2 support along with dedicated graphics card. The OS needs to be Windows 7 or above.
In this post we take a look at some of the best laptops that meet the hardware and software requirements for most CAD applications. Most of them have ram memory of 8gb with 64bit processors from intel or amd along with Windows 10 OS. So lets take a look at the list.
1. 2018 Flagship HP Pavilion 15.6 Inch Flagship Notebook Laptop Computer
This HP Pavilion notebook ranks number one owing to a number of factors. At a budget-friendly price, this compactly designed notebook has a DVD drive and is yet very light in weight. The graphics and the quality of the screen is also another factor; they are amazing for the ones who work on graphics rich tasks.
Flagship HP Pavilion 15.6 Inch Notebook 2018
Features
- 15.6" diagonal FHD IPS BrightView WLED-backlit display (1920x1080) Display
- NVIDIA® GeForce® 940MX Graphics with 4 GB DDR3
- 8th Generation Quad-Core Intel Core i7-8550U Processor 1.8GHz (Up to 4.0GHz with Turbo Boost) with 8 MB Cache
- 16GB DDR4 SDRAM,512GB SSD
- 1x Multi-format digital card reader
- Full Backlit Keyboard with 10-key numeric keyboard
- Bang & Olufsen Play Dual Speakers
- Bluetooth 4.0 interface syncs with compatible devices
- Wireless network connectivity 802.11ac (1x1)
- Ports: 1 x USB Type-C, 2 x USB 3.1, HDMI, Headphone/Microphone combo jack.
- Wide Vision HD Webcam
- Windows 10 Home 64 Bit, 3-cell Li-ion Battery,
- 512GB Solid State Drive for ample file storage space and blazing speeds
Reviews
The HP Pavilion notebook is a powerful machine and is really lightweight. There are not any heating issues that have been experienced so far. It is so good and has absolutely no sound of the fan or other bothering sounds. Its processor is very smooth and running high-end applications do not cause any trouble in the performance.
This notebook comes with great graphics and the high-quality display has mesmerizing colours. The screen is easily visible from any angle. The best part of this laptop is that it has a DVD drive, despite being so lightweight.
The back end is a bit raised for a good airflow. It is sharp-edged, and hence might not be very comfortable if you put it on your leg. Overall, it is one of the best laptop’s you could own; the speed and performance is mesmerizing, and the graphics are absolutely amazing!
2. Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop
If you are a hard-core gamer and do not wish to spend too much on the higher end gaming laptops, the Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop is all you could ever wish for. Offering you the best of features at such an amazing price slot, this laptop does not compromise with its GPU.
Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop
Features
- 7th Generation Intel Core i7-7700HQ Processor 2.8GHz (Turbo Boost Technology up to 3.8GHz)
- 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen with LED-backlit IPS display
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 with 6 GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM
- 16GB DDR4 2400MHz Memory
- 256GB SSD
- Acer TrueHarmony Technology Sound System
- Two Built-in Stereo Speakers
- Secure Digital (SD) card reader
- 802.11ac WiFi featuring 2x2 MIMO technology (Dual-Band 2.4GHz and 5GHz)
- Bluetooth 4.0
- 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 port)
- HD Webcam (1280 x 720) supporting High Dynamic Range (HDR)
- Ports: 1 - USB 3.1 (Type C), 1 - USB 3.0, 2 - USB 2.0, 1 - HDMI 2.0 (with HDCP Support)
- 4-cell Li-ion Battery (3220 mAh) with up to 7-hours Battery Life
- 17. 5.95 lbs. | 2.7 kg
Review
When comparing it with the gaming laptops of other top laptop companies, the Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop is just the best at its price. It comes with pre-installed GeForce Experience program which is upgradable. It performs extremely well even with hard games which push the CPU and the GPU of the system to their limits.
A lot many people are concerned about the unavailability of the Aeroblade 3D fans, but the dual fans of the laptop work essentially well. They do not create any unnecessary noise. An additional feature of CoolBoost allows you to cut down the temperature of the laptop considerably when playing heavy games.
Available with a red coloured backlight, the keyboard has solid and resistant keys. It has a good power backup. The 256gb SSD makes it blazingly fast. Overall this laptop is the best for the ones looking for absolute performance at a lesser price.
3. MSI GE63 Raider RGB-012 15.6" 120Hz 3ms Performance Gaming Laptop GTX 1060 6G i7-8750H
This MSI Gaming laptop comes with unique mystic lights and a coloured backlit keyboard. It allows you to choose the colour and macros of every key on the keyboard. This high-performance laptop gives you real-life gaming experience with its mesmerizing display colours and sound system.
MSI GE63 Raider Gaming Laptop
Features
- Display: 15.6" FHD, 120Hz 3ms Wide view 94% NTSC Colour Anti-Glare 1920x1080 16:9
- Operating System: Windows 10
- Processor: New Intel Core i7-8750H 2.2 - 4.1GHz (6 Cores)
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX1060 6G GDDR5
- RAM: 16GB (8G*2) DDR4 2400MHz
- 2 Sockets; Max Memory 32GB
- Storage: 128GB M.2 SATA + 1TB (7200RPM)
- Special Features: Introduction Giant Speakers
- VR Ready
- Steel series Per Key RGB Customizable Keyboard
- LAN: Killer Gaming Network E2500
- Advanced Speaker Technology
- 3D Surround Sound
Review
This light weighted notebook is very powerful and does not make any noise under normal working conditions. The MSI Dragon Centre software also allows you to set custom fan speeds for different temperature thresholds too. This laptop has a good built and the mystic lights on the lid and the pre-key RGB add to the “cool” features. It also illuminates the three USB type-A ports which is, by all means, a plus point.
4. ASUS VivoBook Thin and Light Gaming Laptop
This ultra-slim, yet powerful gaming notebook has an elegant out view. It is very light in weight and has a delicate look. The flawless visuals make it even better for gaming. If you are amongst the ones who prefer delicate yet powerful, ASUS VivoBook Thin and Light Gaming Laptop is for you!
ASUS VivoBook Thin Gaming Laptop
Features
- Powerful 7th Generation Intel Core i7-7700HQ quad-core 2.8GHz (Turbo up to 3.8GHz)
- Standard voltage for full performance
- 15.6” Full HD colour rich
- Anti-Glare display
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 4GB graphics for flawless visuals and portable gaming
- 15” wide and 0.8” ultra-thin framework for a portable and slim footprint
- Illuminated keyboard
- Harman/Kardon certified audio
- Dual-fan thermal design
- Lightning-fast dual band 802.11ac Wi-Fi keeping you connected through any congestion or interference
- 16GB DDR4 RAM and 256GB M.2 SATA3 SSD
- 1TB HDD combo for balanced speed and storage capacity
- Windows 10
- Comprehensive connections with USB 3.1 Type-C (Gen1), USB 3.1 Type-A, USB 2.0, & HDMI
- Durable & long-lasting lithium polymer battery
Reviews
ASUS VivoBook Thin and Light Gaming Laptop has a real quick boot time. The keyboard is smooth and hence typing feels nice and easy. It comes with an upgradeable screen and is a great choice for gaming owing to the high PPI.
The fan is not very noisy and because of the extra air intakes at the bottom, the laptop does not heat too much. It is a fairly good laptop if you are looking for a thin and light gaming laptop.
5. Dell Gaming Laptop - 15" FHD, 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8750H CPU
The Dell Gaming Laptop is engineered keeping the needs and demands of the gaming audience in mind. It comes with the latest processor and has a powerful discrete graphic card, which makes your experience more intense and real.
Dell Gaming Laptop G3579-7989BLK-PUS
Features
- 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8750H Processor (6-Core, 9MB Cache, up to 3.9GHz w/Turbo Boost)
- 16GB 2666MHz DDR4 up to 32GB
- 256 GB (SSD) Boot + 1 TB 5400 RPM SATA HDD Storage
- 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS Anti-Glare
- LED-Backlit Display
- Windows 10
- superior sound with two front-firing speakers with Waves MaxxAudio Pro.
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
- 2-in-1 SD / MicroMedia card
- USB 3.1 Gen 2
- Noble lock security slot
- HDMI 2.0
- Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45
- SuperSpeed USB 3.1 with PowerShare
Reviews
The Dell Gaming Laptop gives a great gaming experience and the colours of the screen make it more real. The processor is fast and helps in uninterrupted gaming experience. There are no heating issues encountered as such and it is also not very noisy. Overall, it is a great machine to opt for gaming and other high-end programming.
With the GTX 1050 gpu you can be sure of high quality graphics performance when you are rendering 3D objects in your favorite CAD application or just playing some graphics intensive game. When combined with the 8th generation i7 processor, you have a more than adequate powerful machine for almost any graphics or processing intensive task.
6. ASUS ROG STRIX Thin and Light Gaming Laptop
Sleek in appearance and strong in performance, the ASUS ROG STRIX has a discrete graphics card to offer you an unmatched gaming experience and 3D rendering capabilities. It is designed with an understated, black brushed-metal cover, conveying an inner focus and sophistication.
ASUS ROG STRIX Thin and Light Gaming Laptop
Features
- 7th-generation Intel Core i7-7700HQ quad-core 2.8GHz (Turbo to 3.8GHz)
- Discrete GeForce GTX 1050 4GB graphics
- Dual-fan thermal design
- Slim and lightweight
- Full HD Wideview Panel, 72% NTSC
- Built-in smart amplifier
- 256GB SATA SSD + 1TB HDD
- Aura RGB lighting keyboard with 4 isolated hotkeys
- Anti-ghosting technology
- 4 zones of lighting control
- 20-million keystroke durability
- 802.11ac 2x2 WiFi
- Bluetooth 4.1
Reviews
ASUS offers a larger SSD for large gaming and OS files. The keyboard is amazing with its RCB colours, and the graphics are great even on the 1050. The screens load fast and the game refreshes at a much faster rate as compared to many other laptops. It is a nice gaming laptop, with a great design or anyone who does not want the basic looking laptops.
7. 2018 Dell Inspiron 15 5000
The DELL Inspiron 15 5000 series gaming laptop is a devastatingly powerful and portable weapon for serious gamers, engineered keeping in mind the needs. It comes with an optional WASD backlit red keyboard, ensuring precision of command and control in battles in low-light environment.
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 Gaming Laptop 2018
Features
- Intel Core i7-7700HQ Quad-Core Processor (6MB Cache, 2.8GHz, Max Turbo Frequency up to 3.8GHz)
- 16GB 2400 MHz DDR4 SDRAM
- 512GB NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD
- 4GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050
- Microsoft® Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
- 802.11ac Wireless LAN + Bluetooth
- Ports and slots:
- 3 x USB 3.0 Type-A
- 1 x DC-In
- 1 x HDMI 1.4
- 2 x Integrated Speaker
- 1 x Integrated Subwoofer
- 2 x Integrated Microphone
- 1 x 1/8" (3.5 mm) Headphone/Microphone Combo Jack
Review:
It is designed with a revolutionary thermal design, providing superior cooling performance, so that you can enjoy exceptional gaming experience for hours on end. The powerful subwoofer and Waves MaxxAudio Pro offers an audio-visual feast for a real-time gaming experience.
8. Lenovo Y700 - 15.6 FHD Gaming Laptop
The Lenovo Ideapad Y700 gives you an intense and immersive gaming experience. The quad-core power, discrete graphics and a complete multimedia experience gives you a great gaming experience. The surround sound and subwoofers make the experience more indulging.
Lenovo Y700 Gaming Laptop
Features
- 15.6" Full HD Display With 1920x1080 Resolution
- Intel Core i7 6th Gen 6700HQ Quad Core (2.60GHz Processor to 3.5GHz with Turbo Boost)
- Graphics Card GeForce GTX 960M
- 4GB dedicated video memory
- Storage 1TB HDD + 256GB SSD
- 16 GB DDR4 RAM
- Backlit Keyboard
- 720p Webcam
- 10/100/1000Mbps
- 802.11ac Wireless LAN
- Bluetooth 4.0
- JBL Speakers 2 x 2W + 1 x Subwoofer 3W
- 1 x HDMI 2 x USB 3.0 1 x USB 2.0
- Windows 10 Home 64-Bit
Reviews
Much powerful for its price, the Lenovo Y700 allows you to play games at both medium and high decent framerates. Both the processor and the graphic cards are extremely good, and it can be used to run many applications simultaneously. The audio and video quality are extremely superior. It also gives you the freedom from heating issues owing to its thermal cooling technology. You can now experience uninterrupted gaming experience with Lenovo.
Conclusion
There are many laptops for you to choose from for a good 3D modelling experience. The aforementioned laptops are much higher in specifications that you would possibly need, but these higher specifications would ensure smoother experience even in the higher versions of the graphics intensive software’s like Auto CAD.
Good quality of graphics, higher memory, and a good screen resolution with 15.6 inches size is ideal for you. Choose from the above-mentioned laptops and experience a smooth graphic-rich experience.
Would you mind providing details about these laptops’ battery backup? I would appreciate it.
I found that spending the extra money on the Quadro’s has had a nominal performance increase if any increase at all. I have been using the GeForce 1060 GT’s for years with upgraded cuda technology they have outperformed even the larger Quadro’s and you don’t get much performance increase with the three aforementioned video cards unless you are doing GPU rendering, which again rely on Cude tech. In conclusion if you want to ensure a possibly more reliable pipeline and have the cash Quadro is the way to go but the GeForce, or MTX will perform just fine for most.
Great Article . Can you please provide battery backup information of these laptop? It will very helpful for me.
Perfect list!!! Can you review some best touchscreen laptops for 3D modeling? TIA.
DO NOT TRUST THIS LIST. It contains laptops that were released back in 2015-16. Every single device is completely out of date. Recommending a 6700hq for 3d modeling, this journalist is a joke
Please look up the specs required for Lumion…then throw your article out the window.
It’s a pity there is not one 17″ laptop included. For 3D modeling a large screen is a must. Also the possibility to hook up a second or even a third monitor is not mentioned in the article, but still comes in handy during 3D modeling.
Maybe the writer should have thought of what a 3D-modeller actually needs, except for only the specs to run 3D-modeling software smoothly.
From an IT-guy perspective this article will probably do great, for a 3D-modeller this article lacks some better options.
I own theASUS ROG STRIX has a discrete graphics card to offer you an unmatched gaming experience and 3D rendering capabilities. It is designed with an understated, black brushed-metal cover, conveying an inner focus and sophistication.
Great Article . Can you please provide battery backup information of these laptop? It will very helpful for me.
Is the MSI modern 15 fit for the job I mainly use SketchUp and twilight render.
Thank You for the information you have provided!
Being a college student I need a laptop that was pretty specific.
-Light – for carrying around all day.
-Long battery life – from class notes to libraries and study centers, to coffee shops…, not all places have the ability to charge. (Plus carrying around a charging adapter adds weight and takes up space).
-Good keyboard – for typing, especially on tine lecture hall tables.
-Detachable keyboard – place my laptop/lap-tablet on a table, while keyboard in lap and type.
-Powerful processor – to handle all the programs and applications with ease.
-Good wi-fi – wi-fi that would stay connected and not have to be reset periodically. (Hard to explain to a professor that your laptop dripped the wi-fi signal on an hour-long exam).
-Ability to draw – diagrams, pictures, little nuances in note-taking help a lot.
-Ability to turn into a tablet – for viewing lectures, videos, even reading research article journals.
-Smaller than full-size screen – again, LARGE and MOBILE, do not really go together.
A little future proof – something that will last for at least 5 years and not become slow & ancient.
-Low cost – especially hard to find anything worthwhile at lower prices.
So far I am considering the Microsoft Surface Pro 4, but costs quickly skyrocket, battery life not the best, the keyboard seems flimsy.
Any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated!
MSI Modern 14?
Hi There! I Was Working Form 3Year in 3D modeling. and I Was Searching for a Suitable Device And Here I Go a Solution. thanks For providing Such Quality information.
I own the ASUS Rog Strix and it is really the perfect machine for heavy software. I run the premiere pro and illustrator at the same time and it works like a charm. Thanks to Asus for such a beautiful gift for us. One thing that I don’t like about that is the weight. It could be more slim and smart if they try. The price is also a bit high but it’s ok for GeForce GTX 1050 4GB graphics and i7 processor. The list is perfect if it has got the ASUS Rog and Acer Predator Helios 300. That would be my second choice. Thanks again for the detailed discussion.
Most of these laptops will struggle in “3D modeling” and AutoCAD is not 3D modeling software to begin with.
Real 3D modeling comes with Solidworks, PTC CREO and Blender.
Take some to actually gather information
This is very helpful artical. i think this is best all other articals.
Dell compani is Sold me defective pic…..he changes some parts they are also problematic….vastro syteam is very bad i face charing problem 2 times.my friend faceing same problem..dell replce my mother bord they are also faulty..technician visit my home 25 times…my 6 months warrenty also west for part replcement…plzz do not bye vastro system..aftear one month use many isuuse faund in my lapi….dell not change this deftive pis….they are aslo west my time in part replcment….aftear your warrenty is over dell vastro latop no life(chala to sham tak nahi to chand tak )…..be cAREFULl for bye Vastro Systeam….service is very excelllent but not TRUSTEBAl….!!
The Lenovo Y700 was already one of our favorites for those looking for great performance and battery life in the smallest frame possible 15.6-inch screen. But, for 2020, Dell has made its laptop even smaller while increasing the screen size and performance for both CPU and graphics-intensive tasks
Thanks for sharing the blog and this great information which is definitely going to help us. The article need some changes because some laptops are out-dated now
Hi,
Thanks for this informative post! It has really been helpful.
I am shopping for a laptop for 3d modeling. Would you mind assisting with choosing one? I have emailed you a link of laptops I’ve found with similar specs to the HP you have selected above.
What do you think about the Micrsoft surface Pro 7 16GB in core for 3D printing?
I WAS SEARCHING FOR BEST LAPTOP SFOR 3 D MODELING AND HEREH I FOUND USEFUL CONTENT AND MY MIND IS NOW CLEAR THAT WHICH LAPTOP I SHOULD BUY SO I JUST WENT TO SAY THANKS TO ADMIN OF THIS WEBSITE FOR SHARE SUCH KIND OF POST
Are MacBooks realy that useless
Yea and I’m a mac user
Great work but….. this article really needs updating. A couple months later and everything here is now outdated.
What nonsense is this? Not a single one of these laptops have Quadro graphics cards… if you know anything about 3D modelling you’ll know that a Quadro card should be used over gaming graphics. Gaming cards use direct X while modelling cards use openGL. Also…. i7 over Xeon? good joke.
Dont belive this article. Its nonsense.
If someone had the money to buy a Quadro graphics card, he would not buy a laptop, but a 12 CORE workstation.
Laptop is for portability primarily, and you don’t make animation movies like kungfu panda on a laptop, so you don’t need Quadro.
ROFL !!
Unless you require portability for some reason or another…
Portable workstations with quadro cards are necessary when you meet with clients and need to show them the progress of a project. As the disappointed engineer said, those are not workstation laptops. Examples of workstation laptops would be the thinkpad p series, dell precision series etc.
Also, there are quite a few cheap quadro cards, especially all you need is to have a functional viewport with a heavy scene on the go.
Your article is sadly misleading and for someone who doesn’t know much about 3d but would like to find a laptop because they are getting started it is very uninformative.
As a suggestion you may like to add a disclaimer and mention that those are budget laptops you think might be workable solutions.
I worked with a Boxx tech laptop and opted out of the Quadro for a GeForce as the price of an inferior Quadro brought the price up by almost $1000.00 and that beast performed like a boss mainly due to the 5.25Ghz overclock on it.
Actually my school needs me to buy a laptop with a Quadro graphics card because they won’t buy computers for us. I’m going for 3D animation
It’s a very valid answer
You still recommending i7 8th gen in 2021. Update your knowledge. Don’t make people fool. Don’t make people waste their money on these outdated hardware. Either update this artical or delete this don’t just change heading from 2018 to 2021.
Not necessarily. If you are an independent artist and not part of a large CAD firm, then you probably won’t spring for a Quadro if you don’t have to. Also if you are a game artist, you will want to use a computer that sits in the typical hardware pipeline for the content you are working on.
If you are doing highly detailed CAD work then a Quadro starts to make more sense. Or if you are a firm that wants to have the uptime of your equipment maximized and want the service contracts that go along with that, then, yes, Quadro.
Otherwise, if you are looking for bang for the buck, or pinching pennies, you’d be foolish to pay extra for a lower-performing Quadro outside of certain use cases.
That is what many would leave you to believe in my experience with C4D, May, Blender, etc working with Mac and PC’s for several years I found that spending the extra money on the Quadro’s has had a nominal performance increase if any increase at all. I have been using the GeForce 1060 GT’s for years with upgraded cuda technology they have outperformed even the larger Quadro’s and you don’t get much performance increase with the three aforementioned video cards unless you are doing GPU rendering, which again rely on Cude tech. In conclusion if you want to ensure a possibly more reliable pipeline and have the cash Quadro is the way to go but the GeForce, or MTX will perform just fine for most. And I agree on the i7 over Xeon. My i7 6 core with 2 1060 GT’s outperformed my Dual 10 core Xeon 2.8Gh 20 total cores 40 threads in a render challenge and C4D view port challenge.
Thank you for the research you did that I do not have time to do. What laptop do you recommend for an online teacher like myself?
What about ASUS FX705GM and ASUS FX505GM? Is it good for 3D and rendering use?
I like yor choices… what do you think about ASUS ROG laptops?
they have good performing but they are TN Panel.. not even IPS, if you don’t mind the quality of screen, it would be good option.
I went through your article and I bought the Acer Predator Helios for myself. I was pretty confused to select a good laptop under my budget. Can you please check Best Headphone or earbuds for my laptop and help guy like me.
Thank you so much I have purchased Dell Inspiron 15 5000 from your quick review. I love Dell Inspiron 15 5000 is the best laptop ever for 3D modeling not just for 3D modeling also great for gaming.
Hi,
Thanks for this informative post! It has really been helpful.
I am shopping for a laptop for 3d modeling. Would you mind assisting with choosing one? I have emailed you a link of laptops I’ve found with similar specs to the HP you have selected above.
I really like the HP Pavilion range but have noticed buying online is much more affordable than buying from the HP store in SA.
Thank you in advance,
Faz
They perform well, but they are TN panels, not IPS. If you don’t mind the screen quality, they are an excellent choice.