The Best Laptops for CAD – Our Most Recommended Laptops for AutoCAD & 3D Modeling

CAD among, 3D modeling, and rendering are some of the most intensive tasks you can throw at any laptop. So it’s obvious that to do such tasks on a day-to-day basis, you’ll need a powerful laptop. However, just the powerful specs do not make a laptop good for CAD. There are a lot of other things.

For instance, making highly detailed CAD drawings on a laptop with a small, low-resolution display will be very frustrating, even if it has all the power and speed required for complex CAD and rendering jobs.

Also, a laptop for CAD has to have a powerful cooling system to sustain heavy workloads for long periods. Otherwise, the CAD software might freeze or even crash in the middle of work due to overheating of the internal components.

Believe me, this is not even an overview. There’s a lot more that goes into selecting and buying the best laptop for CAD.

That’s why we created this in-depth guide where we have explained each and every bit of hardware specs and features you need to check when shopping for a laptop to run CAD software like AutoCAD and also 3D modeling software like Revit, Sketchup, and Solidworks (in case if you also plan to do some 3D modeling work besides CAD).

Also, for the people who think that’s too much work, we have our experts’ curated list of best laptops for CAD below that we keep updated as new and better laptops suitable for CAD become available.

Have a look!

Our Top Picks for CAD – At a Glance

Phew!

So the laptops that nail all of this are the ones that are a good choice for CAD.

Now imagine going through all the laptops available in the market from different brands and shortlisting the ones with all the things mentioned above, and then picking the one that fulfills all your CAD requirements within your budget! Arduous? Tiring? Tedious?

You don’t have to worry, though.

Below is our regularly updated list of best laptops for CAD by our experts. Go through it and get the laptop that suits well to your requirements and budget. We have the latest options for all types of users. Whether you are a student or a beginner in the field looking for a budget option or a professional with a decade of experience for whom the money isn’t a thing!

Let’s start!

Best Laptops for CAD – Our Top Picks Right Now

1. HP ZBook Power 15″ G9 Mobile Workstation – Our Top Pick

Workstation laptops are considered the best for CAD, but they don’t come cheap. Most of them cost a couple of thousand dollars, and due to limited stocks because of chip shortages, their prices have skyrocketed. However, if you are willing to shed a couple of thousand dollars (which in my opinion you should), then out of all the mobile workstation laptops available right now, we found the HP ZBook Power 15 G9 offers the best value in terms of specs, design and build.

Starting from the specs, it comes in multiple variants, from 12th Gen Core i5 to the Core i9 for the CPU and Quadro T600 to A2000 for GPU. We believe that 4GB VRAM for the GPU will not be enough in the coming years. Hence we recommend a mid-tier variant of it with the 12th Gen Core i7-12700H (14-cores) and Nvidia Quadro RTX A2000 (8GB VRAM). This CPU and GPU combo will provide enough headroom to your laptop for getting even the most complex CAD, 3D modeling, and rendering jobs done on it. Also, for the RAM, we recommend 16GB and storage at 1TB SSD.

If you think that these specs will be overkill for you or you are looking for less expensive options, then you can also consider its 12th Gen Core i7 and RTX A1000 variant (available for $2,359 at HP) or its variant with Core i5 and RTX A1000 (available for $2,009 at HP).

We know that two grand is still expensive, but for workstation laptops, this is actually the mid-range.

Now, if we come to other things, then the build quality of the HP ZBook Power G9 15 is also pretty impressive with an all-aluminum shell. It feels rock solid and does not creak even while holding with one hand, and it’s also fairly portable, weighing just 4.2 pounds.

Besides that, connectivity options are also plenty, with the latest Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 wireless support and various ports that include multiple USB Type-A ports, Thunderbolt, HDMI, and Ethernet ports, and also a 3.5mm audio jack. However, it misses out on an SD card slot, which will put a lot of video editing professionals away from this laptop.

Inside also, the laptop allows easy upgrades with two accessible SODIMM slots and two PCIe Gen4 slots for SSD. And its 83 Wh battery is also decent size which lasts for around 7 hours when doing non-intensive tasks and about 2 hours when working on AutoCAD and doing other intensive tasks.

Overall, with the bright and color-accurate 15-inch FHD display and a comfortable backlit keyboard with Numpad, the HP ZBook 15 G9 is a complete package and undoubtedly the best laptop for CAD that you can buy right now.

Our Recommended Specifications for CAD of HP ZBook Power 15 G9:

Processor	12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700H (8E + 6P)
RAM	16GB DDR5 (Upgradeable)
Storage	1TB SSD (Upgradeable)
Graphics	Nvidia Quadro RTX A2000 (8GB DDR6 VRAM)
Display	15.6-Inch Full HD IPS Display (400 nits)
Operating System	Windows 10 Pro
Battery Life	Up to 7 Hours
Weight	4.2 lbs

2. MSI Pulse GL66 15-inch Gaming Laptop – Runner up

Not everyone can afford an above $2000 costing machine. We understand that, and that’s why we have included this MSI Pulse GL66 in our list. It is an under $1500 costing “gaming” laptop that packs an almost similar level of punch as the above-mentioned HP ZBook.

Firstly, this is a gaming laptop, so its design might not be suitable for professional corporate use (if that’s the case, check out the other options below). However, the build quality is pretty good. It features an aluminum lid with a laser engraved MSI logo and the keyboard deck made up of polycarbonate material. It feels very well put together, and besides minor flex on its keyboard deck, there’s nothing that concerns us about its build quality.

The display is also fantastic, with good brightness and color coverage. The 144Hz fast refresh rate, while of no use for CAD, is also a nice extra that smooths out the overall experience of using this laptop.

Coming to its performance, it is powered by the latest 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 GPU (8GB VRAM). And the RAM that this laptop provides is 16GB DDR4, and for storage, it has 512GB SSD. So, it’s no slouch, and if we keep CAD aside for a moment, this gaming laptop can run all the latest games, even the most demanding ones, at high settings.

Accordingly, the CAD and 3D modeling performance of the MSI Pulse GL66 is also fantastic. CAD being a CPU-intensive task, is handled very well by the 14-core Intel i7 processor powering this laptop. The 3D modeling performance of this laptop will also be equally great since it has a GPU with 8GB of discrete graphics memory.

So, you are well served in terms of performance with the MSI Pulse GL66 despite its much affordable price tag in comparison to the Workstation laptops.

However, there are a few caveats about this gaming laptop that you need to know before you make the decision. First, its screen’s brightness (250 nits) is not enough for using this laptop outdoors on a bright sunny day. Second, it does not have a Thunderbolt 4 port, but it does feature a standard USB Type-C port (3.2 Gen 1) and various other ports for connectivity.

Both are minor problems but could make or break a deal for some.

While design and features may not be the MSI GL66’s USPs, the performance is undoubtedly one, and it’s hard to beat it at that for the price.

Most other gaming laptops under $1500 offer RTX 3060, while MSI GL66 has RTX 3070. So overall, it’s a great bang-for-the-buck gaming laptop that would handle even the most complex CAD and 3D modeling projects without any issues.

Hardware Specifications of MSI Pulse GL66 15-inch Gaming Laptop:

Processor	Intel Core i7-12700H (8E + 6P, up to 4.7 GHz)
RAM	16GB DDR4 3200 MHz (Upgradeable)
Storage	512GB SSD (Upgradeable)
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 (8GB DDR6 VRAM)
Display	15.6-Inch Full HD IPS IPS-level Display (250 nits)
Operating System	Windows 11 Home
Battery Life	Up to 7 Hours
Weight	4.2 lbs

3. Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i 15″ Gaming Laptop – Best Under $1000

If you are looking for a good budget laptop that can run AutoCAD and also allow you to do some light 3D modeling on Sketchup, Revit, or Solidworks, then the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i for under $1000, can do that all and more.

Lenovo recently gave IdeaPad gaming lineup a complete overhaul, and the new design is much more premium looking. It now has a hunch on the back that houses the ports and air exhaust like the more expensive Legion gaming laptops from Lenovo. Although this design has increased the laptop’s overall footprint, the weight is still around 5 pounds which is good enough to take this laptop anywhere in a backpack.

If we talk about its internals, then the laptop comes in both Intel and AMD configurations, but our preference would be Intel because Intel’s H-series mobile processors are stronger than AMD this year. So, for under $1000, you can buy it with the Core i7 processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU, along with the 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD.

These specs would easily handle even the most demanding CAD work, and even if you would like to dabble with 3D modeling on this laptop, the RTX 3050 Ti with 4GB of dedicated graphics memory will provide you with that headroom. However, if you have some extra cash sitting around, I highly recommend upgrading its RAM to 16GB. It comes with one 8GB RAM stick installed, and one RAM slot is vacant inside. Adding another 8GB stick would make its memory run in dual channel, which would unlock the full potential of this gaming laptop.

Apart from that, everything else about the laptop is pretty good. It has a decent quality 15.6-inch full HD IPS 120Hz display, and its keyboard and trackpad are also decent enough. The ports and wireless connectivity options are also very well managed on the laptop, leaving no room for complaint.

Only if I’ll have to nitpick, then the display’s 250 nits brightness is low, but considering the price, it’s also fair enough.

Overall, it’s a near-perfect budget gaming laptop with excellent performance and build quality, and its battery life is also decent, with up to 6 hours of usage—all in all, a good value for money and a great choice for students and beginner CAD designers.

Our Recommended Specifications for CAD of 2022 Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i 15:

Processor	12th Generation Intel Core i7-12700H (14 Cores, 20 Threads, up to 4.7 GHz)
RAM	8GB DDR4 3200 MHz (Upgradeable)
Storage	256GB SSD (Upgradeable)
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti (4GB DDR6 VRAM)
Display	15.6-Inch Full HD IPS Anti-Glare 120Hz Display (250 nits)
Operating System	Windows 11 Home
Battery Life	Up to 6 Hours
Weight	5.1 lbs

4. Asus ZenBook 14 – The Cheapest Option

What if I tell you that you can do CAD and 3D modeling work on a laptop that costs less than $600? Hard to believe, right?

Well, this Asus ZenBook 14 for about $550 offers enough performant hardware inside that you will be able to run AutoCAD without any issues on it and even make small, less complex 3D models.

Before we start, let me clarify that this Asus ZenBook 14 is actually last year’s model and accordingly packs year-old hardware. But nothing wrong with that. As the new models launch, the old but still great models like this one get significantly discounted. The Asus ZenBook 14 was initially available for around $800, but as I said, now it’s available for about $550.

So, what does it have to offer, and what makes it good enough for CAD?

It’s powered by AMD’s Ryzen 5 U-series processor, which is less powerful than the H-series processors that are recommended for CAD, but with six cores, it’s capable enough to run CAD and other heavy software. Also, it rocks a dedicated Nvidia GeForce MX450 GPU inside, which provides 2GB of discrete graphics memory for light 3D modeling jobs.

These specs might not impress you in comparison to the other laptops we have talked about up until now, but for the price, these are pretty good specs.

Besides powerful internals, the laptop also comes with a beautifully designed all-metal casing, a very comfortable backlit keyboard with nice tactile keys, and it also sports a glass trackpad. Look and feel wise, nobody will ever be able to tell this laptop is a budget machine. It feels very premium, and the fit and finish are also on par with expensive premium ultrabooks.

But just like every budget laptop, the Asus ZenBook 14 also has a few shortcomings, which, however, are very important to take note of before you buy it. One of the major ones is its RAM is soldered on the motherboard, meaning you won’t be able to upgrade its RAM further from the provided 8GB. So, if you are a student looking for a laptop for uni or a beginner who is absolutely in need of a new laptop but can’t afford expensive models, then only get this laptop.

But we feel for most CAD designers, especially beginners, this laptop has more than enough oomph, and since it also has a dedicated GPU, its RAM will not be shared for graphics needs, so that should be fine.

Other caveats of this laptop include low screen brightness (a common problem with most budget laptops), and only one USB Type-A port. However, it has two USB Type-C ports, an HDMI, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

On the bright side, the Asus ZenBook 14, despite having such powerful hardware, is a very portable machine weighing just 2.7 pounds. Also, since it has an ultra-low power U-series CPU, its battery life is also excellent and lasts a full day with 100% charge.

Overall, the Asus ZenBook 14 is the cheapest laptop you can buy that’s good for CAD. But we would highly recommend you to spend more if you can. We have a few alternative choices mentioned below in the sub-$800 price range. Take a look at them before you make your decision.

Hardware Specifications of Asus ZenBook 14 (2021, AMD):

Processor	AMD Ryzen 5 5500U (6 Cores, 12 Threads, up to 4.0 GHz)
RAM	8GB LPDDR4X (Non-Upgradeable)
Storage	256GB SSD (Upgradeable)
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce MX450 (2GB DDR5 VRAM)
Display	14-Inch Full HD Anti-Glare Display (250 nits, 100% sRGB)
Operating System	Windows 10 Home (Upgradeable to Windows 11)
Battery Life	Up to 9 Hours
Weight	2.7 lbs

5. Acer Swift X – Best for Students

The Acer Swift X is another excellent laptop that you can consider for CAD if your budget is around $1000. It’s powerful, portable, and has long battery life, so besides professional CAD designers, it is also a good choice for engineering students.

But before we talk further about this laptop, let me clarify that this model is also from last year, and its successor is already available. However, the only difference between the new and old models is the processor, which is also only marginally better than the previous model.

If you are after the latest and greatest specs, you can go with the new model, but our recommendation would be the old model because, more or less, both are the same laptops.

No matter which one you pick, the points we’ve mentioned below are valid for both laptop models.

So, let’s start with the design, which is minimal and professional looking. It has a full metal enclosure, and though it’s not a unibody chassis like expensive ultrabooks, it is built well. The bezels surrounding the display are also much thinner than the other Acer laptops we’ve tested, and if we talk about the actual display quality, it is also excellent, with 100% sRGB color coverage and 300 nits of peak brightness.

Besides that, the laptop also has a great backlit keyboard, spacious trackpad, and fingerprint scanner for easy and secure logins. The connectivity options are also very good with the latest Wi-Fi 6 support, and wired connectivity options on the laptop include two USB Type-A ports, a USB Type-C port, HDMI, and an audio jack. Overall, well-managed.

Now, if we talk about its performance, then it is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 5000 U-series processor with 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD, and it features an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti dedicated GPU. Again, the CPU on it is a U-series, so it’s not as powerful as the H-series processor on other models we’ve talked about, but it has 8-cores that can boost up to 4.4 GHz, meaning it will be able to handle the complex CAD designing and even 3D modeling since it also has a powerful discrete GPU. Not to mention it will also be to run all the latest games.

It’s best in all ways, and there are no major complaints about this laptop from us, but there’s one thing that you should know before you buy it. And that is, its RAM is baked on the motherboard.

But we think that’s not a major issue because 16GB RAM is plenty for students and even most professional CAD designers.

So, if you don’t mind that minor caveat, there’s a lot else going for Acer Swift X—from excellent performance to portable design and also full-day battery life. Also, its price is pretty reasonable—all in all, a great deal.

Hardware Specifications of Acer Swift X:

Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 5800U (8 Cores, 16 Threads, up to 4.4 GHz)
RAM	16GB LPDDR4X (Non-Upgradeable)
Storage	512GB SSD (Upgradeable)
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti (4GB DDR6 VRAM)
Display	14-Inch Full HD IPS Anti-Glare Display (300 nits, 100% sRGB)
Operating System	Windows 11 Home
Battery Life	Up to 12 Hours
Weight	3.3 lbs

6. Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio – Best 2 in 1 for CAD

The Surface Laptop Studio is Microsoft’s innovative 2-in-1 laptop that is the perfect choice for CAD designers who do not want to let keyboard and mouse get in the way of their creativity.

Like a typical 2-in-1 laptop, you can transform it into a tablet or Studio mode (as Microsoft likes to call it) for making CAD and 3D designs using Surface Slim Pen 2. But the way this laptop converts into different modes is what makes it a unique and exciting device.

Microsoft has come up with a new hinge design where you can use this laptop in three different modes—Laptop, Stage, and Studio—all great for creative professionals to draw using the new Surface Slim Pen 2.

Speaking of pens, the new Surface Slim Pen 2 has a vibration motor inside that vibrates to deliver a natural drawing feel. Also, its 14.4-inch 120Hz display is excellent, with great contrast, brightness, and color accuracy.

So, there’s no doubt, feature-wise, the laptop is very good, and since it’s made by Microsoft, the design and build quality of it are also on par with the best laptops available. But does it pack enough performance inside to handle bulky CAD and 3D Modeling software?

Well, yes, it can smoothly run AutoCAD and even 3D modeling software like Sketchup and Revit because it is powered by an Intel Core H-series processor, and it also has a dedicated Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU. So, performance-wise as well, it is very good.

Then what’s the catch?

The very first issue with this laptop is its pricing. Its variant with the quad-core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, and RTX 3050 Ti costs $1800, which is very expensive. At this price, you can purchase much better-specced laptops than this Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio.

Also, if you can get over its pricing, there are a few other caveats too. One of them is its RAM is not upgradeable, which, however, is the case with almost every 2-in-1 laptop. And it also fails to provide good connectivity with only two Thunderbolt 4 ports.

These are definitely deal-breaking points, especially when we consider the premium that Microsoft is charging for it, but the smooth and precise designing experience that this laptop delivers with pen in AutoCAD makes up for all its shortcomings and makes the Surface Laptop Studio the best 2-in-1 laptop for CAD.

Our Recommended Specifications for CAD of Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio:

Processor	11th Generation Intel Core i7-11370H (4 Cores, up to 4.8 GHz)
RAM	16GB LPDDR4x (Non-Upgradeable)
Storage	512GB NVMe SSD (Upgradeable)
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti (4GB DDR6 VRAM)
Display	14.4-Inch PixelSense 120Hz Display (with Dolby Vision)
Operating System	Windows 11 Home
Battery Life	Up to 12 Hours
Weight	4 lbs

7. Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 5 16″ Workstation Laptop

Professional CAD designers do not like to squint on a small display. They prefer large screen laptops. But as the screen size increases, the portability of the laptop takes a toll. That’s where this laptop comes in.

The Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 5 is a 16-inch mobile workstation laptop weighing under 4 pounds, which is lighter than even most 15-inch laptops. That’s not it. It also boasts a workstation-grade CPU and GPU inside and has a vapor chamber cooling system to cool it.

Before you get too excited about it, let me tell you that this is a very expensive laptop. Its price starts from around $2000 and goes to $5000 for the top-specced variant. So, students and beginner CAD designers/drafters should skip this laptop.

With that out of the way, let’s discuss what it all offers for the price. Starting from the design and build, it is made of carbon fiber and aluminum, which gives it its rigidity while not increasing the weight by too much. If we talk about the design, then it looks like every other ThinkPad. However, since it’s made up of premium materials, the touch and feel of it are very premium. Also, it feels awkwardly lightweight in hands despite being such a large device.

The connectivity options are also very good. Where most premium laptops have shifted to only offering Thunderbolt ports, Lenovo is offering standard USB Type-A, HDMI 2.1, and even an SD card reader, along with two Thunderbolt 4 ports. So you get a bit of everything. Also, it goes without saying but its keyboard is fantastic, and although we would have loved its trackpad to be slightly bigger, the actual tracking experience is excellent.

Now, if we talk about its hardware, then it comes in various different configuration, which includes CPU up to the latest 12th Gen Intel Core i9 and GPU up to the Nvidia Quadro RTX A5500, which has a whopping 16GB of VRAM! The RAM and storage are also configurable much higher here with up to 64GB DDR5 and 8TB SSD, respectively. The display can also go from Full HD up to the 4K resolution, and there’s also a QHD panel with 165Hz refresh rate option for unknown reasons.

So, it’s a tremendously powerful machine, and depending upon the complexity of your CAD and 3D modeling projects, you can choose from the various configuration options that Lenovo offers for this laptop. Also, don’t worry about the RAM and SSD, both are upgradeable on this laptop.

Overall, the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 5 16″ is a very capable machine, and its USP is its lightweight yet strong MIL-STD 810H design, which is an amazing feat considering its large footprint and such high-end components inside.

Our Recommended Specifications for CAD & 3D Modeling of Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 5 16″:

Processor	12th Gen Intel Core i7-12800H (14 Cores, up to 4.8 GHz)
RAM	32GB DDR5 (Upgradeable)
Storage	1TB SSD (Upgradeable)
Graphics	Nvidia Quadro RTX A3000 (12GB DDR6 VRAM)
Display	16-Inch 4K IPS Anti-Glare (w/ 600 nits brightness)
Operating System	Windows 11 Pro
Battery Life	Up to 9 Hours
Weight	3.9 lbs

8. Apple MacBook Pro 14 – Best MacBook For CAD

If you are a Mac user or thinking of switching to macOS and wondering which MacBook you should buy for CAD, then MacBook Pro 14 is our recommendation. The MacBook Pro 14 with M1 Pro and M1 Max chip options is more powerful than the MacBook Pro 13, so it will be able to handle the complex CAD and 3D designing work better. Also, its small size makes it more lightweight than the MacBook Pro 16, which is also more expensive.

Also, since we are at it, if you were thinking of getting the most affordable MacBook Air for CAD, then we would recommend against it because it’s a fanless device. Don’t get me wrong. The new M2 MacBook Air and even the older MacBook Air with M1 are very capable, and they can handle CAD and other intensive tasks, but due to lack of active cooling, they’d get warm when doing such hardware taxing tasks for a prolonged period.

So, that basically gave you the idea about the whole MacBook lineup.

But before you purchase the MacBook, you must know that many of the widely used CAD and 3D modeling software is still not natively available for Apple Silicon. Meaning you’ll still be using CAD applications made for Intel Macs on these new MacBooks using Rosetta 2.

Not to mention, the selection of CAD applications and different tools is still more extensive for Windows than macOS, making Windows a preferred operating system for people in this industry.

But if you know that you will be able to get the job done on Apple silicon MacBooks, then MacBook Pro 14 is the best option.

We don’t need to talk about its build quality or design. Everybody knows about it, but Apple has slightly updated the new MacBook Pro’s design. They are somewhat thicker, so heating problems with previous models are gone now, and they also now feature more ports. Also, the display is still the best in laptops, and it now has a notch housing a Face ID camera.

All in all, MacBooks are very reliable, and the new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips are powerhouses, but it’s just that CAD applications are still not natively available for them. If that’s not an issue for you, then MacBook Pro 14 is an excellent machine for CAD or any of your other requirements.

Our Recommended Hardware Specifications for CAD of Apple MacBook Pro 14:

Processor	Apple M1 Pro (8 Core CPU)
RAM	16GB Unified Memory
Storage	512GB SSD (Upgradeable)
Graphics	14 Core GPU, 16 Core Neural Engine
Display	14.2-Inch Liquid Retina XDR Display (3024 x 1964 Resolution, 1600 nits brightness)
Operating System	macOS Monterey
Battery Life	Up to 11 Hours
Weight	3.5 lbs

9. Dell Precision 7770 17 – Most Powerful Workstation Laptop

The Dell Precision 7770 is the most powerful laptop you can buy for CAD, and we recommend it to professionals who have to deal with large and very complex CAD and 3D modeling projects.

It is powered by the most powerful HX series of Intel processors, and you can configure it up to the flagship Nvidia Quadro RTX A5500 workstation GPU, which offers a whopping 16GB of dedicated graphics memory. The RAM and storage options are also plenty, and you can configure it up to 128GB of CAMM, SODIMM, or ECC type DDR5 memory and populate its four storage drive slots to have up to a massive 16TB of storage.

We don’t think we even need to tell you about the capabilities of this laptop as the specs are pretty self-explanatory but just to let you know that even working on large assemblies with thousands of parts is not an issue on this laptop. It can be your complete desktop replacement mobile workstation.

The one problem that’s often common with such high-end laptops is cooling, but Dell has got you covered there as well. The Precision 7770 is a very well-engineered laptop with enough ventilation, and its cooling system is also equally powerful as its hardware.

Besides performance, the laptop’s build quality is also very tough with all-metal chassis, and it’s built like a tank and feels indestructible in hands. Also, it features a vast array of ports and slots, including two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two standard USB Type-A ports, one standard USB Type-C port with DP support, and also HDMI, ethernet, and 3.5mm audio ports. Apart from that, it also has a full-size SD card reader and a smart card reader slot. So, Dell has used its size well and has not skimped on offering essential ports to professionals.

The keyboard on the Precision 7770 is also excellent, with perfectly laid out and deep traveling keys for comfortable typing, and the trackpad is also of decent size and offers a smooth tracking experience.

However, there’s one major drawback of this laptop, and that is its weight. It weighs 6.6 pounds which is a lot, and therefore carrying this laptop every day would be strength training for your shoulders.

But if that’s a huge problem for you, then Dell also makes a 16-inch version of this same laptop, the Dell Precision 7670, which is slightly smaller and less bulky at 5.75 pounds.

Besides size, everything else is the same between both the models, so based on what you value most—a large and bulky laptop with efficiently cooled hardware or slightly warmer running hardware in a less bulky laptop—you can decide between these 16 and 17-inch workstation laptops.

Now, if we talk about the pricing, then obviously, such a capable laptop will not be affordable, and accordingly, its price starts from around $2500 and goes all the way up to $16,000 as you select options.

So, it’s very expensive and also overkill for most people.

But as I said earlier, if you have to deal with very large projects and you are looking for a laptop that not only allows you to make complex 3D models but also render them in high quality—then Dell Precision 7770 is the workstation laptop capable of doing that.

Our Recommended Specifications for CAD of Dell Precision 7770 17-inch Workstation Laptop:

Processor	12th Gen Intel Core i9-12950HX (16 Cores, up to 5 GHz)
RAM	32GB Non ECC DDR5 4800 MHz (Upgradeable)
Storage	2TB SSD (Upgradeable)
Graphics	Nvidia Quadro RTX A5500 (16GB DDR6)
Display	17-Inch 4K 120 Hz Anti-Glare (99% DCI-P3, 500 nits brightness)
Operating System	Windows 11 Pro
Battery Life	Up to 6 Hours
Weight	6.6 lbs

10. Dell Precision 5570 – Thin & Light Workstation Laptop for Professionals

Last but not least, the Dell Precision 5570 is the most premium-looking workstation laptop you can buy. But that’s not the only reason we have selected it. It also boasts a mighty powerful workstation-grade CPU and GPU inside. So, if the style quotient of the laptop is also just as important as the performance to you, then you can consider this mobile workstation laptop.

Let’s start by talking about its design. Those who know about Dell’s XPS lineup will find this laptop familiar because it uses the same chassis and design as the Dell XPS 15, which is one of the best windows laptops available in the market right now. Its exterior is CNC-milled from a single block of aluminum, and its interior areas, like the keyboard deck, are made of carbon fiber, which gives it rigidity without adding much to its overall bulk. The result is a 4-pound ultraportable machine that’s built to last.

One of the show-stopping things about the XPS laptops has always been its display with ultra-thin bezels. Accordingly, this Dell Precision 5570 also has a stunning 16:10 15.6-inch display boasting superb vibrancy, peak brightness, and resolution (you can choose between 1080p or 4K touch). Besides that, the keyboard and trackpad are also among the most comfortable you will find on a windows laptop, and the same can be said about its speakers as well. But these are the creature comforts, right? For CAD, hardware matters the most.

Well, Dell has got you covered there as well.

The Dell Precision 5570, despite a thin ultraportable device, is available with up to Core i9 processor, top-of-the-line Nvidia Quadro RTX A5500 GPU (16GB dedicated graphics memory), up to 64GB of fastest DDR5 memory, and 4TB of Gen4 SSD storage.

These are the most powerful specs you can get in a Workstation laptop right now, and because they are packed in an ultra-thin device like this, cooling can be a major problem. But Dell has managed that also pretty well with dual fans and dual heat pipes for CPU and GPU. Also, the upgradeability of the laptop is impressive, with two user-accessible RAM and SSD slots!

So, it’s a pretty good package overall for professional engineers who has to travel a lot with their laptop every day, but there’s one caveat that might put you off from buying this machine. That is its ports, which are only three, and they are all USB-C—two Thunderbolt 4 and one USB 3.2 Gen 2 with Display Port support. On the bright side, Dell includes a USB-A and HDMI dongle inside the box, so you will not have to spend extra for it.

Besides that, the Dell Precision 5570 is also a very costly laptop. But the good performance and build also cannot come cheap!

So overall, we think the Dell Precision 5570 will be a good choice for professional CAD designers and 3D modelers who have to travel from site to site for their job. Its powerful hardware packed in a small and lightweight design with a bright display and reasonably good battery life makes it a good choice for people who are always on the field.

Looking for an even portable laptop? Dell also makes 14-inch version of this laptop, the Dell Precision 5470.

Our Recommended Specifications for CAD of Dell Precision 5570 15-inch Thin & Light Workstation Laptop:

Processor	12th Generation Intel Core i9-12900H (14 Cores, up to 5 GHz)
RAM	32GB DDR5 4800 MHz (Upgradeable)
Storage	1TB SSD (Upgradeable)
Graphics	Nvidia Quadro RTX A2000 (8GB DDR6)
Display	15.6-Inch Full HD+ IPS Display (1920 x 1200, 100% sRGB, 500 nits brightness)
Operating System	Windows 11 Pro
Battery Life	Up to 8 Hours
Weight	4.0 lbs

So that was our last recommendation!

In the end, we would like to tell our readers that if you are a beginner in this field or a student, you don’t need a workstation laptop. You can make do with gaming laptops that are available for much cheaper. Don’t waste your money.

The MSI Pulse GL66 (our runner-up pick) is an excellent choice, in our opinion, which provides an almost similar level of performance as the HP ZBook Power 15 workstation laptop (our top pick) while costing $1000 less. Also, if you are looking for an even more affordable option, you can consider the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i or Acer Swift X, which are great options under $1000.

But, if you are a professional CAD and 3D modeling artist shopping for a workstation laptop, then HP ZBook Power 15 is hands down the best laptop for CAD right now. We recommend it because it is more affordable than other brands’ workstation laptops, and there are no deal-breaking cons of it. And, unlike most other workstation laptops, it’s not too bulky (4.2 pounds)!

Lastly, MacBooks should only be preferred if you know the CAD software you want to use works fine on the Apple Silicon.

So, we hope that the hard work and time we have put into this guide help you buy the right laptop as a professional CAD designer or an engineering student. If you have any questions about the laptops listed above or want to recommend any other laptop you’ve had a better experience with when using AutoCAD, do share with us below.

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