5 Best Laptops for SolidWorks in 2024

If you need a laptop for things such as 3D modeling, you should know that not just any old laptop will do. Advanced and performance-heavy programs and apps such as SolidWorks require a lot of power to run smoothly, which is why you need to choose the best laptop for SolidWorks that you can find. The same is true for AutoCAD, Ansys, and alike. With that in mind, we have selected some of the models of the best Laptops for SolidWorks that will definitely do the trick, and any on this list will be a great purchase. Without further ado, here they are.

Making the wrong step when choosing a laptop for this kind of work could result in a lot of money lost, and all you would end up with is a laptop that cannot do what you need it to do.

Best Laptops for SolidWorks

1. Acer Aspire E 15

Our next choice is Acer Aspire E 15, which is also one of the most popular and highest-selling laptops that the company has ever made. A similar thing can be said for many other models from the E series, not only for their excellent performance and strong configuration but also because they are actually much cheaper than you might expect.

This particular laptop features a 15.6-inch Full HD display and a resolution of 1920×1080. It is very vivid and bright, so you will likely be as pleased as we are with how things look while you are using it. Next, it uses the 8th Gen Intel Core i5 quad-core CPU, although its RAM is low, sitting at only 8GB.

Still, it has more than a decent 256GB SSD, which is great for multitasking and speedy response time. Finally, it features a 2GB of Nvidia GeForce MX150 dedicated GPU. While the laptop does have its flaws, it has a lot more positives, which is why we believe that it is one of the best solutions for handling SolidWorks and similar software.

Check Price on Amazon

2. Dell G5 5587

Our top choice comes from Dell’s G-series, in the form of G5 5587. The laptop’s price is actually pretty sensible, and it offers a lot in return, which makes it ideal for those who are only starting out with SolidWorks.

In terms of specs, it comes with an Intel Core i7-8750H CPU, which is more than powerful enough to handle 3D modeling. Combined with 16GB DDR4 RAM, which you can even expand to 32GB, the model already looks pretty good, even if you need additional power.

Its storage is also pretty large, with 1TB HDD and 128 GB SSD, which is a combination that will provide you not only with large capacity, but also with extra speed when booting or starting and shutting down the system. In terms of GPU, you get Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, with 4GB GDDR5, which is pretty sufficient for the task at hand. It will also serve you great for things like video rendering, photo editing, and alike.

In terms of design, the laptop has an almost sporty look, and it definitely looks quite elegant in black. It is a joy to watch it, just as much as to use it. It weighs around 6.28, which doesn’t exactly make it the lightest you can find, but it is not too difficult, so it still remains rather portable.

Finally, when it comes to its battery life, it won’t last you for an extremely long amount of time, but rather only for about 6-7 hours. Even so, considering how demanding software like SolidWorks can be, we would be more than satisfied with this operational length too. All in all, if you are looking for a great quality laptop that can handle SolidWorks, but you don’t want to pay a fortune — this is the best option, that looks good, works good, and costs a decent amount.

Check Price on Amazon

3. MSI WE75

After that budget solution, we have a more expensive MSI WE75, which is another excellent model for software like SolidWorks. And make no mistake, this laptop’s performance is one of the best you will ever find.

It features Intel i7 processor of 9th Generation, with 32GB of RAM, and Nvidia RTX 3000 in terms of its GPU. This is a high-end GPU for a mobile workstation, and it was designed to be used in notebooks. It has certified drivers, which ensures stability and top performance, even with the most demanding CAD software.

In fact, this laptop is not only capable of handling that, but it can even be used for serious gaming. Its Quadro GPU is typically believed to be a bad choice for gamers, as it provides a bad experience. However, this is actually a myth, and the truth is that these GPUs were not designed with gaming in mind. Consumer GTX cards are only slightly more powerful, which makes MSI WE75 a decent gaming machine, as well.

It has a 512GB PCIe SSD for storage, which is quite fast when it comes to accessing data. Next, its display is 17.3 inches, with a resolution of 1920×1080. On top of that, its color reproduction is actually above average, which guarantees an excellent picture quality. In fact, the display as a whole is very vivid, sharp, with excellent viewing angles.

In terms of connectivity, it is pretty good too, with three USB 3.1 ports. The only real issue with this laptop is that you must never be too far away from the charger. Its average battery life is quite poor, being only around 3-4 hours of normal usage. If you push it, this time will likely decrease even further, so you must be aware of that before purchasing.

Of course, this is a problem that many powerful laptops encounter. Their hardware is very strong, and so it requires a lot of power, and there is no way to go around this requirement. Other than that, we have two more drawbacks to mention — the increased weight (around 6 pounds) and the lack of Thunderbolt 3 port, which should definitely be there, considering the price.

So, if you don’t mind a heavy laptop that lacks Thunderbolt 3 and needs to be on the charger whenever you are doing some serious work, then this is likely the best option for you. It is very powerful, which does come at a cost, but the road to finding proper equipment is based on compromises, so its drawbacks must be accepted.

Check Price on Amazon

4. Dell Precision M7730

Going back to Dell for a bit, we have its Precision M7730, which is another of the best-selling solutions by Dell. Not only that, but it is also a lot pricier than our first entry, too, but its hardware configuration is rather impressive, so we are willing to let that slide.

Precision M7730 is powered by an impressive Intel Xeon E-2176M CPU, which also offers a clock speed-up, and can go as fast as 4.0 GHz. It comes with a 12MB cache, which provides you with quite a lot of processing power.

When it comes to its display, the laptop features 17.3 UltraSharp FHD display, for a maximum effect when it comes to intensity, sharpness, vivid colors, and alike. It is a perfect display for work that requires precision and attention to detail, such as SolidWorks usage.

In terms of its GPU, it features Nvidia Quadro P3200 6GB card, which can handle some rather intensive processes, which is also a great thing for SolidWorks users. You can easily create complex figures and shapes, and easily export them with no problems such as lag or anything else.

In terms of RAM, it has 64GB, as well as a 2TB-large PCIe M.2 NVME SSD storage, meaning that you will have all the space and speed you could ever want. Finally, the design is very attractive, but it weighs almost 7 pounds, which doesn’t exactly make it the best option for carrying around, unfortunately. But, it does feature a backlit keyboard, so if you don’t have a problem with some extra weight — this is definitely a laptop that we would recommend for handling SolidWorks and other modeling software.

Check Price on Amazon

5. Lenovo ThinkPad P51

Then, we have Lenovo’s ThinkPad P51, which is also quite an expensive solution, but also one that will give you amazing performance in return. Also, if you ever need proof that this is one of the best laptops for SolidWorks, note that SolidWorks itself recommends it, which speaks volumes regarding its capabilities.

In terms of its specs, Thinkpad features an Intel Xeon chip, a Quadro M2200 GPU, and 32GB of RAM. Both the CPU and the GPU have been specially designed and optimized to handle CAD, rendering, 3D modeling, and similar activities, meaning that you will be using the right tool for the right job, instead of simply hoping that it will work good enough.

Furthermore, the GPU comes with certified drivers that provide further stability and advanced performance, necessary for getting the best out of software like Ansys and SolidWorks.

Quadro can even be used for gaming, although it is behind GTX 1050 when it comes to performance. Still, it is more than capable of handling casual games. Anything more advanced will require that you lower the settings to medium, or even low, in order to get a smooth experience.

As for RAM; you get a rather massive amount, which can only be an advantage in situations where you need to run demanding SolidWorks. You don’t get an impressive amount of storage, but it should still be good enough, as you get 512GB PCIe SSD. The system should be smooth enough, which is all that matters in the end.

The display also doesn’t disappoint, with 15.6 inches of Full HD and a resolution of 1920×1080, with great and vibrant colors that provide the ultimate experience. Next, the model also features a 180-degree hinge, meaning that you can set it up however you wish, including having it lie flat.

Connectivity is also quite exceptional, with four different USB 3.1 ports, as well as a Thunderbolt 3 port, which was noticeably absent from MSI’s solution, even though the prices are pretty much in the same range.

However, the part that really impressed us is the extremely long battery life, which can last you for up to 8 hours of normal usage. In other words, you won’t have to spend that much time on the charger, and still be able to get your work done without having to worry about your time running out too quickly.

As for the disadvantages — there are always a few, and this model is no exception. It weighs 6 pounds, and this makes it heavy in our opinion, even though it is not the heaviest one on the list. It is also pretty thick (1 inch), which can also be an issue if you need a laptop that is easy to carry around with you. This can also be seen as an advantage that will make it durable and strong, although it does make it less practical. Still, with all said and done, this is easily one of the best price-to-performance models, which will last the entire day without charging.

Check Price on Amazon

Best Laptops for SolidWorks Conclusion

And that is it for this list. Hopefully, you have found at least one model that looks interesting and efficient to you. We are sure that each of them will be great for SolidWorks, and some of them go even beyond this specific use and can be used for some pretty decent gaming.

If gaming is your hobby, some of these laptops are definitely powerful enough to let you make use of their abilities during working and resting hours alike. All that remains now is for you to study each of them in detail, and take your pick.