TOP 7 BEST LAPTOPS FOR 3D MODELING AND RENDERING

3D modeling and rendering are the most graphics-demanding works. The tools used to do 3D modeling and rendering need GPU, CPU, RAM, and storage along with the display. The more powerful and high-end your system is, the more you will be able to enjoy your work.
3D modeling is essential for the effective presentation of architectural services. First, an image speaks a thousand words, and second, it is best for project approvals and marketing. 3D modeling and rendering also produce a tremendous positive impact on project execution. See here a complete report regarding 3D modeling.
So, if you are looking for a laptop to create 3D models and do rendering, then here we have a list of the seven best laptops. Go through these machines, check their specifications, and select one as per your needs.

laptops for 3d modeling and rendering

Best 3D Modeling and Rendering Laptops

Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop – Overall Best for 3D Modeling and Rendering

Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop, 15.6" Full HD IPS, Intel i7 CPU, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD, GeForce GTX 1060-6GB, VR Ready, Red Backlit KB, Metal Chassis, Windows 10 64-bit, G3-571-77QK
  • Latest 7th Generation Intel Core i7 Processor 2.8GHz with Turbo Boost Technology up to 3.8GHz | Windows 10 Home 64-bit
  • Latest NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 with 6 GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM
  • 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen IPS display, Red Backlit Keyboard
  • 16GB DDR4 DRAM Memory & 256GB SSD | Extra empty expandable hard drive slot for 2.5" hard drives
  • Up to 7-hours of battery life

Processor: One of the best laptops that you can use for 3D modeling and rendering is the Acer Predator Helios 300. It is a gaming laptop that can also help you in 3D modeling and rendering. It is powered by a 2.8 GHz, 7th generation Intel Quad Core i7 processor with Turbo Boost up to 3.8 GHz.

Graphics: The laptop is powered by NVidia GeForce GTX 1060 with dedicated 6GB GDDR5 VRAM.

Display: It comes with a 15.6-inch widescreen featuring a Full HD display with IPS technology. The 1920 x 1080 screen resolution is the most common nowadays and provides great quality images.

RAM: With 16GB DDR4 DRAM, you will notice smooth performance when working on 3D models.

Storage: 256GB SSD is not enough for saving your massive files, but you can start with it and upgrade it to a 512GB SSD.

Keyboard: The red-backlit keyboard featuring solid and resistant keys allows you to work comfortably late at night on your 3D models.

Battery Life: The laptop offers up to 7 hours of battery life which is quite decent to work on 3D modeling and rendering projects without a break.

Ports:  There are two USB 2.0 ports, one USB 3.0 port, one USB 3.1 Type-C port, an HDMI 2.0 port, an SD card reader, and an RJ-45 port.

Wireless Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.0 and 802.11ac Wi-Fi (2×2)

Other Features: Metal chassis, VR-ready, two built-in stereo speakers, and Acer TrueHarmony Technology sound system.

Our Opinion: 

Best at its price. It is ideal for those who want absolute performance at an affordable price. Both the CPU and GPU-intensive workloads are well performed by this machine. Also, it features excellent graphics and high-quality display colors. It takes time to get fully charged.

HP Pavilion 15.6-Inch 2018 Flagship – Best HP Laptop for 3D Modeling and Rendering

2018 HP Pavilion 15.6 Inch Notebook Laptop Computer (Intel Core i7-8550U 1.8GHz, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB SSD, B&O Play Dual Speakers, NVIDIA GeForce 940MX 4GB, HD Webcam, Windows 10)
  • 15.6" diagonal Full HD touch display, 1920 x 1080 resolution boasts impressive color and clarity. Anti-glare energy efficient.
  • 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8550U Processor, (Quad-Core, 8MB Cache, 1.8 GHz Up To 4.0GHz)
  • 16GB DDR4 Memory Hard Drive: 512GB SSD
  • Windows 10
  • NVIDIA GeForce

Display: This HP Pavilion is the second-best laptop in our list that you can use for producing 3D digital representations of different objects and surfaces. It comes with a 15.6-inch diagonal Full HD (1920 x 1080) WLED-backlit display featuring IPS technology.

Processor: Its processor is slightly better than what we have seen in the above-mentioned Acer Predator. It has the 8th generation Intel Quad-core i7-8550U processor with a base clock speed of 1.8 GHz that can boost up to 4.0 GHz.

Graphics: It has NVidia GeForce 940MX GPU with 4GB DDR3 memory.

RAM: If we focus on its RAM, then it is 16GB DDR4 SDRAM that is recommended for 3D modeling and rendering.

Storage: 512GB SSD provides ample storage space to store 3D modeling and rendering software with files. Also, SSD reads and writes data faster.

Keyboard: There is a full backlit keyboard featuring a numeric keypad.

Wireless Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi (1×1) and Bluetooth 4.0

Ports: Two USB 3.1 ports, one USB Type-C port, an HDMI, an SD card reader, and a microphone/headphone combo jack.

Other Features: Other features include B&O Play dual speakers and a Wide Vision HD webcam.

Our Opinion: 

A sturdy and lightweight machine. Great graphics and display, ample storage space, and a smooth processor make it one of the best laptops for 3D modeling and rendering. Its trackpad sometimes becomes unresponsive while charging.

Acer Aspire E 15 laptop – Best under $800

Acer Aspire E 15, 15.6" Full HD, 8th Gen Intel Core i3-8130U, 6GB RAM Memory, 1TB HDD, 8X DVD, E5-576-392H
  • 8th Generation Intel Core i3 8130U Processor 2.2 GHz (Up to 3.2GHz)
  • 15.6 inches Full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen LED lit Display
  • 6GB Dual Channel Memory, 1TB HDD and 8x DVD
  • Up to 13.5 Hours of battery life
  • Windows 10 Home. Operating System Architecture 64-bit

Processor: The Acer Aspire E15 laptop is powered by a 1.6 GHz, 8th generation Intel Quad Core i5-8250U processor. It is base clock speed can reach up to 3.4 GHz, which is quite good for 3D modeling. But its clock frequency is lower than the Acer Predator Helios 300.

Display: It has a 15.6-inch widescreen with Full HD (1920 x 1080) LED-lit display. Also, the IPS panel gives more vibrant colors and better viewing angles.

Graphics: The laptop comes with NVidia GeForce MX150 featuring dedicated 2GB GDDR5 VRAM.

RAM: It has an 8GB dual-channel memory that performs better than single-channel memory. You can upgrade the RAM size easily for smooth and advanced multitasking.

Storage: 256GB SSD is there for quick read and writes operations. You can also upgrade the hard drive with ease.

Battery Life: Acer Aspire E15 offers an excellent battery life of up to 15 hours.

Keyboard: A backlit keyboard with a numeric keypad

Ports: Two USB 3.0 ports, an SD card reader, one USB 3.1 Type-C Gen 1 port, one USB 2.0 port, and an HDMI port.

Wireless Connectivity: Latest 802.11ac Wi-Fi with up to three times faster connection speed. Also, Bluetooth 4.1 is part of this system.

Other Features: 8X DVD Double-layer drive, Acer TrueHarmony, two built-in stereo speakers, and HD webcam.

Our Opinion: 

It is a fantastic machine at an affordable price. Its keyboard and touchpad work exceptionally well. Also, its decent full HD screen, fast CPU, and great battery life make it an ideal laptop for 3D modeling. It runs hot sometimes, and its trackpad is too finicky.

MSI GE63 Raider RGB-012 Gaming Laptop – Best under $1400

MSI GE63 Raider RGB-012 15.6" 120Hz 3ms Performance Gaming Laptop GTX 1060 6G i7-8750H (6 Cores) 16GB 128GB SSD + 1TB Per Key RGB KB, VR Ready, Metal Chassis, Windows 10 64 bit
  • Display: 15.6" FHD, 120Hz 3ms Wide view 94% NTSC Color 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

Display: The MSI GE63 Raider RGB-012 is a gaming laptop that comes with a 15.6-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) anti-glare display.

Processor: The laptop is equipped with an 8th generation Intel Hexa Core i7-8750H processor with a 2.2 GHz base frequency that can go up to 4.1 GHz with Turbo Boost technology.

Graphics: NVidia GeForce GTX1060 with dedicated 6GB DDR5 graphics memory

RAM: It comes with 16GB DDR4 RAM that is divided into two slots. The maximum you can upgrade it to is 32GB.

Storage: The system comes with both HDD and SSD drives. 1TB storage capacity is of HDD, and 128 GB is the storage capacity of SSD.

Keyboard: There is a Per-Key RGB customizable keyboard.

Ports: There are two USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, one USB 3.1 Gen 2 port, one USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type C port, an HDMI, a microphone/headphone combo jack, and an SD card reader.

Wireless Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi (2×2) and Bluetooth 5.0

Battery Life: Its battery life is up to 8 hours.

Other Features: Introduction giant speakers, VR-ready graphics, Nahimic audio, HD webcam, and cooler boost technology.

Our Opinion: 

It has a fast processor, dual storage option, great graphics card, and per-key RGB customizable keyboard. Also, it has an efficient cooling system. Bad quality hinges and its case feels flimsy.

Microsoft Surface Book 2 – Lightest Laptop for 3D Modeling and Rendering

Sale
Microsoft Surface Book 2 13.5"(Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256 GB), silver
  • Microsoft Surface Book 2 Features a 7th generation Intel Dual Core i5 Processor, 256 GB of storage, 8 GB RAM, and up to 17 hours of video playback
  • Includes an Intel HD Graphics 620 integrated GPU; Full size SDXC card reader
  • The fastest Surface Book yet, with 2x more power. Aspect ratio: 3:2, contrast ratio: 1600:1
  • Vibrant PixelSense Display: now available with an improved 13.5" touchscreen
  • Four versatile modes of use and new USB C port

Processor: Microsoft Surface 2 is a 2-in-1 laptop that is featured a 1.9 GHz, 8th generation Intel Quad Core i7-860 processor. It offers four modes of use: laptop, tablet, studio, and view.

Display: 15.6-inch touchscreen with PixelSense (3260 x 2160) display. Also, the touchscreen has stylus support.

Storage: 512GB solid-state drive is quite sufficient for 3D modeling and rendering.

RAM: 16GB RAM is ideal for dealing with medium-level workloads.

Battery Life: The laptop offers up to 17 hours of battery life.

Graphics: NVidia GeForce GTX 1060 graphics processor with 6GB GDDR5 graphics memory.

Keyboard: It features a comfortable backlit keyboard.

Ports: There are two USB 3.0 ports, one USB 2.0 port, one USB Type-C port, an SD card reader, and a magnetic Surface Connect port.

Wireless Connectivity: 802.11abg Wi-Fi

Other Features: Four modes of use, webcam, and stylus support.

Our Opinion: 

The most appealing thing about this laptop is that it is a 2-in-1 machine that offers four modes of use. Its PixelSense display is outstanding. Also, its storage capacity and battery life are incredible. Sometimes, it stops recognizing its main graphics card.

ASUS Newest VivoBook Pro 15.6-inch Business/Gaming Laptop – Best under $2000

ASUS VivoBook Pro 15 OLED Slim Laptop, 15.6” FHD OLED Display, Intel Core i5-11300H CPU, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max Q, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Windows 11 Home, Quiet Blue, K3500PH-DB51
  • Aspect Ratio:16:9
  • 15.6” OLED FHD 400 nits display with ultra-slim 4-sided NanoEdge bezels
  • Latest Intel Core i5-11300H Processor (8M Cache, up to 4.4GHz) and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max Q graphics
  • Fast storage and memory featuring 512GB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD and 8GB DDR4 RAM, with Windows 11 Home
  • Pantone Validated, DCI-P3: 100% Glossy display with 84% screen-to-body ratio

Display: No one on the list can beat this ASUS VivoBook Pro in terms of screen resolution. Its 15.6-inch touchscreen is powered by a 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) display.

Graphics: NVidia GTX 1050 with 4GB dedicated graphics memory

Processor: It is equipped with a 7th generation Intel Quad Core i7-7700HQ processor with a base clock frequency of 2.8 GHz that can turbo boost up to 3.8 GHz.

RAM: 16GB DDR4 RAM ensures smooth performance.

Storage: It also features dual storage options like the MSI GE63. But its storage capacity is higher. If we talk about SSD, then it is 256GB M.2, and its HDD’s storage capacity is 2TB.

Battery Life: Up to 7 hours of battery life

Ports: It includes two USB 2.0 ports, one USB 3.1 Type-C port, one USB 3.0 port, an HDMI, RJ-45, and a headphone/microphone combo jack.

Keyboard: The laptop comes with a backlit chiclet keyboard

Wireless Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2

Other Features: Other features include a fingerprint reader, dual-fan cooling system, dual stereo speakers, and an HD webcam.

Our Opinion: 

The overall performance of the laptop is great. It is equipped with a fast processor, quite sufficient dual storage space, and an effective cooling system. It takes time to get fully charged. Also, sometimes, its Wi-Fi gets disconnected while charging.

ASUS ROG Strix Hero II Gaming Laptop – Shortest Battery Life

Asus ROG Strix Hero II Gaming Laptop, 15.6” 144Hz IPS Type Full HD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060, Intel Core i7-8750H, 16GB DDR4, 512GB PCIe Nvme SSD, RGB KB, Windows 10, GL504GV-DS74
  • Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 6GB GDDR6 (Base: 1110 MHz, Boost: 1335 MHz; TDP: 90W)
  • Intel Core i7-8750H Hexa-Core processor
  • 144Hz 3ms 15.6” 1920x1080 IPS Type Display
  • 16GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM | 512GB PCIe SSD | Windows 10 Home
  • Gigabit Wave 2 Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Quad antennas and ROG RangeBoost technology provides up to 30% wider coverage

Graphics: Another gaming laptop in our list that you can use for 3D modeling and rendering is the ASUS ROG Strix Hero II. It comes with an NVidia GeForce GTX 1060 GPU featuring 6GB GDDR5 RAM.

Processor: It is powered by the Intel Hexa Core i7-8750H processor with a clock speed boost of up to 3.9 GHz. It is faster than the Intel Quad Core i7-7700HQ processor.

Display: The laptop features a 15.6-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) display with an IPS panel and slim bezel.

RAM: 16GB DDR4 SDRAM is part of this system, like the ASUS VivoBook Pro.

Storage: 256GB SSD and 1TB HDD offer dual storage options.

Keyboard: Gaming-optimized keyboard layout

Ports: Three USB 3.1 ports, one USB 3.1 Type-C, an HDMI 2.0, Mini DisplayPort, an SD card reader, and an RJ-45.

Battery Life:  Your laptop can run for up to 5 hours

Wireless Connectivity: 802.11 Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n/ac compatible)

Other Features: HyperCool Pro thermal system, ROG gaming center, and VR-ready.

Our Opinion: 

Its speedy processor, graphics card, and storage are the main center of attraction. Fans run loud, and its backlit keyboard sometimes works and sometimes does not. Also, its trackpad is extremely sensitive.

Buyer’s Guide

Before purchasing a laptop for 3D modeling and rendering, you should focus on some of the important factors that will help you in buying the best system. So, what are those factors? Take a look.

Processor

The first thing that needs to look at is the processor. CPU or processor is the brain of a system. Most of the operations on a laptop or computer are handled by CPU alone. It manages the system’s memory, handles input from the users, sends output, and does all the necessary calculations.

When selecting a processor for 3D modeling and rendering, make sure that the clock speed is higher, and the number of cores is at least Quad-Core.

Before buying a laptop to work on 3D models, check these two things of the processor. One is the base clock and boost-up speeds, and the second is the number of cores.

Graphics

The second thing must be the GPU. It performs fast mathematical calculations mainly for rendering images.

Make sure you are going for the right graphics card according to the nature of the work you are going to do on 3D modeling and rendering software. The integrated graphics card will surely fail to give smooth performance. For the best results, you must have a dedicated graphics card with 3GB of RAM.

laptops for 3d modeling and rendering

RAM

RAM (Random Access Memory) is a short term memory that provides quick read and writes access to the storage device. In order to load data, the system uses RAM instead of the hard drive for quick operations.

If you work hard on 3D models, then you may need a lot of RAM. 8GB is the minimum requirement for basic 3D modeling works. For average 3D modeling and rendering, you must have at least 16GB of RAM. And for advanced work, 32GB or 64GB is ideal.

So the selection of the RAM depends on your usage.

Storage

If we compare SSD (Solid State Drive) with HDD (Hard Disk Drive), then SSD is quite faster than a traditional hard drive. Also, it has no moving parts. On the other hand, HDDs have mechanical parts, and they are larger than SSDs. That’s why those laptops that feature SSDs are lighter in weight.

So, it is best to have an SSD if you are looking for a laptop to do 3D modelling and rendering and want faster and smooth performance. An SSD will help you in opening your software and huge files much faster.

But if you prefer HDDs over SSDs, then it is recommended to find a laptop that features a dual-storage option. In this way, you can use one drive to save your software and programs and another drive to save the work files.

laptops for 3d modeling and rendering

Display

Another factor that needs your consideration is the display. But first, it is recommended to focus on the screen size. The best screen size you can get for 3D modeling is 17.3 inches, but most of the people prefer 15.6 inches, so you should go for it.

Now come to the screen resolution that must be at least Full HD (1920 x 1080). But there must be IPS and anti-glare panel for vibrant colors and wide and comfortable viewing angles. But if you can go for higher screen resolution, then the best you can get is UHD or 4K (3840 x 2160).

FAQs

Can you buy a gaming laptop for 3D modeling and rendering?

laptops for 3d modeling and rendering

Yes, you can go for a gaming laptop to work on 3D modeling and rendering software. The gaming laptops not only come with high-end graphics cards but also feature fast processors and have good RAM size and storage. But as gaming is not CPU intensive so you may get an underpowered CPU; therefore, it is better to select a laptop that is marketed as a workstation laptop.

What is the best laptop at less than $1000 for 3D modeling and rendering?

If we talk about a gaming laptop, then Acer Predator Helios 300 is the best one for 3D modeling and rendering. Other than a gaming laptop, the 2018 HP Pavilion gives a smooth and awesome performance.

What is more important for rendering? CPU or GPU

laptops for 3d modeling and rendering

You can’t say that CPU is more important for rendering or GPU is more important. The real thing is that both are important and must be the best ones.

The pre-render stage is more CPU intensive, and the GPU is associated with the actual output to the screen. Ultimately, in order to create and edit the drawings, you need the best CPU as well as the best GPU.

Bur other than CPU and GPU, RAM is also important for rendering but not as important as you need it in 3D modeling.

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