Best laptop for Revit

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What are the best laptops for Revit? You will need a laptop that comes with more than average specs to run complex 3D modeling software, like Revit. It will also help to perform any graphics or CPU intensive tasks on it.

A computer with low or average specs is highly likely to come up with several compatibility errors. And, even if it manages to run the software, it will be pretty sluggish in performance.

Therefore, you will need to upgrade your existing machine, or buy a new laptop, to run Revit on it.

If you are looking for a new laptop then you will need to know about the specific specs to look for. For that, you will need to spend some time on research.

Your system will need some serious computing power, an adequate amount of RAM, and fast SSD storage.

A powerful graphics card is also needed to ensure that you can do your job most comprehensively.

To make it easier for you, here is a list of some of the most popular and recommended laptops for running Revit.

These machines are typically used by the architects, all types of engineers, contractors, and designers as well.

Laptops for Revit Price [Top Picks]

Why Do You Need a Good Laptop to Run Revit?

The primary reason to invest in a good laptop to run Revit is that you will need to fulfill all its requirements.

It will leave nothing to chance or compromise on the optimal experience of using this high-end software program.

Whether you go for a budget laptop or one of those expensive high-quality ones, you will enjoy the benefits of both durability and portability as well.

This means that you will be able to stay productive all day, even on the go.

A laptop today also comes with a high-resolution display, not that a desktop does not, which is necessary for running Revit and even AutoCAD.

Apart from the reasonable price without sacrificing the performance, these laptops come with a unique design that will conform to your lifestyle.

The sturdy parts inside it are quite reliable, and sometimes more reliable than a desktop.

All these features of a laptop make it most sensible and a worthy investment for running Revit, AutoCAD, and other architectural programs.

Minimum & Recommended System Requirements for Revit

The minimum entry level specs to run Revit on a laptop include a multi-core Intel I-series or Xeon processor. An AMD equivalent may also do but all should but make sure it comes with SSE2 technology and a decent base clock speed.

A dedicated graphics card of AMD or Nvidia with about 4 GB of video memory is also required. Along with that, at least 8 GB of RAM, 30 GB of free hard drive space, and a screen of 13 inches will be needed.

However, the system requirements for larger files will be different for running Revit on a Laptop. Therefore, if you work on larger numbers and more complex files, you will need to look for the recommended system requirements as mentioned below. Going for a laptop with the minimum specs will not provide the desired value and performance in that case.

Minimum system requirements: 9th generation Intel Core i5 or higher Intel i7 processor| 8 GB of RAM | 256 GB SSD storage | Dedicated Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 or higher graphics card | 15.6 inches screen | 1920 x 1080 pixels screen resolution

Recommended system requirements: 10th generation Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 4800H processor| 16 GB of RAM or higher | 512 GB SSD storage or higher | Dedicated Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 or Nvidia Quadro T2000 graphics card | 15.6 inches screen or bigger | 1920 x 1080 pixels or higher screen resolution

5 Best Laptops for Revit 2021:

1. Lenovo ThinkPad P53 Best Overall

Key Features

• Screen: 15.6 inches
• Storage:512 GB PCIe NVMe SSD
• RAM: 16 GB
• Processor: 9th generation Intel i7 9750H
• OS: Windows 10 Pro
• GPU: Nvidia Quadro T2000

Pros

• The system comes with a good 4K display.
• The keyboard has backlights and a separate number keypad.
• The battery life is long.

Cons

• There is no optical drive.
• The system is heavy.
• The trackpad is located off-center.

If you are looking for a workstation to work on Revit then this is the device that you should go for.

The six cores of the 9th generation Intel i7 processor with 12 MB cache working at a speed of up to 4.5 GHz, the 512 GB fast PCIe NVMe SSD, the 16 GB RAM with 2666 MHz bandwidth, and the Nvidia Quadro dedicated graphics with 4 GB GDDR5 VRAM will all make your job very easy.

The screen of this laptop is equally good. It supports UHD resolution to make the images look exceptionally stunning at 500-nits brightness. The anti-glare property of this panel will protect your eyes from the glares.

This laptop also comes with good quality stereo speakers, 4G WAN mobile Broadband connectivity, an integrated HD webcam with Think Shutter and IR sensor, a fingerprint reader and distinct TPM 2.0 chip for additional security.

As for the connectivity, the laptop supports Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC, Bluetooth 5.0 and also comes with an RJ 45 port for LAN connectivity.

As for the other ports it include two USB 3.1 Gen1, two USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C/ Thunderbolt 3, one USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C, a 4-in-1 media card Reader that supports SD, MMC, SDHC, and SDXC, as well as one HDMI port along with an audio combo jack.

You will also get to use a good and spill-resistant keyboard with backlights and a separate number keypad.

The Windows 10 Pro operating system with its 64-bit architecture, the long battery life, and the military grade durability of the system will also enhance your user experience. Check out Lenovo ThinkPad P53 Review.

2. Acer Predator Helios 300 Runner Up

Key Features

• Screen: 15.6 inches
• Storage:512 GB NVMe SSD
• RAM: 16 GB DDR4
• Processor: 10th generation Intel i7 10750H
• OS: Windows 10 Home
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060

Pros

• The keyboard has backlights and a separate number keypad.
• The screen is good.
• The cooling system is good.

Cons

• The trackpad is off-center.
• There is no optical drive.
• The battery life is average.

This system is powered with a 10th generation i7 processor that has six powerful cores operating at a speed of up to 5.0 GHz.

The Nvidia RTX graphics card is overclockable and comes with 6 GB of dedicated GDDR6 VRAM and other proprietary technologies such as DLSS, Dynamic Boost 2.0, and GPU Boost. All these will support running Revit on this laptop.

The screen is quite good, large and wide. The IPS display supports full HD resolution, a high refresh rate of 144 Hz, 3ms overdrive response time and 300-nit brightness to make the images look clear and stunning.

Adequate multitasking ability is provided by the 16 GB DDR4 Ram with its 2933 MHz bandwidth. And, the 512 GB NVMe SSD allows faster boot up and provides a lot of storage. It is also easily upgradable.

The laptop also supports Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX and Killer Ethernet Gigabit LAN connectivity for faster file transfer while using it for Revit.

The 4-zone RGB backlit keyboard along with a separate number keypad will offer better typing experience in the dark.

The DTS X: Ultra Audio system, the Windows 10 Home operating system as well as the better cooling system with an innovative all-metal 4th generation AeroBlade 3D fan will enhance your user experience. Check out Acer Predator Helios 300 Review.

3. HP OMEN 15-EN0013DX Good Screen and Sound

Key Features

• Screen: 15.6 inches
• Storage:512 GB SSD
• RAM: 8 GB DDR4 SDRAM
• Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
• OS: Windows 10 Home
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti

Pros

• The keyboard comes with backlights.
• The sound output is good.
• The trackpad is large and good.

Cons

• There is no optical drive.
• The keyboard design is a bit unusual.
• There is no separate number keypad.

The computational and graphics performance of this laptop is well taken care of by the AMD Ryzen 7 processor that operates within a speed range of 2.9 GHz at the base and up to 4.3 GHz at the boost clock.

The 8 cores of it and its 4 MB L2 cache provide adequate support to run Revit as well as to the GeForce GTX graphics card with 6 GB of dedicated memory.

The screen is large enough and good to display clear and distinct images. It supports full HD resolution, 144 Hz refresh rate, 72% NTSC, and 300-nit brightness.

In addition to that, this IPS panel also comes with micro edges, anti-glare property, and WLED backlight.

You can store all your files in the 512 GB SSD and also do enough multitasking, courtesy the 8 GB DDR4 RAM with a high 3200 MHz bandwidth.

The dual array digital mics that support DTS: X technology for perfect 3D sound effect, the HP Wide Vision HD camera, and the Windows 10 Home will enhance your working and gaming experience.

There are lots of ports and connectivity options provided by this system.

It includes one Super Speed USB Type-C port, three Super Speed USB Type-A ports, one HDMI 2.0a port, one RJ-45 port, and one headphone/microphone combo jack.

It also supports Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX, Bluetooth 5.0, and Gigabit Ethernet LAN.

4. Acer Nitro 5 Convenient to Operate

Key Features

• Screen: 15.6 inches
• Storage:256 GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
• RAM: 8 GB DDR4 SDRAM
• Processor: 9th generation Intel Core i5 9300H
• OS: Windows 10 Home
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650

Pros

• The backlit keyboard comes with a separate numeric keypad.
• The upgradable SSD is quite fast.
• The built-in Alexa helps in hassle free navigation.

Cons

• The trackpad is shifted to the left.
• The system is a bit heavy.
• There is no optical drive.

You will get everything in this laptop for Revit right from its looks to performance, and from the specs to its durability.

The 9th generation processor belongs to the Intel Core i5 family. It can operate at a high speed of 4.1 GHz to process any given data string fast.

It is adequately supported by the 8 GB DDR4 RAM that comes with a high 2666 MHz bandwidth.

The 256 GB storage is quite enough to store all your project files. It allows faster access and boot up due to its PCIe NVMe SSD feature.

The good thing is that there are two PCIe M.2 slots. One of them is always available for easy upgrade and one can be used as a hard drive bay.

The large enough screen comes with a widescreen IPS feature to offer wider viewing angle.

The images are displayed at full HD resolution on this LED-backlit display which saves energy in the process.

The images appear to be seamless due to the powerful Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card. It comes with 4 GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM.

The backlit keyboard looks stunning and ensures that you type fast and accurately even in darker settings. The discrete numeric keypad allows faster data entry as well.

The system will stay cool even under heavy use for a long period, thanks to the Acer Cool Boost technology. This efficient cooling system comes with two fans and has two separate exhaust ports.

The ports included in the left side of the system are two USB 3.0 ports, one USB 3.1 Type C port, one HDMI port, one RJ 45 port, and one Kensington lock slot.

On the right there is one USB 2.0 port, one audio jack port, and the DC-in slot. The model also supports Intel Wireless Wi-Fi 6 AX 200.

You will also get a better audio experience with the combination of Waves MaxxAudio and Acer True Harmony technology.

And, apart from the useful features of the Windows 10 Home operating system, you can also take assistance from the built-in Alexa to get your things done more easily. Check out Acer Nitro 5 Review.

5. Lenovo Ideapad L340 Value for Money

Key Features

• Screen: 15.6 inches
• Storage:512 GB NVMe SSD
• RAM: 8 GB DDR4
• Processor: 9th generation Intel Core i5 9300H
• OS: Windows 10
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650

Pros

• The keyboard has a separate number keypad and backlights.
• The system comes with dual control mode.
• The sound output is good.

Cons

• The trackpad is off-center.
• Location of USB ports may cause inconvenience.
• There is no optical drive.

This system is equipped with a powerful Intel i5 processor of the 9th generation which will support running complex programs like Revit most easily.

The 8 GB RAM may be low but is enough to do some multitasking as well.

Also, you can store all your files safely within the device in the large enough SSD storage.

Your visual pleasure and experience will be taken to the next level by the Nvidia GTX graphics card with 4 GB dedicated memory making it pretty fast and smooth in its operation.

The screen is quite large to see all the images clearly since it supports full HD resolution.

The Lenovo Vantage Eye Care mode will reduce the chances of eye fatigue even if you look at the screen for a long time.

Your visual pleasure will be enhanced further by the good audio system of this laptop that comes with sophisticated technologies such as Dopoundsy Audio Technology.

The system can be controlled in two specific modes. In the Quick mode you can play games and in the Quiet mode you can do your work.

You can switch between the two modes instantly with the press of a button. Check out Lenovo IdeaPad L340 Review.

Things to Look for Before Buying Best Laptops for Revit

The most significant thing to remember when you shop for one of the best laptops for running Revit are the specific specs that you need and the size of your models, measured in MBs.

This is applicable for all types of Revit packages namely, Revit Architecture, Revit Structure, and Revit MEP.

Models

Before you start shopping, you must know about your models. Also, know the complexities involved in it. This should be done in different perspectives.

If you are a student, your requirements will be low because the complexities involved in your models will be minimal.

You will be mainly dealing with much simpler architectural models. The software for that matter will run smoothly even on a simple and budget laptop.

On the other hand, if you are a professional and work on very large collaborative projects for a company, your demands will be more.

You will need to deal with many complex architectural models. If the specs are not right, it may not be able to handle its requirements. It may get bogged down to a single frame per second.

CPU

The processor of the laptop you want to use for running Revit is the most important component to look for. It is even more important than the RAM and graphics card.

Since Revit initially started as a single-threaded application, you may tend to think that a CPU with 4 or 2 cores will do.

However, this will not really improve its performance. This is because this software program is mainly frequency bound.

This means that you will need a processor with high speed, measured in GHz.

The software will also need to use multiple cores to calculate the walls and pipe intersections of the visuals. It will also help in loading all the necessary elements in views.

Therefore, to help in your modeling, rendering, and drafting you will need to choose a processor with the highest frequency and multiple cores.

Ideally, for professionals, an Intel Core i7 processor with 4.2 GHz speed is good enough, and for students, an i5 with more than 3 GHz speed will be okay.

For rendering especially, you will need a high-end processor. As a student you will need an 8th generation Intel Core i5 or 7th generation Core i7 HQ quad core processor.

Professional rendering will certainly need an Intel Core i7 quad core or an Intel Xeon processor for faster rendering.

Graphics Card

This is tricky because a wrong graphics card will affect the hardware acceleration as well as your workflow and productivity.

The good news is that Revit is not that much taxing on the GPU as any average 3D game will be.

However, you will still need a good graphics card because it will help you immensely for viewports.

It will enhance the 3D View of your job which includes panning, zooming, rotating, orbiting, and others.

The difficulty level will be higher with more complex models. A wrong graphics card will result in lagging, flickering, and other issues.

However, you will not need a workstation graphics card. You can easily settle for a cheap consumer graphics card if you are a student.

On the other hand, if you are a pro, you will need one of those high-end gaming cards to deal with your large project files.

Integrated Intel HD graphics cards are cheap and good for small project files measuring up to 50 MB.

However, it is better to pair it with an Intel Core i5 processor and 8 GB RAM with hardware acceleration disabled.

Dedicated graphics cards will be necessary for larger file sizes in excess of 100 MB and up to 700 MB.

You may even go for a gaming card but make sure that is compatible with Revit. Stick with 9th and 10th generation cards with higher VRAM for better results.

Workstation cards are not necessary for the students but even a pro should consider its price and advantages before going for it.

RAM

Revit is RAM hungry software. You will therefore need more of it in your laptop if you add more links and details to your models, such as any object or items.

Otherwise, it will slow down the model notably while rotating a 3D view of it and even while opening the file simply.

If you are a student, go for an 8 GB RAM and if you are a pro, stick to a 16 GB RAM, if your budget permits.

This will help you to work with even more than five links on your model.

Storage

You will be much better off if you spend your money on an SSD as this will help a lot in terms of performance.

It will also help in dealing with your ever-expanding library when you stock the materials created.

This includes different diagrams such as the surfaces, lightings, textures, and others.

All of these are huge data files that will consume a lot of storage space. These will also need to be loaded up fast when you open a model and start the program.

This means that you will need a pretty fast read and write speed. An SSD will ensure this because it can read at a speed which is 17 times faster in comparison to any traditional HDD.

As for the size of the SSD, it should be 256 GB for students and 512 GB for professionals.

However, professionals can also go for combo storage of 256 GB plus 1 TB HDD, if budget permits.

Display

Choosing the display for your laptop to run Revit is not that difficult. As long as it is not defective it will do just fine.

Therefore, you can forget about contrast and aspect ratios, brightness level measured in nits, and all other technicalities.

However, there are a few things that you should surely look into.

The type of the display, matte or glossy, is important. It is good to go for a matte display, whether it is IPS or TN screen.

This will protect your eyes, reducing the reflections on the screen when you work outdoors or in a bright area.

Choosing an IPS display will be a bonus as that will offer wider viewing angles and the images will look a lot nicer.

As for the resolution of the display, you should ideally go for a full HD or 1080p screen.

This is because Revit will not work out well with a 768p, 900p resolution.

Even high resolution displays such as 2K and 4K will make some icons look very small on the bottom bar.

Also, the quick access toolbar may not show up, and these screens are pretty expensive.

You will have to scale it down for better results, but then that is surely a waste of money.

Portability versus Performance

Finally, you will need to decide between portability and performance.

If you are a pro and deal with large project files, then a portable laptop should be certainly avoided to use Revit. Instead go for a high-end gaming laptop, which is heavier.

If you are a student, on the other hand, you can go for a low-end laptop and still get the desired level of performance, provided you get the other specs and features right.

However, you will need to look for performance always because working on larger projects in Revit involves less brute force and more file management.

You can easily raise the performance level by using different work sets, clean libraries, and linked files.

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