Are you interested in 3D modeling but aren’t sure which laptop to use?
If so, you’ve come to the right place.
Here, we’re going to cover the 9 best laptops for 3D modeling. First, we’ll take a look at the best overall performers and then some great budget-friendly options.
Ready to dive in? Let’s go!
You’ll learn:
The most budget-friendly laptops
Top 6 best-performing laptops for 3D modeling
Here are the best-performing laptops for 3D modeling.
They range in terms of price and specifications, but all of them have the necessary capabilities to fulfill 3D modeling tasks.
1. Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023
The 16-inch Apple MacBook Pro is an excellent choice for 3D modeling.
This computer benefits from Apple’s recently introduced M3 Pro chip, which provides faster performance than previous models with the same energy consumption.
The chip features a 12-core CPU and an 18-core GPU, making this laptop ideal for complex tasks like 3D modeling.
Specifications
| Screen Size | 16.2 inches |
| Hard Disk Size | 512 GB |
| Ram | 18 GB |
| Operating System | Mac OS |
| GPU | 18-core |
Pros
- Bright display
- Excellent battery life
- Large trackpad
Cons
- Autodesk 3ds Max is not supported on Mac
- No USB ports
Price: $2,299.00
2. Razer Blade 16-inch gaming laptop
This laptop is fast, capable, and considered one of the best Windows laptops you can buy.
Each body is expertly crafted from a single piece of aircraft-grade aluminum, which gives this computer a solid, high-quality feel.
But because of its large size and the use of metal where cheaper computers typically use plastic, this laptop comes in at 5.4 pounds. That’s something to consider if you travel often or like to carry your computer around in a backpack.
Other than the weight, there are very few negative aspects of this computer. If it fits within your budget, it’s one of the best laptops for 3D modeling. And if not, don’t worry — we’ll get into some excellent, affordable options later on..
Specifications
| Screen Size | 16 inches |
| Hard Disk Size | 2 TB |
| Ram | 32 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 |
| GHz | 5.8 |
Pros
- Excellent touchpad
- Good battery life
- Wide range of ports, including USB and USB-C
- OLED screen
Cons
- Expensive
- Heavy
Price: $4,199.99
3. MSI Creator Z17 HX Studio
MSI has an entire line of Creator laptops aimed at those who need to work on fast, high-quality machines.
In particular, the Z17 HX Studio is a great choice for 3D modelers. It has a touchscreen, plenty of RAM, and an top-of-the-line Nvidia processor.
But as is the case with many other laptops of this size and power, the battery life is relatively limited. If you’re browsing the web, expect about 4.5 hours until you need to find a power outlet.
Specifications
| Screen Size | 17 inches |
| Hard Disk Size | 1 TB |
| Ram | 32 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Pro |
| GPU | Nvidia RTX 4070 |
| GHz | 2.2 |
Pros
- Good keyboard
- Touchscreen
- USB and USB-C ports
Cons
- Short battery life
- Small touchpad
Price: $3,429.99
4. Legion Pro 5 Gen 8
This laptop has many of the features of much more expensive models, but it keeps the price down with a plastic base and heavy build (5.5 pounds).
So if you’re okay with a cheaper-looking laptop, you’ll enjoy some great internal components with this model.
Specifications
| Screen Size | 16 inches |
| Hard Disk Size | 1 TB |
| Ram | 32 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 |
| GHz | 3.6 |
Pros
- Impressive features for the price
- Excellent keyboard
- USB and USB-C ports
Cons
- Thick and heavy
- The screen isn’t very bright
Price: $1,600.00
5. Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 8
This laptop from Lenovo is an excellent mid-range choice. It has a high-resolution display with an impressive 500 nits of brightness.
This laptop also offers USB ports on each side of the computer, so if you’re left-handed, you can plug in your mouse on the left.
One downside to this laptop is the built-in speakers. It only has two speakers, and the sound quality is poor. Of course, if you usually use headphones, then this won’t be an issue for you.
Overall, this computer is an excellent choice for 3D modelers looking for a laptop that’s under $2,500.
Specifications
| Screen Size | 15.6 inches |
| Hard Disk Size | 1 TB |
| Ram | 16 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 |
| GHz | 3.9 |
Pros
- Large, bright display
- Excellent overall performance
- 4 USB ports and 2 USB-C ports
Cons
- Poor battery life
- Low-quality built-in speakers
Price: $2,470.00
6. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
Even though this laptop costs less than $1,300, it has a high-quality aluminum body and a superb display.
The OLED screen offers high pixel density for a crisp experience, with a resolution of 2880 x 1800. Plus, it has six built-in speakers that deliver great sound.
One downside is the soldered memory, which makes it very difficult to add RAM later on. Many other premium laptops have memory slots that make it much easier to change the RAM as needed.
With this model, you’re stuck with 16GB. That said, if you don’t plan on doing particularly complex 3D modeling, this is still an excellent laptop for the price.
Specifications
| Screen Size | 14 inches |
| Hard Disk Size | 1 TB |
| Ram | 16 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| GPU | GeForce RTX 2060 |
| GHz | 4 |
Pros
- OLED screen
- Lots of ports, including a micro-SD card slot
- Great audio from the built-in speakers
Cons
- Soldered memory
Price: $1,269.00
Next, let’s look at some of the best budget-friendly computers for 3D modeling.
3 budget-friendly laptops for 3D modeling
Generally, the more expensive computers offer better performance for 3D modeling, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get started with a relatively inexpensive laptop.
Here are 3 great budget-friendly options to consider if you’re a beginner — or on a tight budget.
1. ASUS TUF Gaming F17
Even though this is one of the cheapest laptops in this article — at under $1,000 — it has some standout features.
One of them is its screen, which is the largest of the computers on this list.
And despite offering only 16GB of RAM, this laptop has a great NVIDIA processor and a battery that lasts up to 6 hours during web browsing.
Specifications
| Screen Size | 17.3 inches |
| Ram | 16 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 |
| GHz | 4.5 |
Pros
- Affordable
- Good features for the price
- Large screen
- Fast charging
Cons
- Mostly plastic construction
- Large size not ideal for travel
- Only 16GB of RAM
Price: $921.88
2. HP Victus 16
The HP Victus 16 is a great laptop to consider if you’re looking for something more affordable.
It has a comfortable keyboard, responsive trackpad, and 32GB of RAM, which is enough for complex 3D modeling work. The main downside is the display, which doesn’t have the highest resolution.
Specifications
| Screen Size | 16.1 inches |
| Hard Disk Size | 2 TB |
| Ram | 32 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 |
| GHz | 5 |
Pros
- Long battery life
- Lightweight for its size
- Lots of RAM
Cons
- Low refresh rate display
- Plastic construction
Price: $1,599.00
3. Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is a good option if you’re looking for performance at a low cost.
This computer comes with 8GB of RAM, which isn’t an ideal amount for 3D modeling.
That said, the RAM can be upgraded later on, and 8GB is enough for some of the more basic modeling programs, like SketchUp.
Meanwhile, the 3.3 GHz processor is capable and fast, and the battery life is good, so this laptop could work well for someone who travels often.
Specifications
| Screen Size | 15.6 inches |
| Hard Disk Size | 256 GB |
| Ram | 8 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| GPU | GeForce RTX 30 |
| GHz | 3.3 |
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Good battery life
- Backlit keyboard
- RAM can be upgraded
Cons
- The display doesn’t get very bright
- Flimsy keyboard
- Only comes with 8GB of RAM
Price: $678.00
Next, we’ll explore the features you should consider while shopping for your 3D modeling laptop.
How do you choose the best laptop for 3D modeling and rendering?
There are a few key aspects to think about when you’re looking at laptops to use for 3D modeling and rendering.
Those include processing power, RAM, display, and graphics cards.
In this section, we’ll discuss each aspect and give you the necessary information to make a solid purchase.
Processing power
Processing power in a computer is generally measured in gigahertz (GHz).
The more GHz your computer has, the faster it can process data. But how many GHz you actually need depends on the kind of 3D modeling you want to do.
Many of the most popular laptops among 3D modelers have 2.5 GHz or more, with some going all the way up to 5.5 GHz and beyond.
RAM
RAM stores information on your computer so that it can be retrieved quickly. Whenever you have several programs or files open at the same time, you’re probably using a lot of RAM.
Ideally, the computer you use for 3D modeling should have at least 16GB of RAM.
And if you expect to be working on very complex projects or high-poly meshes, it’s a good idea to go with 32GB. That way, you’ll have a fast, responsive experience.
Display
High-resolution displays are especially important for 3D modelers because they show details, shadows, highlights, and colors more accurately.
I recommend looking for a resolution of at least 1920 x 1080 (full HD).
Graphics cards
Graphics cards are essential for creative tasks that require high-quality visuals and interactivity.
Choosing a computer with great graphics cards will improve the speed and efficiency of your 3D modeling.
Some of the best graphics cards available include the NVidia RTX line, which is found in Lenovo laptops like the Legion Pro 5 Gen 8.
Next, we’re going to answer some common questions you might have about laptops for 3D modeling.
FAQ
1. Is 16GB RAM enough for 3D modeling?
Many laptops come with 16GB of RAM built in. But is that enough for 3D modeling?
The answer is yes, it’s suitable for 3D modeling software that isn’t especially resource-intensive, like Blender or SketchUp.
But if you want to make more complex, high-poly models, then more RAM will make the process faster and smoother.
2. Are gaming laptops good for 3D modeling?
With so many gaming laptops on the market these days, you might be wondering whether they’re also good for 3D modeling.
Gaming laptops often have features that are very useful for 3D modeling. But there are also some disadvantages.
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of using a gaming laptop for modeling:
Pros
- Lots of RAM
- Good displays
- Comfortable keyboards
- Lots of ports
Cons
- Unnecessary features, like RGB lighting, that can increase the price
- Short battery life
- Chunky design
Overall, most gaming laptops have the features that 3D modelers seek in their computers. And since gaming is so popular, there are plenty of laptops to choose from.
Next steps
There you go! Now you’re familiar with the best laptops for 3D modeling. You’ve seen the pros and cons — and the wide range of options in terms of power and price.
Next, all you need to do is choose the best one for you and start 3D modeling.
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