Finding the best laptop for graphic design can be challenging. That’s because you have to remain mobile while performing lots of complex tasks. As you can see, the demands are too high.
You know how it feels whenever your laptop refuses to obey your command instantly! Shuffling between high-resolution images and editing them effectively without delay is what everybody wants.
But, older laptops are not up to the mark in terms of performance. They do not produce impressive results. With software getting more innovative with every passing day, you need a machine to harness its power.
If you are planning to buy a new laptop, consider a few things. I am going to help you find out what you need to consider before buying one.
We will discuss the CPU, GPU, and RAM requirements along with other considerations such as mobility, weight, and size.
So, how to choose the best laptop for graphic design?
Continue reading the post to know what kind of laptops work effectively with popular graphic design software without annoying you. In short, let’s learn about the hardware specs that are responsible for delivering satisfactory performance.
However, if you have little time to spare, you can take a look at our recommendations for some of the best laptops for graphic design.
For others, let’s get started!
What is the CPU requirement in a laptop for graphic design?
CPU is responsible for any kind of task that you perform on your computer. Yes, the CPU processes every instruction it receives from the keystroke or click of the mouse.
So, how to find the right CPU for your graphic designing needs? It’s simple and you have to be an expert.
There are two things you have to watch out for. The first is the CPU clock speed, measured in GHz (Gigahertz).
And, the other one is the number of cores. A core works like a mini CPU within itself. It means a Quad-Core CPU is like 4 CPUs working together.
A CPU core can undertake one task at a time. Hence, if you want to run multiple tasks on a single-core CPU, it has to switch to and fro between the tasks.
As a result, the whole process becomes slow. Therefore, more cores mean more speed. This becomes important when the laptop is running heavy graphic design software.
While the graphic design software you are using runs as a single program, it can use multiple CPU cores. That way, the tasks to be performed are arranged in order.
Suppose, the software needs to execute Task 1, Task 2, and Task 3. If the CPU has a single core, Task 3 can’t be executed until Task 2 gets executed. Again, Task 2 can’t be executed if Task 1 isn’t executed.
However, faster core speeds are important as well. Feels complicated, right?
In that case, look for a CPU that has a clock speed of 3.5 GHz and 4 cores.
But if are looking for video editing tasks that involve rendering, an 8-core CPU with a clock speed of 3.5 GHz or higher might do the trick. A good laptop for graphic design should have a robust CPU.
Additionally, an 8-core CPU will serve the purpose of gamers. A powerful CPU will provide immersive graphics in terms of effects such as antialiasing and refined textures. As such, it will create realistic visuals.
Want to know more about what features to consider when buying a gaming laptop? Read our post on the gaming laptop buying guide to learn more about the right specs for a great gaming experience.
What is the GPU requirement in a laptop for graphic design?
A GPU is another kind of processing unit similar to that of a CPU. A GPU takes care of the tasks that require graphical computations.
Moreover, a GPU can ease a significant amount of resources from the CPU. While many people might associate a GPU with gaming, it is beneficial to a laptop for graphic design.
Most of the popular graphic designing software makes use of a graphic processing unit. The software package runs smoothly and can handle complex tasks with its help.
However, the good news is that you don’t need an ultra-powerful GPU for your graphic design projects. That’s because the GPU requirements are minimal.
A mid-level GPU with a minimum of 2 GB VRAM is enough to run programs like Adobe Creative Cloud.
However, digital artists will need a laptop with a discrete graphics card to create stunning designs. There is an extra advantage of having a dedicated GPU to perform editing tasks other than playing games.
We have a post on things to look for when buying a laptop for drawing. It will give you an idea of what specs you need.
What about the amount of RAM?
RAM is another important component that is responsible for a smooth graphic design performance. So, how much RAM do you need?
A minimum of 8 GB RAM is required for graphic designing. However, if you want to run other programs including the software you are working with, it might frustrate you sometimes.
As a result, 16 GB RAM would be the need of the hour. However, you need to understand one thing.
While a powerful CPU and GPU might increase the computing performance, having many gigabytes of RAM won’t improve the performance up to a certain level.
Does screen size matter?
By now, you should clearly understand certain things when it comes to buying a laptop for graphic design. However, there are a few more things that need attention equally.
Screen size is an important consideration. If the screen is bigger, it will be easy on your eyes. But, a large screen means you have to choose a bigger laptop.
And, a bigger laptop means the battery will take more stress. Also, the weight makes it unfit for traveling.
Let’s get into another consideration, which is color accuracy. It means the number of colors that your screen can display.
When it comes to buying a laptop for graphic design, you might need color accuracy while dealing with visually demanding work.
So, how can you find out the color accuracy? While this information is difficult to find, an easy way is to know about the panel type. There are three types of LCD panels.
TN panels
These panels are inexpensive and perfect for gaming. The TN panels have higher refresh rates and the lowest latency. But, the color accuracy is not the best compared to the other two.
IPS panels
These panels are expensive and provide the highest color accuracy. Also, they have the widest viewing angle. However, the only downside is the backlight bleeding. As such, the black shades are hand to differentiate. Nonetheless, the IPS panels are best suited for graphic designers.
VA panels
While the VA panels are inferior to IPS panels, they don’t struggle with backlight bleeding. So, if you work in greyscale primarily, the VA panels might be a good choice.
Also, a screen that supports 1080p resolution is fine. But if you are keen to work on 4K resolution, you can buy a 27-inch external monitor.
However, you may have heard about a display with 1080i resolution. So, what is the difference between 1080p and 1080i? Check out the post on 1080p vs. 1080i to have a clear understanding.
Is laptop portability an important thing to consider?
A big screen provides ample space to work with. Moreover, larger laptops feature an easy keyboard and sometimes a Numbers Pad.
But, larger laptops tend to be heavy. And, it means that you don’t want it to carry often. On top of that, you need a bigger workspace to fit the laptop.
Larger laptops are difficult to manage when you are traveling. Despite this fact, it has an advantage. A large laptop performs better.
But, how?
You know that laptops tend to get hot after some time. That’s because the heat takes a long time to dissipate. A large laptop, on the other hand, provides for faster dissipation of heat with the help of vents and fans.
So, how does it contribute to performance?
Whenever the CPU or GPU is running fast, it produces more heat. During these situations, the laptop runs the risk of failing.
Hence, to compensate for laptop failure, the system throttles down all the components whenever they start to warm up.
As a result, even high-performing laptops don’t function at their peak level. A laptop might house a Core i9 CPU, but it won’t run at full speed because it becomes too hot quickly.
In short, if you want sheer performance, a 17-inch laptop might do the trick. But if you are looking for portability, a 15-inch laptop is enough for the job.
If you are using shortcuts often, a laptop without Numbers-Pad or function keys can hamper your productivity.
HDD vs SSD: Which is better in a laptop for graphic design?
Both HDD and SSD are storage devices. An HDD is an old-fashioned hard drive that you will find on many PCs. While HDDs are less expensive compared to SSDs, they are slow.
Most HDDs found on PCs operate at 7200 RPM, whereas laptop drives have 5400 RPM speeds. Because SSDs have no moving parts inside, they work a lot faster.
But, are they important?
For graphic design, an SSD is less important. Because a complex still image doesn’t require much space. Moreover, the difference in reading and writing between an HDD and an SDD isn’t big either.
However, there are good reasons why you should consider an SSD over HDD. Don’t forget that your OS and graphic design software need to load and perform smoothly.
Furthermore, they are heavy on your storage as well. So, without an SDD, it takes much time to load the OS and the application.
But if you have a low budget, you may buy a laptop with a small SDD. It will be enough for the graphic design software and operating system.
A good alternative is to store all the graphic design-related projects on an external drive.
Wrapping up things:
When it comes to choosing the best laptop for graphic design, there are certain things to consider. The type of work you want to do, your budget, and the important specs on the laptop that you cannot ignore.
If you work on complex tasks like 3D designing, you may need a high-end laptop. That way, the device would meet your requirements. But if you are more into 2D tasks, a mid-range laptop is perfect.
Hopefully, this post helps you to find the perfect
laptop to handle your graphic design tasks. Decide on what you need and choose
the right laptop.