9+ Best Laptops for SketchUp 2021 | Ultimate Guide & Reviews

Are you an architect or an interior designer looking for the best laptop for SketchUp? Which laptop is better for using SketchUp? Choose the best computer equipment to install and use with SketchUp.

Certainly some professions such as architecture, interior design, urban planners, landscapers, industrial designers, etc. They require laptops with very specific characteristics and to be able to carry their computer equipment with them.

So we are going to see a wide selection of laptops that combines mobility with power in equal parts.

In the following article I recommend which laptop to buy in 2021 for the use of SketchUp and VRay, most of them with great exclusive discounts and prices from $ 300 to $ 4,000.

It is important to do a preliminary search to help you choose one team or another according to the use that you are going to give it. If you use apps and applications like AutoCAD, SketchUp, VRay, Photoshop, Illustrator, Maya 3D, Revit, 3D Studio Max, Rhino, Blender, etc. it is important that you know which is the best buy.

Best Laptops for SketchUp

When it comes to laptop selection, SketchUp requires high-end computing resources, including a powerful processor with exceptional single-core performance, reliable GPU (preferably with Ray-Tracing support), considerable RAM to maintain and handle better workflows. , and decent storage support for managing projects, 3D designs, migrations, warehouses, and renders with ease. Apart from that, an excellent screen with a slimmer bezel is perfectly suited to the most expressive and conceptual 3D modelers.

Minimum and recommended laptop requirements For SketchUp

The system requirements entered by our expert take into account the basic and optimal features. However, in most cases, the minimum set of specs caters to students or basic 3D modelers, while the recommended specs take modeling, visualization, rendering, simulations, and official system requirements into account.

Best Laptops for SketchUp | Comparison Table 2021

Prices and images pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Best Laptops for SketchUp | 2021 Reviews

Things to Consider While Choosing Laptop For SketchUp | Ultimate Guide 2021

SketchUp with SketchUp Pro is done through a set of processes that must be able to be supported by our pc or mac. We are going to see what options the market offers us since there are no computers created specifically for architects, but we will be able to know, based on their technical specifications, if they will be useful or not to carry out our daily work.

Below we explain the different parts (components) that directly affect the performance of our computers. Understanding these components will make it easier to see which are the specifications that we must prioritize when choosing our equipment.

Processor:

Even though graphics acceleration is important, the CPU (processor) is still the center of everything. Current processors perform very well but for 3d designs, 6th generation Intel Core i7 processors are the ideal proposition, both for desktop and laptop. We recommend a processor, to be able to be from the INTEL house of its i7 range.

The power of this element is essential since it is the brain of the computer. We recommend Intel because from our experience they are more durable and you get better performance. And more specifically, the Intel® Core ™ i7-7700HQ Processor, which thanks above all to its 4 cores, is capable of working as if they were 8 in design and calculation programs, provides a very high working speed.

Why Intel? Because after many years of working with multiple computers, I have found that Intel products are more durable, have fewer problems, and generally perform better.

RAM:

Another fundamental component. We can install a respectable amount without breaking our budget. For SketchUp and design applications, a recommended amount is 16 GB, without going below 8 GB in any case, and preferably installing more if possible up to 32 GB. It will be of the DDR4 type if it is accompanied by sixth-generation Core i7 processors. RAM memory, which allows the computer to handle a greater number of tasks simultaneously. Thanks to DDR4 RAM, we make sure to be at the forefront of technology, being these the latest modules manufactured. And with machines capable of hosting up to 64 GB of this type.

To clarify ourselves, this is the memory that allows us to do several things at the same time without the computer suffering a lot, that is why it is vital and we will look for the more RAM the better, but as long as it is economically viable, that is, that the RAM does not cost us more than the equipment.

Screen:

it is important that it has a good resolution. First, because it will offer us a larger desk area, useful to have the tools and work window without getting in the way. Secondly, because we can see in more detail how it is being without having to use the zoom (both to zoom in and out).

In laptops, it is convenient that the screen size is sufficient to comfortably access all the menus, options, and windows.

It is also possible to use external screens to have multi-screen configurations, or to improve the one that comes by default with the laptop or All In One in aspects such as the precision of the colors or the range of tones that it can display, including the possibility of making a custom calibration.

Important for laptops that are going to be used for many hours, that has a matte screen, that is, that does not have reflections, this not only alters the quality of the images that are seen in daylight but also does not allow the eye to focus well on the screen with consequent fatigue.

Keyboard:

A keyboard-type chiclet (or chocolate), is the most comfortable because they simulate the separation of the keys of traditional desktop keyboards.

Graphics processor (graphics card):

The graphics card is in charge of drawing everything you design on the screen, therefore, the higher the powers and features, the higher the quality of the presentation, and the speed of rotation of the element modeled in 3D with SketchUp Pro.

Having a dedicated graphics card, from AMD or NVIDIA, will allow you to speed up some graphic operations in applications such as SketchUp, VRay, Photoshop, etc. Not all functions are accelerated by the GPU, but the trend is to improve the integration between the GPU, CPU, and applications for optimal performance.

The graphics card in a computer for an architecture professional is something important, but not vital, let me explain, we are not going to play ultramodern games in which very powerful graphics cards are necessary, we are going to limit ourselves to modeling in 3D buildings, to make use of BIM and in specific cases to render 3D images, for all those cases, the computer uses the processor more than the graphics card, it is usually a mistake to think that to model and render we need graphics: It is rendered with the processor, not with the graphics card.

Autonomy:

Let’s be honest, we are only going to need autonomy when we go to the copy shop to print some plans and we have forgotten to put one of them in the pen, we take out the laptop in the store, show off the wallpaper and turn off the computer, to the rest of the uses will generally be connected to the current, so it will not be necessary to focus on autonomy.

In addition to that, it is important to emphasize that never (or only rarely and under very controlled environments) the autonomy expectations stated by the manufacturers are met.

Video outputs:

This is important since with two screens the performance is notably higher, especially in professions like ours, in which while we are consulting the regulations on one screen, we are drawing on the other, now time and effort and it translates into higher productivity.

This is why it is important that the computer has a video output, but almost all computers do, so this should not be a problem.

Operating system (Mac or PC):

This is one of the most important questions that 3D design professionals ask and can be answered more from the experience itself, it is true that with Mac you will have a greater visual experience since its hardware offers great graphic quality for creative work, however, It must also be said that the vast majority of 3D design programs have proven to be more compatible with PCs with Windows operating systems, so each one has its pros and cons.

In terms of specific technical software for architecture in Spain,  there is only one Windows option. Although SketchUp, VRay, and PhotoShop have versions for macOS, most of the specific programs for the field of architecture (Revit, 3dMax, Cype, Presto, Arquimedes) are not supported by Apple equipment.

Can’t I have a Mac then? Yes, but you will have to install parallels and install a virtual Windows image to run certain technical software or partition with Bootcamp (it is the option that I use).

And Linux? If you are able to handle Linux, you may be more interested in this website with alternative programs to Windows than reading this article. In any case, you would have to use a Windows partition or virtual machine to be able to work with certain proprietary software.

Once we have assimilated that we are going to stay with Windows, the question is, what version? We always recommend the last one that we have good references from, now  Windows 10.

Our recommendation is that if you want to optimize your money, not have software compatibility problems and that the repairs are cheaper, choose a computer with Windows 10.

USB ports and Connections:

Minimum 3 USB connections, one for the external mouse (mandatory for SketchUp Pro) and another two to connect a Pendrive and charge the mobile at the same time. Less than three can be problematic, or so experience dictates.

Should you have a card reader? I think that with an  SD card slot that is the standard for cameras (Canon EOS type) is more than enough.

HDD:

It is highly recommended that the system hard drive is of the SSD type. Solid-state drives are great at streamlining operating system operations, such as opening and closing applications, while allowing applications to streamline data usage. They are usually accompanied in desktop computers, with conventional HDD units with 1 TB or 2 TB capacity. In the case of having a laptop, there are external SSD drives, recommended in order to have a fast and reliable storage space that complements the system disk.

The project delivery time will largely depend on the speed of the disk, because every time you execute any action that is not purely computational, it is the disk that comes into play. With the new solid-state drives, the access time is minimal, and the speed is very high.

SSDs differ from HDDs in that they do not have moving parts, and are better in everything, read and write speed, consumption, failure rate, noise level, heat emission, etc … They can be a little more expensive than traditional ones, but the difference is noticeable, and quite, for what it is worth. If it becomes too expensive for us, we can buy a system with an SSD of about 120 GB for the operating system and a 1TB HDD to use as storage.

Accessories:

In addition to the computer itself, it can also be useful to get a graphics tablet, a mouse that is comfortable, as well as a keyboard with a touch and precision that allows you to work long hours without causing hand or wrist fatigue.

Conclusion: