What type of laptop do you need for 3D printing?
It doesn’t have to be super powerful to run the slicer, which doesn’t require a lot of power. Most printers use a MicroSD or portable disk to print off.
Cloud-based CAD software is available so it doesn’t completely run off your laptop. Fusion 360 is a popular choice.
Our favorite laptop for 3D printing: the Lenovo Y700 ideaPad
This is a powerful and fast option- not really a mobile one because of its size. The i7, 2.6 gHz configuration provides ample power for additive manufacturing as well as your daily needs.
Given the fast-growing popularity of 3D printing, it is likely that you may have seen this technology before. If not, here’s a quick overview of what 3D printing is all about: according to Wikipedia, “3D printing (also referred to as additive built-up) is a progression of creation a lifelike solid thing of virtually any shape from a digital model.”
What you need are a CAD file and a 3D printer. If you do not have the prior, you can use one of several free or paid services to create one.
However, getting your own 3D printer is ultimately what you should strive for if the concept appeals to you (and it will). This is because not only will you save money, but you’ll also be able to make 3D printed objects whenever you want.
While prices for this technology are slowly decreasing, it can still be a sizeable investment, depending on the printer’s size and complexity. What’s more, if you’re buying a cheaper product, chances are that the print quality will not be as good.
Nonetheless, this is still an investment you should consider making if you enjoy tech and bring much more creativity into your life. After all, there are many fascinating things you can create with 3D printing!
But if you’re in the market for a laptop that will help with 3D printing projects at home or work, then this blog post is for you! We’ll explore some of our favorite laptops on the market today as well as the ones we would avoid.
Check out our list below! We hope it helps guide your decision-making process when trying to buy new hardware for your next project.
Once you get your laptop, try out one of these 3D printed laptop stands!
The 5 Best Laptops for 3D Printing
1. The Lenovo Y700
One of the uppermost things to look for when buying a laptop is naturally battery life. This is especially true if you’re going to use your computer regularly throughout the day, as laptops that have a dead battery after only a few hours can be particularly troublesome.
With that being said, this laptop has a maximum battery life of about 4 hours, which is relatively low. Other laptops with similar specifications tend to have battery lives of around 5 to 6 hours.
This laptop comes fitted with an Intel Core i7 4th gen processor that can be overclocked up to 3.2 GHz. With 16GB RAM, it’s not only able to run most programs but can run many at once without issue. The hard drive can be 1TB.
Pros:
- The i7 processor works well with the Nvidia 1050 Ti, a dedicated graphics card that will significantly reduce the 3D printing load on your laptop.
- A traditional hard drive means you can store many files without getting more storage upgrades for your laptop.
- 16GB RAM allows for more superb multitasking, letting you run more intensive programs without slowing down.
- The screen resolution is 1920X1080(FHD), which gives a fantastic picture with clear text and graphics.
Cons:
- At 5 lbs, the laptop is on the heavier side for this price range.
- There are no USB C ports, which are the newest updates to USB ports.
- There is no disk drive for DVDs/ CDs. This isn’t very important with cloud storage but can be inconvenient when installing software off of a CD.
Video overview
2. The Dell Inspiron i7559 Gaming Laptop
If your prospect to use your laptop for 3-D printing and other intensive tasks, choose a typical Intel Core i7 processor and 16 GB of RAM. We recommend this, which is available with either a compact 15.6-inch or larger 17.3-inch display.
This mainstream gaming laptop comes with an Intel Core i7 6500U CPU, 16 GB of RAM, and a 512GB solid-state drive (SSD). With these specifications, you’ll be able to handle complex 3-D models with ease.
It is easy to upgrade if you want more storage or memory down the road. The system also features a responsive 15.6-inch display with an anti-glare coating ideal for reducing eyestrain in brightly lit offices, classrooms, and home studios.
It is a versatile mainstream laptop that’s easy to upgrade and well suited for 3-D printing, video editing, and other demanding tasks. It comes with a 128GB solid-state drive (SSD), but you can easily add more storage if needed.
Also, it is an all-around great laptop for 3-D printing, but if you want something lighter, there are options with smaller 15.6-inch displays.
Pros:
- The i7 processor means this laptop will be compatible with 3D printing software.
- A solid-state drive (SSD) is a newer technology for storing files, replacing the standard hard drive with most laptops. It allows for faster processing and data transfer.
- With 16GB RAM, multitasking can run smoothly as you won’t need to worry about slowing the system down with too many programs open.
Cons:
- This laptop includes one 1TB storage drive, which can easily fill up quickly with all your pictures and videos. A small additional hard drive would be a good investment for anyone doing a lot of photography or video editing.
Video overview
3. The ASUS ROG Strix Scar GL703VD Gaming Laptop
It is an outstanding laptop that will run almost any software smoothly, including the most popular 3D design programs. This laptops’ specs are an Intel Core i7-7700HQ quad-core processor clocked at 2.80GHz, 16GB RAM, and a 1TB hard drive.
It devises an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 4GB dedicated graphics card and comes with Windows 10 Home 64-bit OS preinstalled.
This laptop’s top-quality specs make it one of the best laptops for 3D printing currently available on the market.
It can handle large and heavy 3D models with no problem, which makes it a top choice for many professional designers who want a laptop that can run any software smoothly.
This laptop’s display has a 1920 x 1080 px resolution, which is more than enough for most users.
In terms of design, the ASUS ROG Strix Scar GL703VD 17.3″ is a regular-looking laptop with a red and black color combo on its chassis. The lid has a textured finish which gives it a unique look, while its inside is pretty well-built but straightforward. It’s not one of those laptops that will turn heads with its design, but it’s definitely of high quality.
It is one of the shrillest and lightest laptops on the market, measuring 16.8 x 11.6 x 0.78 inches (height x width x depth) and weighing 5 pounds. This makes it very easy to carry around, which quite a few 3D printing designers look for in laptops.
The laptops’ trackpad is well-sized and has a nice texture, making it easy to use with its multi-touch gestures. The keyboard doesn’t have much travel but instead uses clicky keys that feel nice to the touch.
Also, it runs on a 4-cell lithium-ion battery that will give you around 3 hours of continuous use, which is enough for most daily laptop tasks and even some work with CAD software.
If you want to load large models or perform complex calculations, though, this battery will probably not last long enough.
Pros:
- The i7 processor makes this laptop capable of running 3D printing software on the highest settings.
- The dedicated graphics card with 4GB memory will not have any problems handling the heavier load.
- A 1TB hard drive is included with this laptop, which is excellent for storing your pictures and videos.
Cons:
- The graphics card is a bit too weak to handle a heavier load, so it might not be the best option for those who use their laptop for grim photo or video editing.
Video overview
4. The MSI WE63 Workstation Laptop
Pros:
- The i7 processor is one of the most powerful laptops, allowing you to run 3D printing software efficiently on a laptop.
- It comes with the latest USB C ports, which allow for faster data transfer and charging.
- A solid-state drive (SSD) is a newer technology for storing files, replacing hard drives that come standard in most laptops, using flash memory to keep your data instead of magnetic. This means you can access, store and transfer files faster than before.
Cons:
- The graphics card is not very good for 3D printing, with only 2GB of dedicated memory. This means that although this laptop will run 3D printing software, it will not handle huge files.
Video overview
5. The Acer Predator Helios Laptop
It is an excellent optimal if you are interested in #3DPrinting because it comes with Windows 10 Home 64-Bit, 16 GB DDR4 Memory, 256 GB Solid State Drive + 1TB 5400RPM Hard Drive, and an NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1060 using 3GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM.
It has an 8GB GDDR5 VRAM dedicated graphics card that can be used for #3DPrinting or Gaming; it also comprises the latest Intel® Core™ i7 Processor that is sure to speed up your work! It comes with Windows 10 Home 64-Bit, 16 GB DDR4 Memory, 256 GB Solid State Drive + 1TB 5400RPM Hard Drive.
The battery life is impressive (up to 7 hours), so you can concentrate on working while it lasts for a long time! It also has a USB-C 3.1 Gen2 port that transfers data at speeds of up to 10 Gbps.
Pros:
- The i7 processor is one of the most powerful laptops, allowing you to run 3D printing software efficiently on a laptop.
- The computer comes with the latest USB C ports, which allow for faster data transfer and charging.
- Access, store and transfer files faster than before.
Video overview
Buying Guide
The popularity of 3D printing is growing daily, but it's not always easy to find the proper hardware that can keep up with your needs. You may already have a desktop computer, but are you sure it has enough muscle for what you want to achieve?
We all know how strong it can be to get something printed in high resolution. The bottom line is that you need a powerful laptop designed for various software applications, such as 3D modeling, printing, and editing.
A workstation-level graphics card is crucial with any workstation because you'll need the processing power to make sure your workstation runs flawlessly.
Processor – You want a laptop with a great processor, at least an i7 quad-core, or an AMD 8-core processor.
Memory - This is a critical factor as you need enough RAM for the tasks at hand. If you're going to do high-resolution printing and modeling, you need to make sure your laptop has at least 16 GB of memory.
Storage – is essential for all 3D software applications and storing large files (including music and photos). For this reason, you'll want a solid-state drive that can hold several terabytes of information. Of course, it goes minus saying that you want to avoid any laptops with a hard drive.
Connectivity – Finally, make sure your laptop has USB 3.0 ports and Thunderbolt support for connectivity purposes. It might not seem necessary now, but as you become more experienced in 3D printing and modeling, it will be nice to have the extra bandwidth.
Connectivity is also essential for sharing your work with people outside of the office or home. Many of these laptops have Wi-Fi, but if not, you'll definitely want to add a good wireless access point to your network.
Hello, my name’s Rush Chapman. I’m a 3D printing enthusiast. I started this site to help people choose 3D printing projects and select the best 3D printer for your needs, whether you’re a hobbyist or a pro!
