Architecture is a demanding field that requires creativity, precision, and technical skills. Whether you are an aspiring architect or a seasoned professional, you need a laptop that can handle the complex software and applications that you use for your projects.
How can Canadian design students select the appropriate laptop? With so many choices available to them?
This guide will help you select the ideal laptop for your needs by considering performance, screen, battery life, portability, price and other key considerations. Furthermore, we will highlight some of the top laptops for architecture students in Canada.
By the time this piece is over, you should have an increased knowledge of what to look for when purchasing a laptop for architecture.
Table of contents
- Performance
- Display
- Portability
- Price
- Acer Aspire 7 – Best Laptops for Architecture Students in Canada
- Dell Alienware M15 R7 – Best Laptops for Architecture Students in Canada
- Acer Predator Helios 300 – Best Laptops for Architecture Students in Canada
- HP Omen 17 – Best Laptops for Architecture Students in Canada
- ASUS ROG Strix G15 – Best Laptops for Architecture Students in Canada
Before diving in to specific models, let’s explore what to consider when selecting a laptop for architectural students. Some key criteria are:
Performance
When studying design, programs such as AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp and Photoshop will likely come into play. In order for these apps to run effectively and smoothly, they require lots of processing power and memory – therefore ideally an Intel Core i7/i9 or an AMD Ryzen 7/9 processor would be preferable as would 16GB of RAM along with an SSD storage drive for faster starting/loading times as well as specialized graphics card like an NVIDIA GeForce RTX/GTX series/RX series capable of 3D modeling/rendering will come into play as well.
Display
When considering the display quality of your laptop screen, its quality should also be taken into consideration. Ideally, you want a screen with high quality images that showcase colors beautifully while also having good contrast ratio.
This will enable you to clearly see all the subtleties of your drawings, making them more realistic. To achieve this ideal state, look for at least 15-inch displays that meet at least 1920 x 1080 resolution (Full HD), though higher resolution options such as 2560x 1440 (QHD) or 3840x 2160 (4K) may require more power consumption which may compromise performance negatively. IPS screens also provide better color reproduction capabilities and wider viewing angles – make sure that when purchasing.
As an architecture student, you may need to work on various projects while in different places or on the go. Therefore, you require a laptop with long battery life so you don’t need to plug it in every few hours – an 8 hour average battery life would be ideal; but its exact duration depends on your use and settings.
software which utilizes many resources or screens with higher resolution may reduce its longevity faster than expected; in these instances an extra battery pack or charger may come in handy for extended power needs.
Portability
When considering how easily portable your laptop will be, lightweight and easily portable are key considerations. When shopping, aim for something less than 5 pounds that measures less than one inch thick – ideal if it can also handle bumps and drops well! Additionally, look out for something which can convert into a tablet form factor or can even be taken apart so it can serve different uses simultaneously.
Price
When shopping for a laptop for architecture students, the final consideration should be your budget. Ideally, you want a model that provides maximum value for money without breaking the bank; at minimum this should cost at least $1000 CAD but cheaper options may exist if you can sacrifice certain features; discounts or restored models could also save money!
Now that we’ve discussed what architecture students should seek in a laptop computer, let’s examine some of the top machines in Canada that meet these standards. Here are a few of our favorites:
Acer Aspire 7 – Best Laptops for Architecture Students in Canada
For architecture students in Canada without breaking the bank, Acer’s Aspire 7 is an outstanding affordable computer. Equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 5700U processor, 16GB RAM, 512 GB SSD storage, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card it performs extremely well and comes complete with 15.6″ Full HD IPS display which shows color accurately while remaining slim and light at only 2 kg and having only an average battery life of 10 hours of use1.1.
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Dell Alienware M15 R7 – Best Laptops for Architecture Students in Canada
Gaming laptop for students of design in Canada is one of the top options available, boasting an Intel Core i7-11800H processor, 16 GB of RAM, 512 GB SSD and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card for outstanding speed and speedy gaming performance. Furthermore, its 15.6-inch QHD IPS monitor with refresh rate of 240Hz supports NVIDIA G-SYNC technology to create immersive and smooth gameplay; modern yet durable construction; its dimensions measure 2.5 kg with thickness being 0.9 inches thick for great battery life lasting an average use time of 8 hours2.2.
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Acer Predator Helios 300 – Best Laptops for Architecture Students in Canada
Is one of the top computers for architecture students in Canada in terms of value for money, thanks to its Intel Core i7-10870H processor, 16 GB of RAM, 512 GB SSD storage and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 graphics card. With these specs running smoothly is also its 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display featuring NVIDIA G-SYNC technology for images that appear smooth and real; its weight of 2.3 kg and thickness of 0.91 inches makes this built to last and its long battery life average use time is expected at 12 hours 3.3.
HP Omen 17 – Best Laptops for Architecture Students in Canada
One of the top 17-inch computers for architecture students in Canada is the OMEN by HP 17. Packed with an Intel Core i7-10750H processor, 16GB of RAM, 512 GB SSD storage and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 graphics card, this model runs beautifully. Furthermore, its 17.3″ Full HD IPS monitor with refresh rate of 144Hz and NVIDIA G-SYNC technology ensures stunning and immersive visuals; built to last and designed with sleek style in mind – its 3 kg weight and 1 inch thick chassis make for solid performance as well. Battery life averages eight hours of use before needing replacement4.4.
ASUS ROG Strix G15 – Best Laptops for Architecture Students in Canada
Is one of the top high-performance computers for architecture students in Canada, featuring an Intel Core i7-10875H processor, 32 GB RAM, 1TB SSD storage space and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 graphics card to deliver excellent speed.
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FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few frequently asked questions from Canadian design students regarding laptops.
 Q: Which machine am I needing for architecture?
 A: When selecting your laptop, your selection should depend both on personal preferences and on which apps will run on either platform. Some programs such as AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp and Photoshop work seamlessly across both OS platforms while ArchiCAD Rhino Lumion only support Windows machines.
Prior to making your decision on one machine or another it is wise to review what system requirements your chosen software requires – typically Windows laptops offer more options, flexibility and cost less while Mac laptops tends to provide more stability, security and attractive designs than their counterparts do.
 Q: For architecture, how much storage do I need to store things?Â
A: How much storage you require will depend on both how many and the size of your files; architecture files tend to be large and can occupy much of your machine’s available storage. To accommodate such files efficiently and to ensure maximum performance on a laptop with at least 256 GB available preferably using an SSD as it will run faster, quieter, and be more stable compared to an HDD (although an SSD costs more). You could also backup files offload onto portable hard drives or the cloud in order to free up more storage on your machine and free up more room on your machine for other activities that may arise from architecture files being generated on your machine.
Q: How can I set up my laptop so it is optimal for architecture?
Bonus Tips:
A: Optimizing its architecture can increase speed and extend battery life for longer, as well as help increase its overall longevity. Here are a few pointers:
Clean your laptop regularly using compressed air or a soft cloth to remove dust and maintain optimal conditions for performance.
Be sure to have updated versions of tools and software in order to fix bugs or resolve problems that arise, such as viruses.
Protect it further against viruses using antivirus and firewall protection solutions.
Remove unnecessary apps or programs, turn off background services that use up CPU or RAM resources, change power settings to find the ideal combination between speed and battery life, and use cooling pads or fans if your laptop becomes overheated.
Canadian design students may find it challenging but not impossible to find their ideal laptop, taking into consideration factors like speed, display size, battery life, portability and price as considerations.
