When choosing a laptop to keep up with your engineering education, you need to conduct a deep analysis of the specs of the device that you want to buy. Engineering students require computers that meet their expectations. Their PC must deliver enough processing power to allow them to jump from one program to another and fulfill the requirements of their heavy engineering applications.
Some specifications are an absolute must when choosing the hardware you need. While a few of them can be found in some laptops, others are included in purpose-built devices.
What factors should students of different engineering courses look for when buying a laptop?
Here’s the answer.
Civil Engineering
Civil engineering students generally need a computer to run software like AutoCAD, Python, Matlab, and Ansys. They perform activities related to computer-aided design, computation, and programming. While buying a laptop, they should take a look at the following:
- 4 core 2.4 GHz processor
- 16GB RAM for entry level and 32 GB RAM for advanced level
- Minimum 500GB SSD for entry level and 1TB SSD for advanced level
- Minimum 2GB graphics card and 4GB DirectX 11 to run heavy programs
BS in Computer Science (CS)
Device requirements for CS students vary depending on their specialization or the electives they choose. Specifications of the best laptops for engineering students in this stream:
- 4 core 2.4 GHz processor (CPU) or more
- 16GB-32GB RAM (you can beyond that)
- 500GB SSD (minimum) or 1TB SSD storage capacity
- A device with integrated graphics (a GPU built into the processor)
MS in Computer Science
Computer Science Engineering (CSE) students need a laptop that can easily run programming IDEs like Python, Visual Studio, or CLion. Students in the first semester, most probably, won’t require a heavy laptop. But, those after the first semester need a device that can run virtual machines, visualize mathematical data and analyze large data sets.
Laptop specifications for them are:
- Minimum 4 core 3.0 GHz for entry-level, 6 core 3.0 GHz or more for intermediate and advanced level.
- Minimum 16GB RAM (get it extended to 32GB RAM depending on the requirement)
- Minimum storage capacity 500GB SSD and 500TB SSD for intermediate level. For most sophisticated or heavy programs, 1TB SSD is the best option.
- Graphics (always go for Integrated graphics or NVIDIA, 4GB)
- 3 USB 2.0 or 3.0 Ports Microphone Camera
Electrical Engineering
Computational tools are largely used by electrical engineering students during their education for simulation, mathematical processing, programming, or circuit design. The common software programs they use are Python, Eagle, OrCAD, Matlab, and Fusion360. They also need to interact with peripheral devices or embedded systems. So, the best laptop is one that has multiple USB ports.
Laptop specifications for electrical engineering students:
- 4 core 3.0 GHz processor (for beginners), 6 core 3.0 GHz processor (for advanced level).
- Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6 GPU
- 512 GB of M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
- 16GB RAM (for beginners), 32GB RAM for experts.
- Three USB-C ports and even a headphone jack
- Webcam, a fingerprint scanner
- 3 USB 2.0 or 3.0 Ports Microphone Camera
- Integrated Eyesafe display technology that provides blue light protection at the source and retains vivid color.
Mechanical Engineering
As a Mechanical Engineering student, you will have to work on visuals, using 3D Computer-Aided Design (CAD) applications like Solidworks or Fusion 360. You will also frequently use software like Matlab to analyze data, develop algorithms, and create models. All these applications require a system with a graphics card or GPU to run. So, look at the following features when choosing a laptop.
- 10th Generation (or newer) Intel Core i7 Processor
- Minimum 16 GB RAM or 32 GB for better performance
- Minimum 500 GB Hard Drive
- SSD Graphics: 4GB or more NVIDIA Quadro / RTX
- AMD Radeon Pro dedicated graphics card is also recommended
- 1 USB 2.0 or 3.0 Port Microphone Camera
Construction Engineering and Management
Construction Engineering and Management students typically use Autodesk Revit for 3D modeling and rendering for designs. They also use Navisworks Manage to coordinate 3D models and collaborate with team members when the construction is in progress. They also use Primavera, Microsoft Project, Bluebeam, and ProCore.
If you are pursuing an engineering course in this stream, invest in a laptop that has been designed for this particular engineering stream. The model needs to be capable of running the 64-bit version of the Windows 10 OS.
Key specifications include:
- 16GB of memory
- 4GB GPU or more
- 16GB-32GB RAM or more
- 4 core 3.0 GHz.processor (CPU)
- At least Full High Definition (1920 x 1080) resolution
- 3 USB 2.0 or 3.0 Ports Microphone Camera
Flexible Options
These options are suitable for all engineering students (entry or mid-level) in any stream. For the advanced level, you will need to increase the system power.
- Choose a device with a minimum of 4 core 3.0 GHz processors (for the entry-level course) and 8 core 3.0 GHz processors for mid and advanced levels.
- Go for 16 GB RAM at entry level. However, a laptop with 32GB RAM can run heavy applications and simultaneously let the computer work more fluidly.
- For beginners, a PC with a minimum of 500GB SSD is sufficient. To run heavy engineering applications, go for 1TB SSD.
- Graphics: 2GB is recommended for basic computing tasks and engineering activities. AutoCAD and SketchUp can run efficiently, but multitasking is not possible. For immaculate detail, rich color and a crisp picture, buy a laptop that has the mighty NVIDIA Quadro graphics. Also, choose a dedicated GPU (separate graphics card with its own RAM).
Wrapping Up
These recommendations are important for all engineering college students. The specifications provide a basic format for all entry-level and higher-level courses. As you progress and level up your skills and knowledge, you need to choose a more powerful and modern laptop based on the programs you will be using.
