Buying a new laptop is an expensive investment. It is challenging to choose the right one in this ever-evolving market where a new laptop from big brands is launched every other week. Because of the academic and professional nature, almost everyone is bound to use a rugged laptop to beat deadlines. Although desktops are more powerful and affordable, laptops are recommended because of their portability. But we need to understand the needs of an engineering student before investing. An engineering student might need a laptop to learn coding, play games, complete assignments, create visual arts or develop computer-aided designs. As per the requirements, the device configurations and the price will differ.

If you are going to buy a laptop purely based on price, then you will make a grave mistake. Let’s understand how engineering students should choose their laptops.

CPU Processing Speed: A Must for Engineering Students

Speed is the paramount quality of a computer, and it is mainly dependent on the CPU. The CPU performs all the processing, and most of the time, it processes more than one instruction per cycle. So, to process more instructions within the shortest time, you need a fast CPU. For an engineering student, who would probably be multitasking on the laptop, a powerful CPU is required to handle the pressure.

If the intended student runs AutoCAD, ANSYS, MatLab or SolidWorks, then the computer might slow down without a powerful CPU. Even an MS Excel file with multiple sheets and loads of data can exhaust the CPU. Also, an engineering student might become interested in graphics designing or 3D modelling, in which case also, a laptop with a powerful CPU is needed. So, even if a good CPU makes a laptop costly, it is worth the investment. Another point to note here is to choose the latest generation CPU, as it will increase the life of your laptop. If you choose an older generation CPU, then it won’t be able to handle new versions of application software that get launched. They’ll require more compute power, which the older gen CPU won’t be able to handle.

Gaming is also a need to keep in mind. It is the most popular leisure activity in the present generation, and there is no harm in recreational gaming. For gaming, a good CPU is a must, as putting excessive pressure on a low-end CPU can reduce its longevity.

For Engineering students, the recommendation is to go for the latest generation of either an Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 CPU. The HP Pavilion Aero 13-be0190AU is an excellent example of an AMD Ryzen powered laptop. Or, you could opt for the HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop 15-dk2095TX, if you prefer an Intel CPU.

Memory (RAM)

No matter how good your CPU is, if your laptop does not have enough RAM, the CPU will underperform. The CPU needs a high-speed memory, using which it can communicate with the system. So, while a powerful CPU can process hundreds of instructions simultaneously, it needs a compatible memory that can keep up with it.

If you are using AutoDesk Maya, AutoCAD, 3DS MAX, etc., you might create large-sized, unoptimized paging files. Ample memory is needed to handle such paging files; otherwise, your laptop may perform choppily.

So, I would suggest going for at least 8 GB RAM in 2022. 16 GB is recommended however because as an engineering student, you have to use the laptop for 4 years at least. After 3-4 years, the software and applications might become even more memory-hungry than now. So, it is better to go for a laptop with 16 GB RAM.

Storage: SSD vs HDD

You will store all your assignments, project files, and downloaded video lectures on your laptop. You will also need storage space to install all the required applications for your study in the same storage. A student is also going to use the laptop as a medium of infotainment, so storing movies, TV shows, and games will occupy a lot of storage space. So, it is clear by now that you need an ample quantity of storage space in your laptop.

But when the battle comes to HDD vs SSD, you should go for the SSD, as it is over 10x faster. Using an SSD will increase the speed of booting and launching applications drastically. SSDs are semiconductor devices that consume less power and boost battery life. Also, SSDs tend to last way longer than conventional HDDs. So, always go for a laptop with an SSD. Do not opt for the laptop with both the SSD and HDD, as such configuration consumes more battery power. Opt for a laptop with a 512 GB M.2 SSD for the best price to performance ratio. Check out the HP Pavilion Laptop 15-eg1000TU, which comes with a perfect configuration for engineering students at an affordable price.

GPU: Dedicated Graphics Card

Unlike a decade ago, GPUs have become an essential requirement these days. An engineering student’s laptop must feature a sound graphics card with plenty of VRAM. Applications like AutoCAD, SolidWorks, and Matlab require heavy graphics processing to render real-time outputs. So, a GPU with at least 2 GB GDDR3 VRAM is needed for engineering students. Moreover, nowadays, machine learning has become a common subject in engineering. You can’t do machine learning without a GPU.

Considering that a student would also use the laptop for some high-end gaming, choose one with Nvidia GTX GDDR5 graphics. Avoid going for an Nvidia RTX GPU. The HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop 15-dk2095TX is an excellent example of such a kind. But, if you are looking for more gaming power or Nvidia RTX is your only choice, then check out the HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop 15-ec2075AX.

Display Size

The display size preference varies from user to user. It is okay if the intended user has no problem using a small screen like 13.5 inches or 14 inches. But a screen size of 15.6 inches is the most common choice by users. Apart from the display size, one should look for other features of the display, which are screen resolution and screen features. 1366×768 is the most common resolution you find out there, but it is recommended to opt for 1920×1080 for a better HD quality display. Laptops feature 2K and 4K resolutions, but it can unnecessarily make the laptop expensive. Instead, you should invest in an IPS display and anti-glare screen, which will provide better viewing angles and eye protection. If you are interested in gaming, you should also opt for the 144Hz refresh rate of the screen, which produces a way smoother display than the standard 60Hz. Check out the HP Pavilion 15-ec2145AX; it features the best kind of display for gamers, video creators and graphics designers.

Connectivity

Nowadays, most laptops come with a wireless LAN 802.11 a/b/g/n, and Bluetooth v4.0 yields decent connectivity. In WiFi, opt for the latest WiFi 6 standard as that gives the best performance. For connectivity, look for an ample number of USB ports to connect external devices. Don’t forget to look for USB 3.0 or higher ports for high-speed data transfer. Optical drives are not mandatory anymore. In fact, your laptop will be lighter and more portable without them. Plus, it will consume lesser power giving you more battery backup. Check out the HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop 15-dk2095TX to see the best connectivity features.

Operating System: Windows vs Mac vs Linux

After choosing the hardware configuration, it comes to the operating system at the end. After all, you will use your device via the operating system, so it needs to be user-friendly, updated, and smooth. There is no operating system better than Microsoft Windows 11 itself. If you have been a Windows 10 user and love the interface, then even in 2022, you can opt for Windows 10 without any worries. Microsoft assured that they will keep supporting Windows 10 till 2025.

But the operating system is something where some users like to choose something different as a computer/IT engineering student might want to go for a Linux based OS. You can do it if you are sure about it. A laptop featuring Linux Ubuntu will also come a little cheaper than the Windows 11 version of the same configuration. You can also choose a Windows 10 or Windows 11 laptop and install Linux distros later by yourself.

But there is another trendy choice out there: Apple Mac. Yes, as an engineering student, you can use a Mac, and it is beneficial for any sort of usage apart from high-end gaming. However, Mac OS is only available with Apple Macbook laptops, meaning you get stuck to the Apple environment if you go for it.

Battery

Laptops are loved and used worldwide due to their portability. The in-built battery-powered portable computers give you the power of doing your job while on the go. So, the battery is the lifeline of your laptop; with a dead battery, your laptop is nothing but a box. As an engineering student, you have to stay out for a long time every day. Your laptop must feature a capable battery to support you throughout your everyday routine. You cannot afford the battery to die while taking class notes on it. So, always go for a laptop with a powerful battery that gives long-term backup and does not need to be changed frequently. Even if getting a laptop with a long battery backup makes the laptop expensive, it is a necessary investment you must make for an engineering student. Check out the HP Specter x360 Convertible 14-ea0538TU for the best battery life. The HP Spectre device features a massive 16+ hours of battery life, which justifies the price.

Verdict

According to the needs of engineering students, they need a decent laptop powered by a good CPU and GPU. They will need ample RAM and SSD storage to function correctly. Screen size is something you can adjust to cut down your budget a little bit, but the battery is something where you put your money. So, a decently powerful laptop like HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop 15-ec2145AX or HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop 15-dk2095TX can help you through your engineering journey.

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