If you are a civil engineering student, a good laptop is going to be your closest friend all through college. Besides the regular presentations, notes, and tons of slides and projects, you will also have to work on programs like AutoCAD and more which will require a good laptop.
You need to consider factors like a fast and powerful CPU, a good amount of RAM for smooth operations, a good storage space since college students have hundreds of files they need to hold on to.
It is also a good idea to have a dedicated graphics unit since most of the work you will face in the future will be around 3D modeling.
The best laptops for civil engineering students cover all these points to provide you with an efficient and fast device that will not let you down. If you are curious to know which laptop models tick these boxes, take a look down below.
Comparison Chart For Top 10 Laptops For Civil Engineering Students
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HP ENVY 13
- Processor: Intel Core i7-8565U
- RAM: 16GB SDRAM
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce MX250
ASUS VivoBook S15 S532
- Processor: Intel Core i5-8265U
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 512GB PCIe and Optane M.2 SSD
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce MX250
Acer Aspire 5
- Processor: Intel Core i5-10210U
- RAM: 8GB DDR4
- Storage: 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce MX250
Lenovo Yoga 720
- Processor: Intel Core i7-7700HQ
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050
Acer Aspire E 15
- Processor: Intel Core i5-8250U
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Graphics: Nvidia GeForce MX150
Microsoft LGP-00001 Surface Pro 6
- Processor: Intel Core i5-8250U
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 128GB SSD
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620
Latest Dell Inspiron
- Processor: Intel Core i5-10210U
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 512GB SSD+ 32GB Optane
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620
Microsoft Surface Laptop 2
- Processor: Intel Core i5
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 128GB SSD
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics
HP Pavilion 15
- Processor: Intel i5-8250U
- RAM: 8GB DDR4
- Storage: 1TB HDD
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620
Microsoft Surface Pro 7
- Processor: Intel Core i5
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics
Best Laptops For Civil Engineering Students Reviews
1.HP ENVY 13
The HP ENVY 13 boasts an impressive 4K touchscreen display that has a wide view angle of 178 degrees. Plus, it has a 3-way micro-edge display further expanding the area you are in contact with.
Civil engineers need to work with lots of designs, and with a brilliant display like this, it becomes easier to concentrate on designs and work on more intricate detailing.
To enhance the display further, the Nvidia GeForce MX250 is added which enhances graphics on the screen, and adds some extra speed which is always appreciated.
For the processor, you have the Intel Core i7-8565U. While it gives you a lot of power, it makes sure not to overdo it, which is not required in this case. And this saves battery life as well.
The 512GB SSD and 16GB memory complete the device as it continues to provide lower loading times, and allows crazy multitasking, which is highly required for civil engineers.
You will be working on multiple projects and will need to use multiple sources too, and these help to provide constant power for efficient working.
As a student, you will love the battery power on this. One charge lets you go an entire 12 hours. So even if you have back to back classes, you do not have to carry a charger at all times.
Highlighted Features
- 99 inches 4K touchscreen display
- Intel Core i7-8565U 8th generation processor
- 512GB SSD plus 16GB SDRAM
- NVIDIA GeForce MX250 graphics
- Increased security with webcam kill switch and integrated fingerprint reader
2.ASUS VivoBook S15 S532
As a civil engineering student, you can expect to work on a lot of designing and creative models that require that you have a good interaction with the display for the finest output.
The ASUS VivoBook S15 S532 helps out by not only providing a 15.6-inch full HD display but with a second mini 5.65-inch touchscreen as well. This replaces the traditional touchpad you find on laptops and instead helps you to interact better with creative designs.
It is mostly used to create multiple shortcuts and works like any regular touchscreen where you can directly work on 3D models using touch instead of a mouse or trackpad which has less accuracy.
With the Intel Core i5-8265U 8th generation processor you have an impressive clock speed of 3.9 GHz which provides a high processing power. You will enjoy this when you have a lot of workload or projects, and any application you load will not take up too much time.
For storage, you have the 512 GB PCIe plus M.2 SSD. This happens to be faster than most regular SSDs in the market and has great storage space as well, so we have nothing to complain about.
The Nvidia GeForce MX 250 graphics is another addition that enhances the screens’ graphics for a better understanding of what models look like.
Highlighted Features
- 6 inches Full HD NanoEdge bezel display
- Intel Core i5-8265U 8th generation processor
- 512GB SSD plus 8GB RAM
- NVIDIA GeForce MX250 graphics
- ScreenPad 2.0 provides a 5.65-inch touchscreen
3.Acer Aspire 5
The Acer Aspire 5 is a good choice of a laptop for beginners who do not have a high budget but still want a good laptop that is capable of working with modeling and rendering.
Besides having an attractive design on the exterior, it has a 15.6-inch full HD display with an IPS panel that ensures you get a wide viewing angle and rich colors on screen.
Staring at screens for long periods is a concern for students, which is why Acer has the Acer BlueLight Shield that reduces eye fatigue and strain.
Internally you have the processor with a good clock speed that can go up to 4.2 GHz for the highest processing speeds you will need. The 8 GB of RAM sees to the fact that you have a smooth performance even if you have multiple large-sized files open simultaneously.
And the Nvidia GeForce MX 250 graphics card ensures that the laptop will not slow down as you continue to work at your optimum.
Storage is also great since you have 512 GB PCIe NVMe SSD which has sufficient space for school files and ensures proper performance speed as well.
Highlighted Features
- 6 inches Full HD IPS display
- Intel Core i5-10210U 10th generation processor
- 512GB SSD plus 8GB DDR4 RAM
- NVIDIA GeForce MX250 graphics
- Acer Color Intelligence feature creates vivid colors on screen
4.Lenovo Yoga 720
This is the laptop to go for power-hungry students who have to work on the most sophisticated software for their projects. The Lenovo Yoga 720 packs a ton of power with its processor and delivers high speeds and faster loading times than what you get on most average student laptops.
We are also very impressed with the display since it has a 15.6-inch screen with a 4K resolution and a 10-point multitouch screen to improve the way you interact with models and designs.
You can also fold the device a complete 360° to use it as a tablet. This will come in handy for all the times you want to work directly on designs, sketch, draw or edit using a stylus pen since it is so much easier to do so than using the touchpad.
The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 graphics unit is from one of the higher-end GPUs in the market. Now you get an even better display then what the 4K resolution alone would give you. Not to mention it also helps to enhance the speed at which you work.
16 GB RAM and the 512 GB SSD storage and the Core i7-7700HQ processor are like the cherry on top that gives you incredible multi-tasking ability.
Highlighted Features
- 6 inches 4K 10-point multitouch screen display
- Intel Core i7-7700HQ 7th generation processor
- 512GB SSD plus 16GB RAM
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics
- 360-degree flip and fold design for multiple modes uses
5.Acer Aspire E 15
The Acer Aspire E 15 is suitable for students who are just getting into college or dipping their fingers into the world of civil engineering. As one of the more affordable laptops out there, this has a pretty good range of features that make it completely worth getting.
You have the Intel Core i5-8250U processor with a 3.4 GHz of clock speed. This is very impressive and much needed when you are working on a lot of projects, especially if you have to work with anything 3D.
The display is a 15.6-inch full HD IPS screen. You get bright colors and a wide-angle view making work more comfortable.
For storage, you have 256 GB of SSD and for memory, you have 8GB of RAM. While this will definitely serve you well in the first few years of college, you might need an upgrade as you enter senior year.
Thanks to the compartment door placed at the back of the laptop, the upgrade can be made very easily whenever you want.
With the Nvidia GeForce MX 150, you can definitely achieve 3D modeling and rendering, but you can also use it for playing games or making videos in your spare time since it creates a flawless and vivid display.
Highlighted Features
- 6 inches Full HD IPS display
- Intel Core i5-8250U 8th generation processor
- 256GB SSD plus 8GB RAM
- Nvidia GeForce MX150 graphics
- Battery life lasts up to 15 hours
Laptops For Civil Engineering Students Buying Guide
Processor
Normally for college students, a Core i5 processor is recommended, and it remains the same in this case as well. However, when you start working on 3D models or AutoCAD and other complicated software, you will be happier with more power, preferably from a Core i7 processor.
The processor speed also plays a part in how fast you can work. Look for a minimum of 2.0 GHz clock speed for mid-level work, and 3.5 GHz and above for more complicated projects.
Try to get a CPU from the 10th generation, since it is the latest one yet. And if you cannot, the least to go for is the 7th generation, and nothing less.
Quad-core processors are recommended if you like to work on multiple tasks. The more cores you have, the easier you can navigate between tasks.
Memory
Multitasking comes as second nature to college students. Regardless of what you are majoring in, you will have to go through hundreds of notes, videos, projects, and will have to work on various applications simultaneously.
This requires a high RAM so that the computer does not jam up as you try to function with so many open applications.
The very basic to go for is 8GB of RAM. But the best laptop for civil engineers should carry a 16GB RAM so that you can continue using it for long even after graduation, when you will face more complex designs.
Storage
As a student, you are probably trying to figure out whether to go with a cheaper HDD with more space or with a more expensive SSD with more speed.
Well, as an engineering student, speed is what you should value because you will need it when you are designing and drafting models.
Nowadays you can get hybrid storages that come with both an SSD and HDD. Of course, these are more expensive, but you should consider them as an investment for the future since they have an incredible amount of storage space and speed.
If you are getting an SSD, try to go for a minimum of 256 GB because any less will not be able to provide you with sufficient storage space. And if you are going for a hybrid, then a 128 GB SSD with good storage in the HDD will suffice.
Graphics Unit
To be blunt, you do not really need a dedicated graphics card while you are in college. But if you want to get the finest output from the laptop, be able to use software like Revit, AutoCAD, 3D Max, and many more then you should have a dedicated graphics card.
We suggest you go with Nvidia cards. Ones from the MX line are great for beginners or freshers where are you do not expect to work with anything too complicated. But for professionals or students who will be graduating soon and have to work with complex designs, look for the GTX line that provides more power and speed.
Conclusion
Buying the right laptop is a crucial step for college students, and when they belong to critical majors like engineering, it becomes harder to find the right one.
Your job is to make sure that you have the right basic specifications, and then match those to the recommended models and your budget.
All of this can be found discussed in this article. If you take a few minutes to skim through, you will have it all down. Not just that, you also get a list of the best laptops for civil engineering students which helps to make the decision easier.
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