The software requirements for graphic design change every year. You would require a system that can easily open the projects without hanging in between. Pay attention to the following key hardware specs while selecting the laptop for graphic designing.
1. Decide the System Type
Before finalizing the specifications, determine whether you want a desktop or a laptop. Make sure that the device you plan to buy is compatible with running a wide variety of graphics designing apps. On an advanced level in your career, you may also be required to render 3D models.
Also Read: Gaming Laptops to buy
The device you select must integrate a perfect cooling solution. Working as a graphics designer means using a lot of resource-heavy apps which can result in overheating. If you are wondering about dealing with overheating, click here to learn troubleshooting tips.
2. Opt for Faster Processor
The Central Processing Unit or CPU must be given higher importance because it controls the system functions. Select a multi-core and powerful processor supporting 64-bit. 4 cores would be enough until you have certain requirements.
If you need an affordable MacBook Pro, go with an Intel Core i5 processor series. However, beginners can choose an Intel Core i5 processor from the latest generations. If you prefer laptops with AMD processors, consider the A8 or A10 series.
3. Pick a Higher RAM
Memory or RAM is another considerable aspect when choosing a laptop as a graphic designer. You require more RAM if you work with several apps open or extremely large files. 8GB of RAM is enough. But keep an option for an upgrade.
Also Read: Areas of Design
For experienced professionals working on resource-hungry apps, laptops with 16GB of RAM are good. You can opt for a laptop with 32GB of RAM when you have to work with highly demanding programs like After Effects.
4. Get Ample Storage
Storage drives can be of two types, including SSD (Solid state drive) and HDD (Hard disk drive). Compared to hard drives, SSD is faster, more durable, and lighter but expensive. Modern laptops are mostly integrated with SSD. But you can upgrade them if required.
Also Read: Best Smart watch for students
Select a laptop with 1TB HDD for installing graphic designing software. Using an SSD of 500GB or more is essential for excellent performance. You can try an external hard drive when it lacks internal memory.
5. Buy a Dynamic Display
Several designing software can be used easily on a small screen because they have so many tools, color palettes, and menus. The thumb rule for designing laptops is the higher the resolution; the more will be the quality. So, get a 15-17” display for graphic design work.
HiDPI screens are highly recommended because they have a higher pixel density. A laptop with a screen resolution of 1600x900 or 1920x1080 is good enough for graphic designers. If you need more screen space, use an external monitor.
6. Go for Heavy Graphics Card
In addition to the above technical requirements, look for the graphics card available with your laptop. You can get a separate graphics card or graphic chip integrated into the CPU. Integrated graphics chips are good enough when running graphic design apps.
Also Read: Macbook Pro M2 for professionals
However, an integrated graphic card is recommended if you want to save money. For 3D modeling software, a more powerful graphics card is required. For example, the R9 series of Radeon GPUs and NVIDIA’s latest 10 series of GeForce GPUs.
7. Take Note of Color Accuracy
Make sure the monitor must have a minimum of 100% of Adobe RGB. This is highly recommended for users who focus on colors. The ability of the display screen to reproduce colors correctly is affected by color accuracy.
Also, consider the laptop to have an OLED display. This sort of display reproduces colors with real-life perfection for professional-grade visuals. OLED displays can decrease harmful blue light by up to 70%. If you are a professional graphics designer, keep this in mind.
What Else?
Along with considering the above specifications, certain features must be available in a laptop for graphic designers. It must have a good keyboard with a backlit keyboard that allows typing in the dark. Typing long texts should not be uncomfortable.
Also Read: Essential Desk items for Developers
The laptop you are selecting must have the ability to support 4K monitors. Ensure it must have multiple ports and slots for connecting several devices and networks. It should also have quality speakers, a good trackpad, and be lightweight.
Conclusion
You may not require heavy specs when working on 2D designing and painting. But you must consider a top-rated laptop purely for graphic designing with the above specifications to experience more than satisfactory performance.
Related: Best Laptops for Graphic Design
Compromising on the essential technical specifications may negatively affect the outcome. There are so many laptops available from several brands. Dell, Apple, HP, MSI, Lenovo, and Microsoft are the leading companies offering laptops for graphic design.
Also Read: Best Lamps for Computer work
