How to choose a laptop for a designer. I can help you choose a laptop for a designer so that it is convenient even on business trips. Dimensions and weight

At our school the question often arises: “Which computer should a beginning designer buy?”
We decided to write this article to help novice designers choose computer equipment for their work.

So let's get started!

We divide designers into two categories:

Graphic designers, web designers (work mainly with two-dimensional graphics).

Interior designers, landscape designers (two- and three-dimensional graphics, CAD).

For each of the areas, the appropriate equipment (computer and accessories) is selected.

“What should I buy: a laptop or a computer?”

You will hear an unequivocal answer to this question from any experienced designer: “Only a desktop computer for work!”

Most laptops have low-power graphics cards and cooling systems to save space in the case. It follows from this that such equipment will not work quickly and efficiently with large and heavy projects. At the same time, a laptop with the same characteristics as a computer most often costs an order of magnitude more.

This does not mean that portable PCs are not suitable for work. Simple operations with simple projects and scenes can be done on them.

To summarize, we can draw the following conclusion: the laptop will not live up to your expectations. Or it will justify it, but up to a certain level of your projects.

If you are going to work with computer graphics, then your choice is a good desktop computer.

A d to showcase your work The client can also use other types of equipment, for example, a laptop, netbook, ultrabook, tablet and others.

What operating system should I work on?

OS for graphic and web designers:

Many professionals prefer Mac OS, but often adapt their projects to Windows, since most users use this OS.

OS for interior designers, landscape designers:

In these areas, preference is given to Windows. Some important programs (in particular, 3ds Max) are not yet made for Mac OS.

The following option is allowed: parallel installation of the Windows system on the Mac equipment, followed by installation of the necessary programs. But it is necessary to take into account that this will entail certain nuances and inconveniences in the work.

Therefore, for this group of designers, the best solution would be Windows 7 or 8 (and only 64bit, forget about 32bit).

Important: if you want to work fully and improve the level of your work in the design services market, then it is best to purchase legal software. Companies selling software packages are increasingly beginning to offer more favorable conditions for using and purchasing software.

What equipment can you use today?

Equipment requirements can be divided into the following: minimal, optimal and professional. It all depends on your budget and plans for the future.

Equipment for graphic and web designers:

If you decide to take Mac OS (Apple), then it is better to give preference to a desktop iMac computer with minimal parameters:

processor no less than 2.7×2 GHz;

RAM at least 8GB;

video card memory size is at least 512 MB;

monitor size (diagonal) at least 21.5.

Accordingly, the higher the hardware readings, the better and more powerful your computer.

When choosing an iMac, you should not pay attention to component manufacturers during assembly, since Apple only works with well-known and trusted brands: Intel, NVIDIA GeForse, etc.

If you decide to work on hardware in a Windows system, then the minimum requirements for the processor, RAM and video card will be the same in some respects.

It is better to order the assembly of the system unit individually - in ready-made systems, one of the components may be the least powerful. Also, individual assembly of equipment according to the required parameters in most cases has a lower cost.
It is better to entrust testing of an already assembled unit to those who sold you the equipment. They will install the necessary drivers for your equipment and provide a guarantee.

Intel processors (minimum Core i5);

It is better to buy motherboards from ASUS, video cards from NVIDIA.

The choice of monitor is important(Mac computers do not need to select a monitor). For comfortable and productive work, it must meet the following criteria:

The minimum diagonal size is 21.5 inches. Optimally convenient for work – 22-27 inches (there are no monitors of this size among laptops);

minimum resolution – Full HD. When choosing, you should also pay attention to the matrix; it should be IPS (the price is slightly higher than the others, but the color rendition and viewing angle are almost the same as on a Mac).

IMPORTANT! Before work, it is advisable to calibrate the monitor and the printer on which you will print your work. You can do the calibration yourself, following the instructions and rules, but it is better to entrust this matter to professionals - when purchasing, contact a specialist in the store or find one yourself.

Equipment for architects, interior designers, landscape designers:

Preferably Intel processor, at least two cores with a frequency of at least 3 GHz;

RAM minimum 8GB;

Video card only NVIDIA (possible for CAD series quadro);

A hard drive for the system is better than an SSD by about 120GB (it greatly speeds up all processes), and for storing information and files you can take an HDD (500GB minimum);

The assembly and testing of equipment must also be entrusted to professionals;

The monitor should be the same as for graphic and web designers (IPS);

You should not skimp on your computer cooling system: the cheapest coolers are very noisy and quickly fail. During long-term work, this causes discomfort, and if you leave the computer turned on in the same room where you sleep, you are unlikely to be able to sleep well due to the noise;

Operating system Windows 64bit.

Conveniences (accessories) in the work of a designer:

MOUSE: for ease of use and long-term use, it is better to immediately choose a modern mouse and keyboard (wireless, lightweight, touch, waterproof, etc.). All these functions can be useful to you even if you accidentally spilled a mug of tea on the keyboard while working at the computer for a long time, and an uncomfortable mouse often causes pain in your hand and fingers.

RUG: There are special mouse pads used when working with graphic editors (programs).
You can and should consult with specialists in stores about all convenient accessories. If the seller says that this is the first time he has heard about this, then it is better to find a more professional consultant elsewhere.

TABLET: For designers, there are tablets that are very convenient for working with graphics. The choice depends on your taste and, of course, pay attention to the manufacturers.

In addition to the above, there are many different and convenient devices for a designer’s work. Always be interested, try and share your experience with us!

The design profession is becoming increasingly popular. Not only designers, but also architects, engineers and designers must create content, which requires the use of graphics. And here anything can happen: clothing modeling, video editing, effects creation, and the like. And a desktop computer is not suitable for these purposes at all. So building a PC at home can be quite simple. However, if you want to demonstrate your projects to customers, work on the beach while drinking a mojito, or just work comfortably on the couch, you will have to buy a laptop.

The modern electronics market offers laptops for a variety of purposes. Depending on the requests for them, the price is also formed. Choosing a laptop for daily work or entertainment is quite simple. In this case, you do not have to understand the technical characteristics and features of the device. It's another matter when you need a laptop for a designer. The task is complicated by the fact that normal work with various graphic editors requires a fairly fast device with powerful hardware. At the same time, ease of use is not in last place, because designers often have to spend a lot of time in front of the monitor. What to look for when purchasing to choose the best laptop for a designer? The article will tell you about all the subtleties.

A designer's laptop is a powerful laptop designed for simultaneous multi-threaded tasks. These laptop computers are equipped with the most top-end and advanced hardware. They are ideal for professionals working in the field of interior graphic design, modeling, design and using complex highly specialized programs.

Laptops for working with graphics differ from conventional analogues in their high performance and reliability. Thanks to this, powerful devices successfully solve problems of 2D and 3D modeling, photorealistic rendering, animation, video editing, resource-intensive computing and visualization of the latest generation of special effects.

For any designer, artist, or architect, buying a professional laptop means finding a faithful assistant for the most productive work. And since creative people value freedom, 99% of the time they choose a laptop. Unlike a stationary PC, this device does not tie a person to a room. After all, you can always take it with you.

Most laptops suffer primarily from color rendering, and the viewing angle of the monitor leaves much to be desired. However, modern models with excellent graphics expand the choice. What are the requirements for a good laptop for a web designer? Among all the requirements for the screen, its size comes to the fore. You need to find a compromise between convenience and size of the laptop. However, for a person who is engaged in web design, screen size is so important that convenience will have to be sacrificed here.

As for performance, the power of the central processor and the amount of RAM are important here. A large number of graphical applications are very demanding of these system parameters. Nowadays, we offer a wide range of products that meet certain parameters depending on the price, manufacturer and brand of laptop.

What to rely on when choosing?

Definitely not the same color or familiar manufacturer's nameplate. “I love red, and my dad bought a VCR with the same name for the family as a child” will lead to wasted money. In our case, the most important parameters are: screen, processor, RAM, video subsystem, battery and hard drive. Exactly in that order.

Screen

To work with color, you need a modern display with correct color reproduction, good viewing angles and an average diagonal.

What's suitable? What technologies are there anyway?

TN(aka TN+film) is the oldest technology on the market. A simple, cheap matrix with average color rendition and low clarity. The latest models have acceptable viewing angles and normal response times. Good, as the name suggests, for watching movies. Not our case. P.S. On the other hand, if you don’t do any other graphics work other than video editing, this is a chance to save money.
V.A.(PVA, SVA, WVA) - a slightly more worthy option. Good viewing angles, good color rendition. However, the shades are very dependent on your position in front of the screen, and the details of the picture in the shadows are drawn so-so. Not our case.
PLS- good viewing angles, good colors, average response time. You can take it.
IPS(AH-IPS, e-IPS, H-IPS, P-IPS, S-IPS) - the best displays on the market. Excellent color rendition, largest viewing angles without color distortion. The response time, however, is slightly lower than that of TN, which in our case is not significant. We need to take it.

Diagonal screen is the distance from the top to bottom opposite edges of the screen. Convenient sizes start from about 15 inches and up (usually 15.3 or 17.3 inches) in FullHD resolution, that is, 1920 pixels wide by 1080 pixels high. Coating you should choose a matte one - it does not distort colors and does not glare in bright light.

CPU

It is better to ignore AMD processors. Mobile solutions based on the new Zen technology have not yet been released, and their predecessor is already outdated. That leaves Intel and its Core i line.

How are they different?

Core i3- two cores, two or four threads. Modern ones (5, 6 and 7 series) work well, but may not be enough for resource-intensive tasks.
Core i5- two or four cores, four threads. High-performance processors that are sufficient for most tasks.
Core i7- four cores (less often - two), eight (four) threads. As a rule, the fastest. Enthusiast's choice.

The most attentive ones have already noticed: Core i3 and Core i7 can have the same number of cores. So is productivity. For example, the i7-7500U differs from the i3-7100H by, in fact, five hundred megahertz of frequency.

How so?

The answer lies in the letters after the numeric index.

Y - very low energy consumption; slow, but the battery will last a long time
U - ultramobile processor; still slow, but energy efficient
T - low power consumption again
M - mobile processor; nothing unusual
Q - there are definitely four cores here
X - high frequency and maximum performance
H - more or less powerful graphics are built-in

Horror. Which one should you choose?

In fact, to work in Photoshop Any processor with these parameters should be enough. Some solutions will work slower when processing RAW photos, applying effects, or even just launching an application. However, the speed will remain within reason.

The fact is that in addition to the Core i line, Intel also has Celeron and Pentium processors. This is a budget sector, not intended for professionals. “Stones” are only suitable for surfing the Internet and office tasks.

What if I'm not a photographer?

If we are talking about something more resource-intensive, like video rendering, pay attention to the letters M, Q, X. For example, 6700MQ or 7700HQ. Frequency such instances range from 2.5 to 4 gigahertz. Please note that the price of a laptop equipped with a similar processor can exceed 70 thousand rubles.

AMD mobile processors are still slightly inferior to competitor products in terms of performance and battery life.

Today the most modern processor line is Intel Core-Haswell, buying a laptop for graphics work with this chip will be the best option. Haswell processors have a four-digit marking starting with the number “4” - “4ХХХ”.

Intel Core i7 processors can be either dual or quad core. To determine which processor is installed on the laptop, there is a special letter index, which is indicated after four digits.

After you have decided on the processor series, you need to look at its clock frequency in normal mode and when turned on Turbo Boost. Among one series of chips, there is a rule: the higher the clock speed, the better.

An important point that few people know about is the amount of cache memory built into the processor.

The bottom line is that the exchange of information between CPU cores and cache memory occurs much faster than with RAM. Therefore, the higher the cache size, the faster your processor runs. By the way, in real tasks, a large cache size is often more necessary than the number of additional cores or an excessively high frequency. However, a CPU with a larger cache size will cost more, and increasing the memory will cause the processor to warm up.

RAM

Everything is simple here. The more, the better, regardless of specific programs. Graphics operations have always required a lot of memory: tests show that Adobe Premiere capable of consuming up to 12 gigabytes of RAM. If you work with photographs, the best choice would be 8 gigabytes(minimum 6 gigabyte). For video rendering it is desirable 16 gigabyte (minimum 8 gigabyte). Remember that savings will directly affect the speed of work in a professional application.

Video subsystem

For photographers who don't plan on doing serious gaming at their workstation, a separate graphics card isn't necessary. Modern Intel and mobile AMD processors already have built-in video cores - they are enough for all everyday tasks.

Video editors are faced with a choice. They can use the processor for compilation (as described above), or transfer this task to the video card. Many editors support this feature, including Adobe Premiere or Sony Vegas.

How does this work?

Acceleration occurs using OpenCL or CUDA libraries. Cards from AMD support only the first, NVIDIA - both. The advantage is on the side of the latter, since CUDA is faster in rendering. The more CUDA cores, the greater the performance, the more expensive the laptop. The newest and fastest line of NVIDIA cards starts with the number 10. It's optimal to choose something at the GeForce level 1050/1050Ti or save money and give up a separate card altogether.

Battery

In the case where you plan to carry your laptop from socket to socket, battery life does not matter. The vast majority of them are able to work under load for at least an hour and a half. This is enough time to go online, edit photos, watch a movie and, finally, connect the charger.

I need to work “in the field”, what should I do?

Choose ultrabook. It is distinguished from a regular laptop by its small size (the common screen diagonal is 13.3 inches), small thickness, modest performance and high price. But it consumes little energy and can go a day without recharging. Winter, as a rule, but still.

Hard drive

The standard volume today is 1 or 2 terabytes. If you think that 500 is enough, don’t be fooled. File sizes are growing rapidly, and prices differ little between models of such volumes. Notebook solutions also differ little in speed, so, once again, pay attention first of all to volume.

What about SSDs?

A solid-state drive that replaced the hard drive. Fast. Damn fast. However, it is not able to increase productivity. It can only speed up the opening of files and the launch of programs. Adjust it to your liking. The best examples are produced by Intel and Samsung.

Budget

The first step is to calculate your budget to eliminate unsuitable models. A designer laptop costs a lot of money, so take that into account. However, it is difficult to give an exact price, since it seriously depends on the dollar exchange rate, which is very unstable today. The minimum you need to have is about 30,000 rubles at your disposal.

Dimensions and weight

If you are a strong young man, you can skip this point. If you are a fragile girl or simply do not want to carry a huge box with you, then pay special attention to it. Since we are choosing a laptop for a designer, it will therefore be in constant motion. It is logical that a small device is much more compact. It's another matter when the designer requires a large screen diagonal. In this case, it is very difficult to find a compromise between convenience and size.

How to improve laptop performance

Intel processors have Turbo Boost technology, which allows you to increase the core frequency automatically. This technology is used in CPUs in the Core i5 and i7 series. The meaning of the technology is that if during operation not all processor cores are loaded, the clock frequency is automatically increased.

In a dual-core CPU, the frequency of one core increases; in a 4-core CPU, one or sometimes two. This significantly improves performance in applications that are optimized for the use of multi-core systems: programs with mathematical data processing, various audio and video editors, and a number of modern games. Thus, by choosing a processor with Turbo Boost technology, you can improve the performance of your laptop.

Most online stores do not provide enough information about the technical characteristics of equipment and electronics, for example, some sellers do not specify the cache memory parameter at all. Therefore, for the convenience of finding the necessary characteristics, we recommend using the Yandex Market service, using a filter we will sort the parameters we need listed above, then on the product card in the full list of characteristics section we look at the cache memory and clock frequency indicators in Turbo Boost mode and without, etc.

Dell Inspiration 13

A model that will suit you perfectly. This company has been producing interesting and high-quality models for a long time. The designers chose silver as the main color for their creation. The top cover of the gadget is made of silver plastic with a soft touch effect. The lid also has a completely flat surface. Users will immediately see the manufacturer’s mirror logo. On the right side of the device screen there is a miniature activity indicator. But the radiator grille of the cooling system occupies the central part of the rear edge of the case. There are also two USB 3.0 ports located here. The model itself has a 13.3-inch screen. This monitor may not seem particularly large to a designer. However, the display can be rotated 360 degrees around the mounting axis. Therefore, users will always be able to use the gadget as a laptop, multimedia stand or tablet tent. Only in the first mode is it possible to use a hardware keyboard. But in other cases, the touch screen will come to your aid.

There is a built-in part of the display unit. It is also covered with protective glass with an integrated touch layer. But the buttons are slightly larger than those of the laptop’s younger brother. There is also a backlight that can be adjusted. Inside the model, users will find the latest energy-efficient fifth-generation Intel processor. It also comes with the microarchitectural Broadwell. The processor is ready to boast a maximum heat dissipation level of 15 W. It also has two cores with a clock speed of 2.2 GHz. But the maximum frequency is ready to reach 2.7 GHz. And for buyers they came up with integrated graphics Intel HDD Graphics 5500. 8 GB were allocated for RAM. The hard drive capacity is 500 GB.

Another chic and powerful model for those who love and want to design. The most demanding graphics programs can work here. Under the hood of the device, buyers will see a fourth-generation Intel i7 processor. Of course, there is an Nvidia Quadro K4100M accelerator. You can connect up to 4 monitors to the laptop. If we take into account the operating system, then there is Windows 7 and 8. The laptop has powerful graphics called Quadro K4100M. Thanks to the graphics, users will be able to run all applications paired with a powerful processor. There are quite a few models in the range of these laptops that are ready to suit your taste. All you have to do is not look at the prices.

As soon as buyers look at this model, they will see a special coating with a nano-printed lithographic pattern. It’s just not entirely clear what exactly it gives. The working area of the computer is made of plastic with Softtouch coating. Now user fingerprints will not be so noticeable. It’s convenient to work behind the machine because there is a large diagonal and the gadget’s wrist rest is spacious. The keyboard is island-type and has a small and soft stroke. Buyers will also see a separate digital block. If we take into account the backlight, then it is there. But it can't be regulated. The technical specifications are also impressive. The processor was installed from Intel i7. Its clock frequency is 2.5 GHz. It is also possible to overclock it to a maximum of 3.5 GHz. The processor has four cores and eight threads. The graphics controller is Nvidia GTX 860M. The monitor size is 17.3 inches and the resolution is 1920 by 1080 pixels. The matte finish of the display is backlit.

RAM is designed for 12 GB. Don't forget about two modules of 4 and 8 GB. Only it is not allowed to replace the module. But the hard drive will give you as much as 1 TB of space. There are two connectors for USB. Of course, the machine supports the Internet and Bluetooth. With this gadget it’s easy to walk and drive long distances.

Laptop for 65,000 rubles - ASUS ROG GL553VD

The most budget package looks like this - ASUS ROG GL553VD (Intel Core i7 7700HQ 2800 MHz/15.6″/1920×1080/8Gb/1000Gb HDD/DVD-RW/NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Endless OS).

Pros of this laptop:

good screen;
The video card is not very powerful, but it is sufficient for many types of 3D work.

no Windows, you have to install it yourself;
8 GB of RAM, can be added later;
no SSD - you can also buy this later.

In general, a fully equipped version will cost more than 65,000 rubles - Windows + memory + SSD - but it is still cheaper than the same configuration out of the box, and you can work with the basic one without additional investments (unless, of course, you need pay for Windows).

Laptop for 80,000 rubles - HP OMEN 15-ce010ur

HP OMEN 15-ce010ur (Intel Core i7 7700HQ 2800 MHz/15.6″/1920×1080/8Gb/1128Gb HDD+SSD/DVD no/NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Windows 10 Home).

IPS screen;
the video card is a step higher;
SSD as standard;

Only 8 GB of RAM - easy to add.

The appearance is not for everyone, but the insides are very good in this budget.

Laptop for 100,000 rubles - HP OMEN 15-ce012ur

For this money you get a laptop with a good screen and a video card of a higher class, brief specification - HP OMEN 15-ce012ur (Intel Core i7 7700HQ 2800 MHz/15.6″/1920×1080/16Gb/1128Gb HDD+SSD/DVD no/NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Windows 10 Home).

Pros of this laptop:

1060 GTX video card;
16 GB of RAM;
good IPS screen.

The SSD is only 128GB, but should be enough for most cases.

Laptop for 120,000 rubles - MSI GT62VR 7RE Dominator Pro

Increasing the budget allows you to get a video card of a higher class - MSI GT62VR 7RE Dominator Pro (Intel Core i7 7700HQ 2800 MHz/15.6″/1920×1080/16Gb/1128Gb HDD+SSD/DVD no/NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Windows 10 Home).

Pros of this laptop:

1070 GTX video card;
16 GB of RAM;
good IPS screen.

SSD is only 128 GB, but for most cases it should be enough;
many people don’t like the brutal appearance - it’s a matter of taste;
weight almost 3 kilos.

Laptop for 75,000 rubles - HP OMEN 17-an018ur

The poorest configuration, which, however, is enough for a start - HP OMEN 17-an018ur (Intel Core i7 7700HQ 2800 MHz/17.3″/1920×1080/8Gb/1000Gb HDD/DVD-RW/NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/ Windows 10 Home).

Core i7 7700HQ processor, just like the more expensive options that would be worth buying;
an affordable but sufficient video card for many jobs;
IPS screen.

only 8 GB of memory - this is fixable;
there is no SSD in the database - you can add it;
DVD drive is superfluous nowadays;
weight 3.78 kg.

Laptop for 95,000 rubles - MSI GE72VR 7RF Apache Pro

Another gaming laptop that is good for a designer is the MSI GE72VR 7RF Apache Pro (Intel Core i7 7700HQ 2800 MHz/17.3″/1920×1080/16Gb/1128Gb HDD+SSD/DVD-RW/NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060/Wi-Fi /Bluetooth/Windows 10 Home).

GeForce GTX 1060 video card;
16 GB of RAM in the database;
SSD, although 128 GB, is already a plus;
relatively light weight.

There are several options for the screen matrix; it may turn out to be a regular TN.

Laptop for 125,000 rubles - HP OMEN 17-an011ur

Another omen, but with a 1070 video card - HP OMEN 17-an011ur (Intel Core i7 7700HQ 2800 MHz/17.3″/1920×1080/16Gb/1128Gb HDD+SSD/DVD-RW/NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth /Windows 10 Home).

GTX 1070 video card;
IPS screen;

weight 3.78 kg.

Laptop for RUB 160,000 - MSI GS73VR 7RF Stealth Pro

The main parameters of this laptop are MSI GS73VR 7RF Stealth Pro (Intel Core i7 7700HQ 2800 MHz/17.3″/3840×2160/32Gb/2512Gb HDD+SSD/DVD no/NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Win 10 Home) .

IPS screen 3840×2160;
32 GB of RAM out of the box;
2 TB HDD + 512 GB SSD - luxurious in our difficult times;
weight only 2.43 kg;
no DVD.

The thin case heats up and the fan makes noise under load. However, this applies to most thin and powerful laptops.

So you're working with graphics. Let's say you retouch photos in Photoshop, edit videos in some Pinnacle Studio and are thinking about buying yourself a laptop. We have two news for you.

This article is intended for persons over 18 years of age

Have you already turned 18?

The good news is that today's laptops are almost as powerful as their desktop counterparts. Here's the bad news: they are not very suitable for working in any serious graphics editors due to the small screen diagonal. And yes, of course, the best ones are damn expensive. But if you need every inch of free space or your life consists of constant moving, a laptop will be the only option.

What to rely on when choosing?

Screen

To work with color, you need a modern display with correct color reproduction, good viewing angles and an average diagonal.

What's suitable? What technologies are there anyway?

TN(aka TN+film) is the oldest technology on the market. A simple, cheap matrix with average color rendition and low clarity. The latest models have acceptable viewing angles and normal response times. Good, as the name suggests, for watching movies. Not our case. P.S. On the other hand, if you don’t do any other graphics work other than video editing, this is a chance to save money.
V.A.(PVA, SVA, WVA) - a slightly more worthy option. Good viewing angles, good color rendition. However, the shades are very dependent on your position in front of the screen, and the details of the picture in the shadows are drawn so-so. Not our case.
PLS- good viewing angles, good colors, average response time. You can take it.
IPS(AH-IPS, e-IPS, H-IPS, P-IPS, S-IPS) - the best displays on the market. Excellent color rendition, largest viewing angles without color distortion. The response time, however, is slightly lower than that of TN, which in our case is not significant. We need to take it.

What else?

CPU

It is better to ignore AMD processors. Mobile solutions based on the new Zen technology have not yet been released, and their predecessor is already outdated. That leaves Intel and its Core i line.

How are they different?

Core i3- two cores, two or four threads. Modern ones (5, 6 and 7 series) work well, but may not be enough for resource-intensive tasks.
Core i5- two or four cores, four threads. High-performance processors that are sufficient for most tasks.
Core i7- four cores (less often - two), eight (four) threads. As a rule, the fastest. Enthusiast's choice.

How so?

The answer lies in the letters after the numeric index.

Y - very low energy consumption; slow, but the battery will last a long time
U - ultramobile processor; still slow, but energy efficient
T - low power consumption again
M - mobile processor; nothing unusual
Q - there are definitely four cores here
X - high frequency and maximum performance
H - more or less powerful graphics are built-in

Horror. Which one should you choose?

What if I'm not a photographer?

RAM

Everything is simple here. The more, the better, regardless of specific programs. Graphics operations have always required a lot of memory: tests show that Adobe Premiere capable of consuming up to 12 gigabytes of RAM. If you work with photographs, the best choice would be 8 gigabytes(minimum 6 gigabyte). For video rendering it is desirable 16 gigabyte (minimum 8 gigabyte). Remember that savings will directly affect the speed of work in a professional application.

Video subsystem

How does this work?

Battery

I need to work “in the field”, what should I do?

Hard drive

What about SSDs?

Stop. The article is coming to an end, and not a word has been said about 3D modeling. This is also graphics!

Rendering 3D objects requires monstrous performance. It's hard to imagine that someone would do this on a laptop. However, if circumstances are against you, choose the most powerful Intel processor with the QX index, a 1070, 1080 or Quadro series video card from NVIDIA and about 32 gigabytes of RAM.

Suitable options

Here are laptops that are suitable for working with graphics according to the parameters listed above. The links lead to YandexMarket, where you can view their characteristics in more detail.

Laptop with 15.6 screen, Intel Core i5 8250U 1600 MHz processor, 8 GB DDR4 memory.

GP72M 7RDX Leopard

Laptop with 17.3 screen, Intel Core i7 7700HQ 2800 MHz processor, 16 GB DDR4 memory

Laptop with 17.3 screen, processor: Core i7 / Xeon 2800/3000 MHz, memory 8/16 GB DDR4

You need a high-quality screen on an IPS or PLS matrix.
Look for a suitable Core i processor.
Remember, less than 6 gigabytes of RAM is very, very bad.
Minimum terabyte of disk space required
You'll have to pay a lot of money for a good computer.

When choosing the required laptop model that will work with 3D modeling and graphics, you must be guided by the installed programs. A powerful computer is capable of efficiently processing graphical objects regardless of the resource consumption of the software. Reviews from experts and reviews of different models will help you easily select the desired PC configuration and determine the best options. This approach will help you choose the right computer that will meet all your requirements.

For graphics processing, the concept is quite vague and undefined. When choosing a computer package, first of all, you should determine the direction in the field of working with graphic or multimedia objects. This direction involves the use of a specific set or complex of software. For example, the following programs can be used to design or create three-dimensional models: 3d Max, Photoshop, CorelDraw, AutoCad or ArchiCad software package, SolidWorks and others.

Laptop depending on the type of activity

To work with ordinary graphic images (files saved in JPEG, RAW, TIFF format) or vector objects, you can use, which belongs to the middle price category. The technical characteristics of such modifications correspond to the optimal system requirements of graphic editors. In addition, they have compact dimensions, which increases their mobility. This option is especially important for users who are often on the road for work or photographers during their travels. To work with 3D graphics and animation in programs such as 3ds Max, Autodesk packages, KOMPAS, SolidWorks and others, a laptop requires high performance. The speed of processing graphic objects of volumetric modeling depends on the following criteria:

central processor – clock speed, number of cores, cache, platform type;
– timings, frequency, memory capacity;
– bus width, number of cores, memory size, frequency.

Attention! Laptops in which the video card is implemented through an integrated graphics core into the central processor are not capable of working with graphics. Their performance and capabilities are only enough for watching movies and playing games with low requirements.

CPU

The central part of any computer is its “heart”. The speed of information processing and the performance of the laptop as a whole depend on its characteristics. When choosing a CPU, you need to decide on its platform: AMD or Intel. To perform these operations, the second type of processor is preferable, since the first option is more tailored to the gaming process and has lower power. When choosing a powerful Intel-based laptop, you should choose the following types of CPU: Core i3/i5/i7. In turn, they consume different amounts of energy. Their performance directly depends on the value of this parameter. Energy consumption can be easily determined based on the marking, for example Intel Core i3 3100 M, which is deciphered as follows. The first two words mean the product brand, the designation i3 is the type of processor, 3xxx is the generation, x100 is the numerical designation of the configuration, M is the series suffix, which means power consumption. To work with graphics, you should select processors with the following suffix designation:

Advice. To perform operations on processing graphic objects, a processor with the Q or H suffix will be the optimal modification. It will be able to ensure stable operation of even the most demanding programs.

For people who spend a lot of time traveling, an important parameter will be the battery life of a laptop. In this case, it is advisable to choose equipment with low power consumption. The U suffix in the labeling means consumption from 15 to 28 W. But there is also a downside: working with special software is accompanied by periodic “freezing” of the system, low recall levels and other similar problems.

Cache

When choosing a processor, practically no attention is paid to this parameter, considering it insignificant. But when working with graphics, this approach is not entirely correct. Cache is a storage of temporary data of the processor itself. During computer operation, service instructions are exchanged between the CPU cores and RAM for the stable operation of programs and applications. The amount of data storage depends on the cache memory, and the larger it is, the less frequently the processor accesses RAM. Consequently, the speed of information processing increases and productivity improves.

Frequency

Clock speed is one of the key parameters of the CPU. The speed of data processing depends on its value. When choosing a processor based on this parameter, you should follow the rule: “The more, the better.” The minimum permissible frequency value to ensure stable operation with graphics is 2.1 GHz. In addition, you should take into account the presence of the Turbo Boost function in the CPU. It is designed to instantly increase the clock frequency of one of the cores when it reaches its maximum value. In two nuclear modifications, the frequency of only one core increases, in 4-core models - one or two, depending on the CPU load.

Advice. When choosing between processors built on different platforms, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with comparison tables. It is important that the tests are carried out using the same programs and the same tasks are performed.

RAM

Working with graphics, especially creating three-dimensional models and objects, requires a lot of work. The optimal value for this parameter is 8 GB. In addition, RAM performance depends on the timings and frequency. Their duration is measured in the number of cycles between the received request for data processing and the moment in time when the RAM frees up the memory area for recording information. The time it takes to access and recall RAM depends on the timings. Consequently, the lower the value of this criterion, the faster the request and incoming information are processed. The meaning of the parameter can be found in the marking after the abbreviation CAS or CL.

Bandwidth is determined by the frequency with which the maximum amount of information can be transmitted in one clock cycle of the device. When choosing RAM, it is necessary to take into account that as the value of this parameter increases, the amount of thermal energy released increases in direct proportion. To compensate for this shortcoming, it is recommended to choose energy-saving RAM models, which in their markings after the type of RAM have the letter index “L”.

Video card

Working with graphics requires a discrete video card installed in the laptop. The main criteria for choosing a video card are the following: frequency, memory size, bit depth and number of cores. Modern graphics programs require significant resources. For an Intel-based PC, the best option is to use gaming device models from nVidia GTX series; for AMD-based architecture, Radeon HD 7xxx or 8xxx series. It is recommended to install nVidia Quadro and AMD Fire Pro video cards to work with resource-intensive programs at a professional level.

The configuration of a laptop for working with graphics should be selected based on what software will be installed. A properly selected computer will function efficiently and stably even during maximum processor load.

How to choose a laptop for a designer: video

Budget

Dimensions and weight

Screen

A laptop simply must have a good screen. As a rule, people in this profession spend a huge amount of time at work, which simply cannot but affect eye health. It is impossible to completely solve this problem, but the negative impact can be reduced if you buy a designer laptop with a good matrix. On the Russian electronics market it is difficult to find a decent option at an affordable price. You should choose those models with a screen diagonal of at least 15 inches. Preference should be given to the highest resolution possible, at which graininess does not appear (no worse than FullHD). Pay attention to the matrix production technology. The matrix is better than IPS today, but only a specialist can figure out which display is best. Therefore, when choosing a screen, rely on your feelings.

CPU

Now let's look at what kind of processor a designer's laptop can get. How to choose the right one? - you ask. Everything is quite simple here. Today, the most relevant processors are Intel processors, namely Core i7. Many tests have already proven that this chip is the right choice for a graphic designer. You can, of course, save money and buy a rather outdated i5, but in some programs the processing speed may significantly decrease.

It is not recommended to purchase devices with an AMD processor for these purposes. Chips, although much cheaper, cannot ensure the normal operation of demanding programs. Plus, laptops with such processors get very hot. You should also pay attention to the clock speed of the chipset. The bigger it is, the better. The same situation applies to the number of processor cores. You should not purchase devices that run on fewer than 4 cores.

Video card

Laptop for a designer, how to choose? Recommendations usually involve purchasing a device with a powerful video card. Of course, all this is true. It’s just difficult to find a laptop with a powerful video card that will cost at least 40,000 rubles. The video chip should be chosen from those offered by Nvidia. The company's devices are quite fast and powerful. Laptops are equipped with models with reduced functionality; they are designated by the letter “M”. The most recent video cards come out under the 800 series. The most productive ones received the designation "GTX". In order to save several thousand, you can take a closer look at the previous series of cards (700M). Laptops with such a video card are slightly inferior to the new line, but cost much less. Radeon is not very suitable for graphics tasks, so try to exclude it.

RAM

For normal operation, a minimum of 8 GB of RAM is required. Smaller volumes are not enough to handle multiple demanding tasks at once, resulting in severely reduced processing speeds and system stutters. It is better if the laptop has 16 GB or 32 GB of RAM. In this case, you don't have to worry about the brakes. By the way, you can increase the volume yourself by purchasing additional memory. Preference should be given to expensive and fast modules so that there are no problems during operation. Be sure to check with the seller how much maximum memory can be installed in a particular laptop.

Hard drive

A regular hard drive does not affect the speed of programs. However, it is better to have more memory on hand. It is preferable that the model have 1 TB of memory. This won't really impact the value of the laptop, but you won't have to worry about clearing out the storage. The best option today is to purchase a device with an SSD drive. Solid state drives are much faster than hard drives, but they are also more expensive. In principle, you can install an SSD disk yourself by purchasing the necessary components.

Battery

It's difficult to give any advice here. The battery capacity should be selected based on your needs. If you want a compact device - a small battery, long battery life, but it is very bulky. Considering how the laptop will be used and what energy consumption the hardware requires, it can be established that it will function from 4 to 10 hours.

ASUS N550JK

A very good model from a famous manufacturer. The laptop is not only powerful, but also stylish. The “brains” are the Core i7, operating at a clock frequency of 2500 MHz. One of the latest types of RAM is installed, which is 16 GB. A high-quality matte display with a diagonal of 15.6 inches is used to display information. The video card here is from Nvidia, namely 850M, which received 4 GB of memory. The hard drive is installed at 1.5 TB, which allows you to forget about the problem of constant lack of memory. The battery is set to 4000 mAh. Overall, the laptop is perfect for work and will be a pleasure to use. However, you will have to pay about 70,000 rubles for quality.

Lenovo IdeaPad Y5070

A powerful new product from Lenovo that will satisfy the needs of any graphic designer. An expensive 15.6-inch IPS matrix with FullHD resolution is installed. The latest video chip installed in the laptop from Nvidia is responsible for the speed of operation; its power is enough to run the most modern graphics processing programs. I received a laptop with 16 GB of RAM, which is enough for excellent multitasking. A 1 TB hard drive is installed, and you can also insert SSD drives. The capacious battery allows you to work up to 5 hours without recharging. The cost of the model is about 50,000 rubles.

MSI GS60 2PC Ghost

A good laptop from a company that is famous for its powerful new products. Built on the basis of a clock speed of 2400 MHz. The matrix received FullHD resolution and a diagonal of 15.6 inches. The video card is installed Nvidia 860M, demonstrating excellent performance. The device has 8 GB of RAM, but you can expand the volume yourself. There is a 1 TB hard drive and a 128 GB SSD on which you can install the operating system. Despite the powerful filling, the model turned out to be very light. The cost is approximately 60,000 rubles.

Acer ASPIRE V3-772G-747a8G1TMa

An interesting model with a large 17.3-inch display and an attractive price. The matrix is matte with FullHD resolution, does not collect fingerprints and does not glare in the sun. The chip is Core i7, clocked at 2.2 GHz. The powerful Nvidia 850M graphics card provides excellent performance and graphics processing speed. To ensure multitasking, 8 GB of RAM is used; if there is a shortage, you can increase the volume. A 1 TB hard drive is installed, and it is possible to install a solid-state drive or a more capacious hard drive. The cost is 40,000, making it the most affordable laptop for a graphic designer.

2PC Stealth

A modern laptop that can handle many programs and games. A 17.3-inch matte matrix is installed, there is no grain, thanks to the high FullHD resolution. The processor is from Intel - Core i7, clock frequency is 2.5 GHz. The video card is 860-series from Nvidia, received 2 GB of memory. RAM - 8 GB. It comes standard with a 1 TB hard drive and a 256 GB SSD. The model will cost approximately 55,000 rubles.