How to choose a laptop for graphic design

Whenever we decide to buy a new laptop, we are invaded by a world of doubts. It is logical. Not everyone is a computer scientist or really knows what they need. If you are a video game player you will need some specifications. If you use it for graphic design, others and if you are administrative, others are totally different.

In case of using it for graphic design you will need great power. An administrative program like Excel will not be the same as a graphic design program like Illustrator. Knowing this, we will increase the characteristics of our computer. RAM, Graphics and other elements such as the screen will influence. This will raise thus the cost of the computer. We are going to compose the characteristics of the laptops in different sections, according to the money we want or can invest. That is, we are going to make a computer for a minimum of performance.

We are going to collect the most important parts of the hardware for our computer for graphic design. These essential parts will be where we can least swing the lead when it comes to getting a good laptop. Although it is clear, they are the ones with the highest budget.

The processor, brain of the operation

Most importantly, everything around it should govern. You should not save in this regard and we must choose according to an element such as the graphics card that we will talk about later.

It is easier to get along with the Intel system, a much more widespread processor. Apple "friend" and a wide range of models. I emphasize, because there are AMD processors, which with less 'fame', are also very optimal for use.

In this aspect there are variants of opinions. In the case of Graphic Design, it is good to get a high-end processor, so neither of them will give you a problem. Here the economic interferes. In laptops we usually find intel by default, so look for a laptop with an Intel i7 Processor (Generation and speed will depend on the year). And at least a latest generation Intel i5 processor, but keep in mind that the Intel i9 processor came out, so each year that passes it will be further behind. If you find a laptop with an AMD processor, make sure it's AMD Ryzer 7 and up.

The number of cores and their performance are also important. Some programs and tasks benefit from a greater number of cores, such as those that involve rendering processes, while in other cases it is more advisable to have fewer cores but with greater power.

RAM

RAM is perhaps the most flexible element. And I say this because you will not need the best brand. The problem with laptops is that it is difficult to know what type of RAM. But if we must inform ourselves well of the number of gigs and the speed in MHz they have.

The minimum we will need is 8 GB RAM memory. And the most recommended is 16 GB. In that interval you can opt for 12 GB. All depending on the characteristics of the laptop. The speed should be 1600 Mhz since the previous ones are quite old.

The GRAPHIC card, the piece we all look for

When it comes to buying a laptop, the first thing we look for is a label that says what graphics card you have. That red label from AMD or the even more typical green from Nvidia. Some people are even mistaken in thinking that it is the most important thing. Although of course it is of great importance, if the above elements are not taken into account, it is not worth much.

If we have looked at the previous elements and we are correct, we will have to look at that label. GTX or RADEON and infinite numbers will appear on them. The graphics card supports the CPU to speed up image processing, and having the right model can save us a lot of time, so you shouldn't put your choice aside.

The most widespread and the one recommended for its compatibility with some editing programs is Nvidia. In this case we will always need a medium or high range. Nvidia's specialization in Graphic Design has created the Nvidia Quadro range. In case we cannot find a laptop with this range, we will look for an Nvidia Geforce GTX. This way we make sure not to find a Graphics Card integrated in our system.

Hard drive, better SSD

The weight of all the programs that you will need to design will be carried by the hard disk. Starting with the operating system. This is where we have to weigh for a fast hard drive. It is common to think and decide on a large capacity hard drive. For many that equates to quality and reliability. On the other hand, it has nothing of weight for our computer. The speed in RPM and the acronym SSD are the most influential points to decide on one. Although it is true that a laptop with a HDD hard drive usually has a speed of 5400 rpm, for the 7200 rpm of a desktop one. The SSD hard drive has higher speed than its predecessor HDD.

Consequently, they are more expensive and tend to bring less capacity. But the capacity can be fixed with external drives. It is important that when loading images and videos that you are going to use in your work as a designer, the rendering is done in a fluid way. The more impediment you have to carry out the work, the more risk you run that the system hangs and deletes your document.

The most convenient thing is to have a small SSD hard disk integrated -128 GB- and an external HDD hard disk of the size you need.

other tools

Once you have your laptop decided. Including all the above elements to take into account, It is important that you know that a laptop is more uncomfortable when designing. At least with its native tools -we are talking about trackpad and keyboard by default-.

To accompany it, a tablet like the Wacom Graphics Tablets can be a great help to design. If you are not yet very fond of these graphics tablets, you can opt for an external mouse and keyboard. An ergonomic mouse is essential. And the type of keyboard will depend on the taste of each one.