Best Laptops for Pro Engineer: Top 5 Laptops for Pro Engineer / PTC Creo

Now called PTC Creo, Pro-Engineer is a robust modeling software used by engineers. It is based on 3D solid modeling and makes it possible to create simulations of real-life objects. Engineers exploit this kind of software to model mechanical design and proceed with other design and manufacturing related operations with the simulations. If you are an engineering student and wondering which laptop to get for Creo and other CAD software, we have compiled a list just for you. But let’s first check out more info about Creo and its system requirements.

About PTC Creo:

Mainly used by mechanical engineers, PTC Creo can be used  for all the stages of product development, from concept, detailing, simulation, documentation and production. Based on the feature-based, parametric method. The method relies on parameters, dimensions, features, and relationships between objects to produce the final product design. Unlike conventional CAD systems, this method allows us to work without a fixed coordinates system and strongly emphasizes features and design criteria. It makes it easier to work with and enables fast and accurate changes and additions to the existing models.

When it comes to other essential features, Pro-Engineering provides a high level of the association of the elements and features in the model. As it bases on a single data structure, a change made on any stage of product development will spread around the whole model, adjusting new parameters. So, if you change one object’s geometric features or position, connected objects will change respectively to that.

As the system is based on double-precision, non-faceted modeling, it offers high accuracy, too. The most detailed geometric and physical representation and interference checking are also available in PTC Creo. Additionally, it provides a few more types of information such as manufacturing and assembly processes and costs of production.

Recommended System Specifications for PTC Creo:

First of all, the software does not work on all operational systems. It is compatible with most Windows and UNIX versions, and the interface and functions do not differ much. To have an idea about the official system requirements, you can check out this page.

For laptops, here are our recommendations when buying a laptop for Pro Engineer / Creo PTC:

• Processor: Like many similar CAD programs out there, Creo PTC uses a single core and lodges in one thread, the processor should have a capacity to process data fast enough. With higher processing speed, making changes and adding new objects will run smoothly without significant delays.So getting a laptop with a high a processor speed can benefit performance.
• RAM: Furthermore, the laptop should have a minimum of 8 GB RAM to be able to work with most 3D models. The heavier the model, the more RAM it requires, respectively.
• Graphics Card: Creo is quite hard on the graphics card. Therefore, users should consider the card with high enough capacities to correctly represent all the details. This is a crucial part of any engineer’s work, and inferior hardware may affect the precision and quality of the model in general.

As you can see from the above requirements, most users will be fine with a gaming capable laptop. Gaming laptops can run Creo easily; but if you’re looking for a more professional device, a workstation laptop is another option to consider.

Best Laptops for Pro Engineer / Creo PTC

So now that you have an idea what to consider when looking for a laptop for Pro Engineer, let’s check out some of the best laptops for Pro Engineer we selected for you:

MSI GF63 Thin 9SCX-615

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Designed as a gaming laptop, the MSI GF63 Thin 9SCX-615 is a good match for engineering students, and it’s also one of the best laptops for Pro engineer /  Creo. It Comes with a 9^th generation 2.6 GHz Intel Core i5 9300H with 8 GB RAM as well, a 512GB SSD, and a dedicated Nvidia GTX 1050Ti.

It has a 15.6 inches IPS display with 1920 X 1080p maximum resolution. The screen has an anti-glare technology and a 45% color gamut. The laptop offers an improved cooling system, promises 10% cooler and quieter experience.  There also plenty of ports to connect extra hardware if needed, the laptop has three USB 3.0, USB Type-C, and HDMI ports.

HP Zbook 15V G5

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A bit pricier, the HP Zbook 15V G5 positions itself as a mobile workstation. It has a 15.6 inches Sure View IPS display with a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. According to reviews, it has an enhanced color scheme and provides a better image than the previous one.

Providing less storage volume, this laptop is, however, faster and offers better graphics. The laptop has a six-core Intel Core i7 processor with a top speed of 2.2 GHz and 32 GB RAM. There is also an SSD hard drive with 2TB of storage as well as a 2TB HDD. Also, the notebook provides an integrated NVIDIA Quadro P600 graphics card with 4 GB VRAM. Besides that, it has increased connectivity, having a full-size HDMI, one USB-C Thunderbolt 3, and three USB 3.0 ports, and an RJ 45 port.

Dell Precision 5530

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Being a mobile workstation as well, Dell Precision 5530 offers a 15.6 inches UltraSharp Full HD screen. It has a maximum resolution of 3840×2160 pixels and 72% color gamut. Some users, therefore, consider it as the best-in-class display with sharp and bright color schemes.

This laptop is significantly more powerful than the two previous ones. It has the newest six-core Intel Core i9 processor with a Turbo Boost system and a top speed of 4.80GHz. The notebook has a 512GB SSD hard drive and 16 GB RAM. It also offers 4 GB Nvidia Quadro P2000 graphics card, which gives it an advantage over the previous ones. When it comes to connectivity, the laptop has two USB 3.1 with PowerShare, one Thunderbolt 3 with power delivery, and HDMI 2.0 ports as well as SD 2.0 card reader.

On users’ runtime tests, the laptop showed over 8 hours of single charge battery life. However, this mobile workstation is not the cheapest option out there, so it mostly designed for professional users.

Lenovo ThinkPad P52

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Providing TrackPoint control in addition to a standard touchpad, the Lenovo ThinkPad P52 is a good option for engineers. It has a 15.6 inches Full HD IPS display with 1920x1080p maximum resolution. And although it’s not the cheapest laptop out there, it provides great value for money for professional engineers and small businesses.

The laptop has 2.20GHz Intel HexaCore i7 with the boost to up to 4.10GHz. It provides 1 TB SSD hard drive and 32 GB RAM as well, which enhances its productivity. With 4 GB NVIDIA Quadro P1000 graphics card, this notebook can run heavier 3D models without visible problems.

The ThinkPad P52 is also a champion when it comes to ports, it has plenty of connectivity options with three USB 3.1, two Thunderbolt 3, HDMI 2.0, Ethernet, a Mini Display Port, and a Docking Station prot. As an additional benefit, the laptop has a backlit keyboard.

Providing 6 Cell Lithium-Ion Battery, it offers up to 8 hours of battery life.

Lenovo ThinkPad P53

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Last but not the least, we have the ThinkPad P53, one of the best laptops for Pro Engineer and almost most other 3D and CAD software out there. Being a premium mobile workstation, this laptop provides a top-quality 15.6 inch 4K screen. It has an LCD IPS display with a maximum resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels and enhanced color schemes.

Offering high hardware capacities, this laptop suits the needs of more advanced users. It has the 9^th generation Intel Core i7 processor with six cores and a maximum speed of 2.60 GHz. The notebook is equipped with a dedicated 8 GB Quadro RTX 4000 graphics card and 512 GB SSD hard drive. It has a standard RAM of 16 GB with an option to expand it up to 128 GB. Besides that, the laptop has two Thunderbolt 3, two USB Type-C, RJ-45, HDMI ports, and an SD card reader.

The laptop has a 6-cell Lithium-Polymer battery with an outstanding single charge battery life of about 12 hours on users’ test.