Can Blender run on any laptop?

eComputerTips is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn affiliate commission without any additional cost to you.

What are the best laptops for running Blender software? Blender is a software created originally in 1994 as an in-house application by a Dutch animation studio, named Neo Geo.

Four years later it was released for the general public to use as a freeware tool. Further down in 2003, it was released as an open-source project.

As of now, you will get to use the 2.81 version of Blender software, released in November 2019.

Blender software helps in rendering and 3D modelling. It is one of the most favorite tools that animators and game developers use most often as it helps in sculpting, animation, video editing, rigging, VFX, simulation, and lots more.

This is a perfect tool for small businesses and it needs a much smaller learning curve.

However, to make the best use of this open source and completely free software, you will need a powerful laptop.

Yes, not all laptops can run the Blender software, and without a proper device to run it on, this software will be useless.

Here are a few best laptops that you can use to run Blender software.

These are often chosen by the professional video editors for their refined fluidity, an essential for those heavily detailed 3D projects.

Laptops for Running Blender Software Price

Tips to Increase the Speed of a Laptop While Running Blender Software

If you have a laptop already, it should have much more than the minimum specs recommended in order to run Blender and have a pleasant experience.

In addition to that, you will need to make some tweaks to increase the speed of the computer and enhance your 3D modelling and rendering experience.

Yes, you can do without these tricks but there is no guarantee that your system as well as its internal parts such as the CPU, RAM and graphics card will not take the unnecessary hit.

The first thing that you should consider is going for the optimal system requirement instead of sticking to the minimum for a better rendering experience, provided your budget allows that is.

Next, you will need to be more specific about the hardware configuration so that none of the parts of Blender are slow whether it is in loading or rendering. You may also need to make some tweaks in the viewport.

The best way to approach and make your system perform better is to upgrade a few specific components such as the disk and, if possible, the RAM as well.

Most importantly, if you have an HDD, you should immediately upgrade it with an SSD. This will make your device perform faster.

Another possibility would be adding an external GPU enclosure. You may also try using the latest version of the Nvidia GPU chip to expedite rendering.

Also, render at low quality, decimate the shapes as much as possible, and reduce polygon or vertices count.

If none of the above apply, it is time to get a new and faster machine, probably one of these five.

Minimum & Recommended System Requirements for Running Blender Software

In your laptop you will need to have at least an Intel Dual Core 64-bit processor to run Blender software. It should come with a base clock speed of 2 GHz and SSE2 support. Apart from that, you will also need a minimum of 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of free hard drive space.

As for the graphics card, it should come with at least 1 GB of video memory and OpenGL 3.3 support. A good integrated graphics may do the job as well. The size of the screen should be 13 inches with a decent resolution.

However, if you want to run the software smoothly so that it can handle any given task, you will need a laptop with higher specs than that. This will run the Blender software on your laptop with minimal or no glitches.

If you are clueless about what to look for in such a laptop, follow the list of recommended system requirements to choose one of the best laptops easily and be better off.

Minimum system requirements: 8th generation Intel Core i7 8565U or higher processor| 8 GB of RAM | 256 GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD storage | Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 or higher | 13.3 inches screen or bigger | 1024 × 768 pixels screen resolution

Recommended system requirements: 8th generation Intel Core i7 or i9 processor| 16 GB of RAM or higher | 512 GB SSD storage | Dedicated Nvidia GeForce GTX or RTX or equivalent AMD Radeon graphics card | 15.4 inches screen or bigger | 1920 x 1080 pixels or higher screen resolution

5 Best Laptops for Running Blender Software:

1. Apple MacBook Pro Best Overall

Key Features

• Screen: 15.4 inches
• Storage:512 GB SSD
• RAM: 16 GB DDR4 SDRAM
• Processor: Intel Core i9
• OS: Mac OS
• GPU: AMD Radeon Pro 560X

Pros

• The Retina display is pretty large and is of good quality.
• The trackpad is large and very sensitive to touches.
• This thin and sleek laptop comes with adequate RAM and SSD storage.

Cons

• The keyboard does not include a separate 10-key numeric keypad.
• There is no optical drive in the system.
• The port selection of the system could be better.

This device comes with an Intel Core i9 processor that consists of 8 cores and can operate at a base frequency of 2.3 GHz. This is powerful enough to provide adequate support to your rendering process with Blender.

The 16 GB memory is quite enough for multitasking on several apps and browser tabs, thanks to the 2400 MHz bandwidth of this DDR4 SDRAM.

You can store all your files created, large and small, in the SSD storage of 512 GB and also expect a faster boot up of the system.

The 15.4-inch screen is a retina display and exhibits images at 2880 x 1800 pixels. The images are crisp and clear and are displayed seamlessly due to the dedicated AMD Radeon Pro 560X graphics card.

It comes with 4 GB GDDR5 memory. This may not be mighty powerful but is also not a complete slouch either.

Finally, the macOS will enable you to work smoothly and you will also get a strong connectivity with its wi-fi 5 support. Check out Apple Macbook Pro Review.

2. MSI GS75 Stealth Runner Up

Key Features

• Screen: 17.3 inches
• Storage:512 GB NVMe SSD
• RAM: 32 GB DDR4 SDRAM
• Processor: 8th generation Intel Core i7 8750H
• OS: Windows 10 Home
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Max Q

Pros

• The screen is quite large and is of good quality.
• The cooling system of this machine is pretty good.
• The touchpad is large and quite sensitive.

Cons

• The device is pretty heavy weighing more than 5 pounds.
• There is no optical drive in the device.
• The noise of the fan can be heard while heavy gaming.

This is another good laptop that will make your 3D modelling job much easier, thanks to its stunning features.

The display is very large and comes with a very thin bezel of 5.2 mm only. This offers a large viewing area. The images on this IPS screen are displayed at full HD resolution and at 144 Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time.

The dedicated graphics card comes with Max Q technology and a huge 8 GB GDDR6 memory. This also supports ray tracing technology which makes it easy in rendering and image reproduction with greater color accuracy.

The processor is powerful and operates at a speed range of 2.2 GHz and 4.1 GHz. There is an adequate amount of memory that comes with 2666 MHz bandwidth in two channels and can be upgraded up to 32 GB. It also has a fast NVMe SSD that allows faster boot up.

Since this laptop is designed for high-end gaming as well, it will generate a lot of heat. However, the system comes with an efficient cooling system.

It includes 3 fans with 47 blades in each, 4 exhausts, and 7 copper heat pipes. This keeps it cool, though the fan noise is quite notable under heavy use.

The special feature of the design of this laptop includes a stunning backlit keyboard with multiple colors. It is comfortable to type on.

It also has a glass covered touchpad. This is 35% larger and supports 10+ gestures. There is also a multipurpose and Thunderbolt 3 port.

All of these add to the performance of the laptop while running Blender software. Check out MSI GS75 Stealth Review.

3. Asus Vivobook S14 Value for Money

Key Features

• Screen: 14 inches
• Storage:512 GB PCIe Nvme SSD
• RAM: 8 GB DDR4 SDRAM
• Processor: 8th generation Intel Core i7 8565U
• OS: Windows 10 Home
• GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 620

Pros

• There is an interactive and sensitive Screen Pad.
• The Nano Edge screen provides larger real estate.
• The backlit keyboard comes with exclusive ergo lift design for better typing.

Cons

• The graphics card is integrated.
• There is no optical drive built in this laptop.
• The speakers are at the bottom which emits poor sound.

This is one of the best laptops to run Blender software at this price point. It has all those features and specs to handle multiple apps and software to run AutoCAD and several simulation programs.

It has a great processing speed and a screen of good quality, a solid keyboard with backlights and a multi-purpose trackpad.

This Asus Vivobook model is equipped with the latest Intel core i7 processor that comes with 4 cores and 8 threads. It belongs to the 8th generation.

This processor can operate at a high speed of 4.60 GHz using Intel Turbo Boost technology to make the best use of its available and large 8 MB smart cache.

The Screen Pad 2.0 is a handy tool that is interactive and doubles as a 5.65-inch secondary touchscreen.

There are several Asus utility apps built in it to enhance your productivity. It includes Quick Key, Number Key, Mode switch, App Navigator, Handwriting, and Slide Xpert.

The 14-inch screen comes with four-way narrow bezel to offer an amazing 87% body to screen ratio and exhibits clear images at full HD resolution.

The 8 GB RAM is good enough for multitasking. The 512 GB PCIe NVMe SSD is good enough for storing a large number of files and faster boot up.

The Windows 10 Home operating system comes with useful features. All these features allow you to complete your task most convincingly and comfortably.

The backlit keyboard with ergo lift design offers a better typing position and the key travel and tactility adds on to your typing experience.

The IR camera built in the system allows safer and faster facial login with its Windows Hello support. This makes this device more secure to use and prevents unauthorized access to it.

You can connect a lot of external devices and accessories to the laptop using its different ports and slots.

It includes USB 3.1 Type C port, USB 3.0 port, USB 2.0 port, and HDMI port. It also supports wi-fi 5 for better internet connectivity.

4. Dell XPS 9380 This and Light Laptop with Touchscreen

Key Features

• Screen: 13.3 inches
• Storage:256 GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
• RAM: 8 GB LPDDR3
• Processor: 8th generation Intel Core i7 8565U
• OS: Windows 10 Home
• GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 620

Pros

• The devices come with a fast SSD storage.
• The screen comes with a narrow bezel and touch support.
• This is a very thin, light, and portable laptop.

Cons

• The screen is small in size.
• There is no optical drive in the device.
• The keyboard does not come with a separate 10-key number keypad.

This Dell model is for those users who need a well-designed and elegant laptop that is powerful enough to run Blender and other complex software programs.

In keeping with the repertoire of the XPS line of computers, this laptop is durable and easily upgradeable as well.

The shell of the device is made from metal, which makes it durable, and the back is made from carbon fiber which also feels equally sturdy. Weighing less than 3 pounds, this portable laptop is an excellent choice if you want to work with Blender.

The screen of this computer is simply stunning. This 4K display supports 3840 x 2160 pixels resolution which makes the images sharper and clearer.

However, this 13.3-inch screen is pretty small in size and its Ultra HD feature drains the battery out pretty fast. The good thing is that this screen comes with touch support and the Infinity Edge technology offers a larger screen real estate to work on.

The 8th generation Intel Core i7 processor comes with 4 cores and 8 threads and with a smart cache as high as 8 MB.

It can operate at a Turbo Boost speed of 4.60 GHz to process any given data string in the quickest possible time.

The Intel UHD graphics 620, though integrated, is recommended for Blender. The features and functionality will make your job quick and easy.

Adding to your operational comfort is the Windows 10 Home operating system. It comes with a 64-bit architecture and a lot of useful features that you are familiar with.

The device is also powered with the latest M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD, though only 256 GB in capacity.

However, this is almost three times faster in comparison to any other traditional SATA SSD. This means that your system will not be found lagging even during reading and writing continuously to the hard drive.

The 8 GB memory, though LPDDR3, will be good enough to support your job with its 2133 MHz bandwidth. Check out Dell XPS 9380 Review.

5. GIGABYTE Aero 15X v8 Faster Graphics Rendering

Key Features

• Screen: 15.6 inches
• Storage:512 GB M.2 NVME PCIe SSD
• RAM: 16 GB DDR4 SDRAM
• Processor: 8th generation Intel Core i7 8750H
• OS: Windows 10 Home
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Max Q

Pros

• The system is equipped with huge and fast SSD storage.
• The screen is pretty large and comes with an ultra- narrow bezel on three sides.
• The backlit keyboard is large and comes with a separate 10-key number keypad.

Cons

• The system does get a bit loud and hot under pressure.
• The system design does not include an optical drive.
• The location of the webcam is pretty awkward.

All the features and configurations of this model make it one of the best laptops for 3D modelling and rendering using the Blender software.

This high-end laptop also comes with the latest Intel Core i7 processor. It belongs to the 8th generation. It is powerful since it has 6 cores and 12 threads.

This ensures a better processing ability of this processor that comes with 9 MB of cache. It can operate at a speed ranging between 2.2 GHz and a high speed of up to 4.1 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 technology.

The dedicated Nvidia GTX 1070 graphics card on this laptop helps in better rendering on Blender.

The 8 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory along with the Max Q design makes things pretty fast and easy. It also comes with Nvidia Optimus technology and CUDA support.

Adding to the power of the CPU and the graphics card is the 512 GB M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen 3×4 SSD storage. This makes reading and writing to the hard drives much easier and really fast.

The 16 GB DDR4 SDRAM comes with a high bandwidth of 2666 MHz that allows better and faster multitasking.

You can even upgrade this memory up to 32 GB in case you need some more power and punch in the system at a later stage.

When it comes to transfer of files and data from and to this system, you will get a Thunderbolt 3 interface.

The other ports and slots that will make the process much easier and faster include three USB 3.1 ports, an SD card reader slot, a RJ 45 port for wired connectivity, and an HDMI 2.0 port.

There is also a Mini DisplayPort 1.4, along with one combo audio jack, a Kensington lock slot, and a DC-in jack.

You will also get a pretty large screen of 15.6 inches that comes with an ultra-thin 5 mm bezel.

The screen supports full HD resolution, a high 144 Hz refresh rate, and Pantone X-Rite technology. The IPS panel of this anti-glare LCD display offers a wider viewing angle.

The battery life of this system with a capacity of 94.24 watt-hour is pretty good, lasting for about 10+ hours.

The keyboard with per key RGB backlights will allow easy typing in the dark. The Dolby Atmos support of the audio system produces quite a decent sound output.

How to Choose Best Laptops for Running Blender Software?

When buying a laptop for running Blender software, your primary focus should be on the graphics card, but that does not mean you will overlook the others. Also remember that these are all recommendations and not mandatory.

As said earlier, laptops with low-end specs may also run Blender software but the experience will not be as high as in laptops with these specs.

The graphics card

You will need to choose the right and powerful graphics card because it will make all the difference in the world.

It is only a good graphics card that will enable you to create special effects.

It will also take away the load from the processor and RAM during operation to ensure smoothness and faster results.

Secondly, the graphics card should have a lot of dedicated memory so that it does not crash frequently while GPU rendering in complex scenes.

This will also prevent switching to the CPU in order to continue, which, in comparison, is a lot slower.

If the graphics card has a larger memory, it will be much easier to add more textures and geometry into the scene.

It will also deal with the overall complexity in it with ease and render perfectly.

Processor

In addition to the graphics card, you will also need a fast and powerful processor in your laptop for running Blender software.

This is also a must-have which will allow you to do most of the calculations. It will do all the data processing for you.

Mind you, 3D software like Blender and other high-velocity apps will put a heavy workload on the processor.

Therefore, choose a multi-core processor of minimum i7 or higher, to render more tiles at one time. If it is slow then the device may hang or crash often.

Sometimes you may have to fall back on the processor, especially when you are not rendering on your graphics card.

In such situations you will need a stronger and more powerful processor. it will save a lot of your time while rendering for complex scenes.

Also, make it a point that you choose the fastest one.

RAM

A minimum of 16 GB RAM is required in a laptop to run Blender software, though higher than this is recommended. This will ensure that the system does not perform at a slow speed and you get optimized results.

However, while choosing the RAM you should know one specific thing. The RAM type or amount will not affect the render times directly.

However, it will still play an important role to determine whether or not you will be able to make the best out of the memory usage limits.

It will help in creating a scene using a bulky image texture or make a high-resolution simulation.

All these will need a lot of RAM, which when low, will run out of it and cause your Blender to crash.

This can happen especially during specific types of simulations such as fluid, smoke, or cloth and will directly impact the detailing of your simulation.

The storage

The storage in the laptop for running Blender should be a minimum 256 GB.

This will ensure a flawless performance and also allow you to store adequate amounts of data or files in your computer.

If your budget permits, you can go for a higher amount of storage but at all cost it should be an SSD.

These are costlier than the HDDs but are faster in performance, lighter in weight, and less prone to failures and damages.

This is because they do not have spinning disks inside, and do not heat up fast.

A hard drive should not fail but nothing is in your hands. The best you can do is create a suitable backup and the easiest way to do that is to setup a RAID array, if the system allows that.

This is a specific configuration in the system that uses two physical hard drives. One of these two mirrors the other.

Therefore, even if one fails you will still have another as your backup, always.

You can easily set this up by purchasing two identical hard drives and then set them up in the BIOS settings.

Display

You will also need a good quality screen in your laptop to make sure you get to see clearer and crispier images on it.

Whether you are a working professional or a student, to work well on this kind of software, you should go for at least an HD monitor.

It should be preferably of 15-inch size, that comes with an IPS panel, better color accuracy and saturation.

If you need to work outdoors or on the go most of the time then you should also consider buying a laptop with an anti-glare screen and a matte finish.

This will do away with the reflections when you work outdoors, even under direct sunlight.

Remember, a larger screen will drain the battery fast, which ideally should be between 6 to 8 hours, if not more.

Operating system

You may have specific preference while choosing the operating system of your laptop to run Blender software.

Remember, it is all about stability, usability, and most importantly, your comfort and familiarity with the operating system.

Therefore, you can go for either Windows or Linux operating systems to use Blender. However, Linux will have a specific edge because it will crash less and usually run much smoother.

It will also handle the memory of the system much better in comparison to a Windows operating system.

On the other hand, if you choose a Windows operating system, even Windows 7, it will be much faster and easier.

It will be more comfortable to use in comparison to Linux.

Cooling features

Strange as it may sound, this is an important consideration to make while choosing a laptop to run Blender software.

Apart from the build quality and portability, you should focus mainly on the cooling features. It should be adequate to ensure optimal thermal management.

If the cooling system is poor, your system may experience permanent damage due to overheating.

All standard laptop cases are best suited for use in air-conditioned environments, especially in offices.

Therefore, if you use it in a stuffy bedroom for a prolonged session, particularly while rendering, you will need a good cooling system in it.

It is for this reason it is recommended that you choose a gaming laptop which comes with a much better cooling system than the standard ones.

FAQs: