Best computer/ laptop for Fusion 360??

[josteinrobstad]

Hi everyone! I am would like to know if have a suggestion for a specific laptop or computer to buy for running Fusion 360? At the moment I am running ``Lenovo p51``. The ``p51`` starts to struggle as soon as I introduce 2-3 components.I feel that is not right. Does anyone have a suggestion on what laptop to buy? or do I need to invest in a desktop computer?

[JFKANSAS]

I've always used a laptop. Mac or PC preference? Macbook Pro is good. Most PC laptops with a dedicated 3d graphics chip are good. You should be able to get setup for Under $1000 for a PC laptop and a couple thousand for a Mac. Get something with an SSD for sure.

An i7 P51 should be good though. Be sure to check what graphics card is configured for Fusion. It can default to the built in Intel graphics which is horrible.

[MACABItech]

I realize this response is late, but maybe someone will find it useful.

The way I understand it, most Nvidia quadro cards (like the ones in Lenovo and Dell Workstations) use openGL, which CAD systems like Siemens NX and Catia are designed to work best with. Gaming and most other graphics cards are optimized for DirectX. 

Fusion360 happens to be optimized for use with DirectX as well, and so the extra cost of a Quadro that is optimized for OpenGL is a waste. 

In other words, a decent gaming laptop with GeForce card (and a good amount of RAM and highest possible clock speed on the CPU) should be your target.

That being said, I'd love someone who understands more than me to explain this in greater detail and provide an updated 2018 answer to this question: Which laptops out today are best for running F360?

[infoET839]

Hi,

I am very curious what laptop you finally bought since I have the same question here.

In my previously posted question I learned that Fusion can do without quadro, where some futures like raytracing CAN be helpful in making (rendering) a visual and metarial wise picture look nice.

One thing I am asking myself: Isn't it so that Quadro cards use directX 12 and CAN be used for Fusion too?

I know that Quadro cards use some of the shaders and other components for calculations behind the comma and can be useful for scientific calculations and VR but will they be fast enough for games IF you want to play them and is it wise to buy an expensive workstation for Fusion?

At the moment I am looking for a silent and backwards venting laptop like the HP ZBook 17 but the steep price tag avoids me for buying this, unless the Quadro will give me an advantage for Fusion.... Other game rigs have fast enough hardware but like to fry your hands on both sides. I can't believe people buying this noisy laptops and accept they burn their hands...