How to choose computer for Architects & Architecture Students ?

Are you an Architect or an Architecture Student? planning to buy a new Computer or Laptop for your Professional use? Don’t do the same mistake that others are doing in choosing the right product for your professional use.  In past, there are a few options if you want to buy a computer but nowadays there are hundreds of thousands of option to select from. There is a different computer for each type of job. Like, Gaming Computer, Workstations, Data Centers, Office Use, High-end modeling animation. And they all came with so many technical terms that you don’t aware of!!!

So, the Question is, how to choose the right computer for your architecture need?

Many Architects choose Gaming Computer because they believe that a gaming computer is faster than other! But wait, you are wrong! Gaming Computer is built for Gamers and not for Architects Designers.

Here you need to focus on your Basic needs like CAD, MODELING, RENDERING, WALKTHROUGH, and ANIMATION. And also need to focus on which software you are going to use. Like, AutoCAD, Revit, ArchiCAD, 3DS Max, Sketch UP, V-ray, Artlantis, Cinema 4D, Lumion, Maya, the list is too big.

Some of the Software company Recommends Hardware for their Products Like Autodesk has Certified Hardware For Each Of their Product similarly Graphisoft ArchiCAD also Recommends Hardware that will work Best with their software.

But, How to choose from them? Here, I am going to write about major Technical Parameter that you need to understand before Purchasing the Computer. In a computer you need to focus on this key things to look for, Processor, RAM, GPU, OS Architecture, Storage Screen.

Now, when it comes to purpose, I am sorting in 3 categories

Basic               - 2D Drafting, Basic modeling like a small house.

Advanced       - 2D/3D Drafting, Modeling Rendering with geometry like a house or a Building with little Landscape.

Professional   - 2D/3D Drafting, Modeling, Rendering, Walkthrough Animation.

Here I will explain each thing with its meaning in simple terms suggest you to which product you should go with.

1.    Processor

We all understand what the processor is, it is the heart of the computer. All the calculation that done by a computer happens in processor. There are 3 major options available in the market, Intel, AMD & Apple. Intel has Processor series like i3, i5, i7. AMD has special Ryzen series for complex calculation, and Apple has just launched its A11 Processing chip.

For Basic use, you should go with minimum 6^th Generation Core - i5 processor or AMD Ryzen 5, and for Advance Professional Use there is No doubt into Use Intel 8th generation core i7 processor. 

Recently Intel launches it first 9^th generation core-i9 processor. You will find they name their processor something like this “i9-8950HK” sometime you will see instead of “HK”, there are other suffixes like “X” “T” “B” “K” or “U” this suffix means the performance of the processor.

X-series processors are part of the 7^th generation. They remain the fastest processors around but are far too expensive for most budgets.

K-series processors are ‘unlocked’. This means you can over-clock them more freely, increasing how hard they work to improve performance.

U-series processors are ultra-low voltage processors made for high power efficiency.

H-series processors are used in the highest-performance laptops.

HK – series processors are like K-series desktop processors, this one is unlocked to allow for greater overclocking.

You should go with the X, K or HK series processors.

2.    RAM

RAM means Random access memory; understand this thing as temporary memory of the computer.

Let’s understand it is in a more architect-friendly way when you are working on AutoCAD the command you gave to the software is a process in Processor but the file you are working on is saved in RAM from the last point you have saved the file of the software auto saved it. That’s how you will get backup file if your software crashed. Bigger the RAM you can work on multiple software in real-time.

RAM also handles the rendering data while you render such image or video from your software. If you are higher on RAM you will likely to render big images or long walkthroughs

In a matter of RAM BIGGER is BETTER. But for Basic use go with a minimum of 8GB RAM with latest DDR Series, for Advance use goes with 16GB for Professional use depending upon your need go with minimum 16GB or more.

There is also various type of RAM but DDR is the only option to fulfill our requirements.

3.    GPU

GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) or we know as Graphics Card is also one kind of RAM that serves the real-time rendering or working environment. While modeling or animating we have to work in a virtual environment of particular software like 3DS MAX or Sketch UP. If you have correct GPU than your software will work flawlessly.

There are 2 main type of GPU one is for gaming environment another second for dealing with software like CAD, 3D Modeling, etc. see the list below

1.     Gaming

•         GeForce GTX, RTX

•         Nvidia Titan X

•         Radeon HD

•         Radeon r5, r7, r9, RX, and Vega series

2.     Cloud Gaming

•         Nvidia Grid

•         Radeon Sky

3.   Workstation

•         nVidia Quadro

•         Nvidia Titan X

•         AMD FirePro

•         Radeon Pro

4.     Cloud Workstation

•         Nvidia Tesla

•         AMD FireStream

5.     Artificial Intelligence Cloud

•         Nvidia Tesla

•         Radeon Instinct

6.     Automated/Driverless car

•         Nvidia Drive PX

Your computer or IT supplier always ask you to go with the nVidia Ge-Force Because they Don’t know the correct product for your requirements. Just go with Nvidia Quadro or AMD FirePro.  For Basic use minimum, 2 GB will work for you for Advance you need to choose between 4-8 GB and for Professional use you should go with minimum 8 GB or higher.

4.    OS Architecture

Basically, there are 3 types of OS architecture available in market 32-bit, 64 bit now there are also 128-bit architecture OS. Most of our software is available in 64-bit architecture so you need to take 64-bit OS. Now there are many OS in the market like Windows, MAC-OS, Linux, etc…

But I recommend going with Windows because mostly All Software is available on windows platform.

5.    Storage

Previously there is only one kind of storage available for the computer that is HDD (Hard Disk Drive), now we have the faster disk that is SSD (Solid State Drive). I strongly recommend using SSD for Architecture Professional use. Or you can go hybrid by setting up an SSD to install your OS Software HDD to store your DATA.

6.    Screen

For choosing a screen we have to look for the 2 main things Size & Type.

Size should be minimum 15” for laptop & 21” for Desktop.

Type should go at least FHD. There are more options like IPS & 4K. You can go higher if your budget allows you but the minimum you should go with FHD. Because some of our software now demand FHD screens.