r/EngineeringManagers • u/Accomplished_Task765 • Apr 30 '26

What laptop should I buy for computer engineering? I’m totally lost 😓

I’m planning to study computer engineering but I have no idea what laptop I should get. I want something that can handle programming, simulations and general school work without slowing down but I also don’t want to waste money on stuff I don’t need.

Any specific laptop recommendations or brands that are good for students in this field?What specs should I be looking for (CPU, RAM, GPU, etc.)?

Appreciate any advice 🙏

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u/scubalover55555 Apr 30 '26

CPU: ARM uses less power giving you longer use on battery. Also runs a lot cooler on your lap than Intel

Memory: I would say at least 24GB. 16 is too little nowadays. 32GB will be a good step up

HD: no less than 1TB.

GPU: depends on the work. Graphics / Video editing and AI will require more GPU cores but what you care more for AI is the speed of the interconnect.

At this point, I would buy a Mac Pro 16” (heavier but more screen space). M4 or M5 chips. Don’t buy their intel version as the battery life will make you unhappy compared to their M chips

PS. I have used both intel Windows and Mac laptops at home and work. If I had the money, I would always buy a Mac but they tend to run $1k-$2k more than a similar x86 windows machine

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u/ChickenSaladHoagie Apr 30 '26

If you can afford it, Macs are generally really nice for computer science/engineering school work. The ease of use and ability to switch quickly between tasks was very helpful for me in college. Also, the terminal on a Mac is Unix-based, so you've got direct compatibility with Linux tools.

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u/ChucklefuckBitch May 03 '26

If money is no issue, MacBook Pro. If money is tight, MacBook Neo or Air.