Help in choosing the Right Laptop to purchase for Adobe Illustrator

[fixes.27044966up6i]

Hi all,

I'm completely new to the world of laptops, and I recently bought an

Ausus Zenbook Laptop with a 15.6-Inch Display, AMD Ryzen 7 Processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, and an NVIDIA GeForce MX450 Graphics Card.

Unfortunately, when I use Adobe Illustrator, my laptop tends to freeze and heat up. So, I'm thinking of getting a new one that can handle Illustrator better. I'm looking at the

Lenovo Ideapad Flex 5 Convertible-2-In-1 Laptop with a 16-Inch WQXGA Display, Core i7-1255U Processor, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, and Windows 11.

I'd appreciate any straightforward advice on a laptop that would work well with Adobe Illustrator. My preferable brand is Lenovo, but I'm open to suggestions. Touchscreen is a plus but not a must, and I'm also mindful of my budget. Thanks in advance for your help!

[Bobby Henderson]

I would personally recommend something just a little bit more stout than the Lenovo Ideapad model you mentioned.

To start, 16GB of RAM is near the minimum of what it takes to run the current version of Illustrator acceptably well. However, anyone buying a brand new notebook computer meant for creative work purposes would want to get at least a few years of life out of the device before having to replace it. As time goes on and future versions of Illustrator are released it's usually expected for performance requirements to increase incrementally. I would recommend at least 32GB of RAM, especially if the notebook is using an integrated graphics chip (such as Intel Iris Xe).

I also think it's worth it for a Windows PC, be it a desktop or notebook model, to have a dedicated graphics board (NVidia preferably) with its own GPU and discrete pool of GDDR RAM. Adobe Illustrator is incorporating more 3D functions. A good graphics board will help performance in that and other areas. The graphics board doesn't need to be a top of the line board. But generally the more beastly the board is the better Illustrator will perform.

Read lots of product reviews about any notebook model you're considering. It's not the easiest thing to find a notebook that has the right balance of performance, battery life, weight, portability, useful features, etc. One person's ideal notebook would be terrible for someone else.

[fixes.27044966up6i]

Thank you for your response. I'm considering to use 2023 version or an older version of Illustrator like 2021 or 2022 and won't be updating to the latest one. My main concern is having a smooth experience, especially when using customized brushes, as my previous laptop froze (ASUS Zenbook 8GB RAM). I use Illustrator for illustrations like children's book illustrations and won't heavily rely on 3D features. I'm budget-conscious, so 32GB RAM laptops are out of my reach, and I prefer the portability of a notebook over a desktop PC. I couldn't find reviews that fit my needs, but I found this alternative:

ASUS TUF Gaming F15 FX506HE-HN306W Core i5-11400H CPU 2.7GHz, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, NV RTX 3050 Ti, 4GB VRAM 15.6’’FHD 144Hz, HD Webcam, WIN11

Do you think this laptop or the previous one(Lenovo covertible) would meet my needs?
What are your suggestions? I'm looking forward to your response.

[Bobby Henderson]

I think the ASUS notebook you mentioned would be better than the Lenovo unit listed at the top of the discussion. The RTX 3050 is an entry-level graphics card (and a generation behind the current RTX-4000 series boards). The 4GB of dedicated VRAM it has will provide some extra breathing space for the system to operate. That gives it some advantage over computers with integrated graphics chip sets.

I couldn't really recommend any specific notebook computer models without knowing your budget. I'm usually biased a bit toward Dell's computers. Their XPS series notebooks are pretty good. One thing I don't like is how Dell has seriously limited how customers can configure notebooks and desktops. If you pick a higher end feature, such as 32GB or 64GB of RAM they'll push you into higher end product categories. To get the 32GB of RAM you also have to buy a better video card and other feature upgrades too.

[fixes.27044966up6i · Accepted solution]

Thank you for your great help. I've decided to go for the ASUS notebook mentioned before. Dell's notebooks are relatively expensive for me. My budget range is $700 to $800.

[Hayley36286280fohz]

If you're open to exploring other options within the Lenovo lineup, consider the Lenovo Yoga 9i. It offers:

• Processor: 11th Gen Intel Core i7
• RAM: Up to 16GB or 32GB options
• Storage: Configurations with 512GB to 1TB SSD
• Graphics: Intel Iris Xe or NVIDIA GTX 1650 Ti for enhanced graphics performance
• Display: 14-inch or 15.6-inch high-resolution touchscreen with 4K option
• Flexibility: 2-in-1 convertible design for versatile usage

The Yoga 9i provides similar specs to the Ideapad Flex 5 but with added versatility due to its 2-in-1 design, making it easier to use Illustrator with touch-based controls if needed. The only concern I have with the Yoga 9i is that its battery performance might decrease when playing games such as car racing, motorbikes, and 8 Ball Pool. It's a bit on the higher end in terms of price, but it offers great value for its features and build quality. 

The Lenovo Ideapad Flex 5 Convertible-2-In-1 Laptop you're considering seems like a good choice with its powerful Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, and spacious 512GB SSD. The Intel Iris Xe Graphics should handle Adobe Illustrator tasks smoothly.

[Freddie37091764ofpt]

As a newcomer to laptops, you made a solid choice with the Asus Zenbook, but encountering freezing and heating issues with Adobe Illustrator is frustrating. Considering your requirements, the Lenovo Ideapad Flex 5 seems promising, offering robust specs like a Core i7 processor, ample RAM and SSD storage, and integrated graphics. Lenovo's reliability aligns with your brand preference, and while a touchscreen is desirable, you prioritize performance within your budget. Given these factors, the Ideapad Flex 5 appears to be a suitable option to handle Adobe Illustrator tasks efficiently.