How To Choose the Best Laptops For Photoshop Under $500
For an optimal decision-making process, we’ve decided that the following selection criteria are the best when it comes to picking the best laptops for Photoshop under $500.CPU
The CPU is popularly known as the central processing unit. It is a bunch of electronic circuitry which executes various user commands instantly. It’s important to know what parts of the CPU we need to know most about while picking a Laptop for Photoshop That’s why we will now be discussing everything regarding clock speed and cores. We’ll discuss these criteria in depth while also letting the users know what to expect in each of the criteria.Cores
Cores are the heart of a processor and are where a command is executed. Multiple tasks can be performed at once if a processor has multiple cores. Older gen processors tend to have a lower core count Since we’re looking for budget laptops, you’d want processors that at least have Quad cores. Processors with at least quad cores will be able to handle CPU tasks easily and the computer won’t lag out. In today’s article, we’ll be taking a look at processors that have core counts between quad cores and Hexa cores.Clock Speed
The number of cycles a processor can perform under a minute is called clock speed. So for example, if a processor has a 4GHz clock speed that means that the processor performs 4 billion cycles every minute. Clock Speed is measured using GHz (GigaHertz). To run Photoshop, a minimum of 3 GHz clock speed is recommended. Though Adobe recommends having a processor with 2GHz clock speed, we played it safe and recommended a processor with 3GHz speed. Today we’ve presented you with processors that have clock speeds ranging from as low as 3GHz to as high as 4GHzRAM
RAM is the short form of Random Access Memory. It’s a temporary data storage that serves data upon request. The RAM ensures that data is given access to in a minimal amount of time and thus it’s a very important criterion for Photoshop. RAM is measured using the term Gigabyte (GB). Adobe recommends having at least 8GB RAM for using photoshop. With Photoshop, the user needs to complete multiple tasks at once, so the more RAM a laptop will have, the faster it will operate. In today’s article, the number of RAMs will be ranging from 4GB to 8GB. We only have one 4GB laptop mentioned here, that laptop can barely run Photoshop despite having a lower RAM count than the recommendation.GPU
The full form of GPU is Graphics Processing Unit. It’s a collective set of chipsets that produce graphics on the screen. A potent graphics card is massively important to run Photoshop as the user will need to edit different pictures from time to time. The way to know if a GPU is good is to check for its model and the amount of VRAM available. VRAM refers to video RAM and it works to fetch data on-screen on demand. Ideally, you’d want your GPU to have sand it should be able to run Directx 12. In today’s article, we’ll be having a look at a bunch of different GPUs. All of these GPUs are stock GPUs. We’ll be discussing Intel UHD GPUs and AMD RX Vega series GPUs.Storage
Storage is a technology that records and keeps data intact upon being brought to the computer. Storages can be divided into two sections, the HDD and the SSD. In terms of running photoshop, an SSD is essential for laptops. SSD is a storage option that a laptop must have to run Photoshop. All laptops generally come with an HDD, but the inclusion of an SSD provides a speed boost to the laptop. HDDs are mainly used as data storage whereas SSD is used as a platform to run applications in order to give them a speed boost. In today’s article, we’ll be discussing laptops that have SSD storage options such as anywhere from 128 or 256GB.Display Resolution
Display resolution refers to the number of pixels that can be displayed in a horizontal and vertical line. Display resolution is very important to run Photoshop as Adobe mentions that a bare minimum resolution is needed to run Photoshop properly. It’s recommended that a laptop has a minimum of 1280 x 800 because this is the minimum resolution to which the UI can be scaled to a 100%. Any resolution below that will result in the application glitching out and not working entirely. In today’s article, we’ll be discussing laptops that have resolutions ranging from 1366 x 768 Pixels and 1920 x 1080 Pixels. Considering all of the selection criteria points, it’s best to say that the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is the best laptop under $500. Amazingly, this laptop provides good performance despite being so low priced. This laptop also matches all of our selection criteria recommended scores.- Best Laptop Overall-
- Best Laptop For Intel Users –
- Best Laptop For Freelancers –
- Best Laptop for students –
- Best Laptop For Multitasking –
1. Best Laptop Overall- Lenovo IdeaPad 3
- CPU – Ryzen 5 5500U (6 cores and Up to 4GHz clock speed) – Our Score – 9.5/10
- RAM – 8GB DDR4 – Our Score – 9/10
- GPU – Rx Vega 7 (512 MB + System RAM) – Our Score – 9/10
- Storage – 256GB NVMe TlC SSD – Our Score – 9/10
- Display Resolution – 1920 x 1080 (FHD) – Our score – 9/10
Pros
- The processor is very powerful and helpful for Photoshop.
- The 256GB NVMe SSD speeds up the UI while using Photoshop.
- An excellent cooling system doesn’t let the laptop heat up.
- It’s very lightweight thus great for mobility
Cons
- The display doesn’t have anti-glare active, so it can be harmful while working for too long.
2. Best Laptop For Intel Users – ASUS VivoBook 15
- CPU – Intel Core i3-1005G1 (Quad cores and Up to 3.4GHz clock speed) – Our Score – 9/10
- RAM – 8GB DDR4 – Our Score – 9/10
- GPU – Intel UHD 630 (System RAM) – Our Score – 8.5/10
- Storage – 128 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD – Our Score – 8.5/10
- Display Resolution – 1920 x 1080 (FHD) – Our score – 9/10
Pros
- Comes equipped with the latest Intel processor.
- It has the biggest display among all of the laptops on this list.
- Very fast RAM and SSD combination provides a smooth UI
Cons
- The battery life isn’t that great.
3. Best Laptop For Freelancers – Dell Inspiron 15 3000
- CPU – Intel Core i3-1005G1 (Quad cores and Up to 3 GHz clock speed) – Our Score – 8.5/10
- RAM – 8GB DDR4 – Our Score – 9/10
- GPU – Intel UHD 600 (System RAM) – Our Score – 8/10
- Storage – 256 GB SSD – Our Score – 8.5/10
- Display Resolution – 1366 x 768 Pixels – Our score – 8.5/10
Pros
- The display has nearly invisible bezels.
- Photoshop boots up and runs smoothly in no time thanks to the 256GB SSD onboard.
- The keyboard feels good to type and has a separate number pad.
Cons
- No USB-C ports
- The GPU portion is slightly weak.
4. Best Laptop for students – Acer Aspire 5
- CPU – AMD Ryzen 3 3350U (Quad cores and Up to 3.5 GHz clock speed) – Our Score – 9/10
- RAM – 4GB DDR4 – Our Score – 8/10
- GPU – rx VEGA 3 (System RAM) – Our Score – 8/10
- Storage – 128GB NVMe SSD – Our Score – 8.5/10
- Display Resolution – 1920 x 1080 (FHD) – Our score – 9/10
Pros
- Very affordable price.
- It comes with the latest Ryzen 3 processor.
- UI is very comfortable to use due to an SSD being present.
Cons
- The battery life is poor.
5. Best Laptop For Multitasking – HP Pavilion 15
- CPU – AMD Ryzen(TM) 7 3700U (Quad cores and Up to 4 GHz clock speed) – Our Score – 9.5/10
- RAM – 8GB DDR4 – Our Score – 9/10
- GPU – rx VEGA 10 (System RAM) – Our Score – 8.5/10
- Storage – 256GB SSD – Our Score – 8.5/10
- Display Resolution – 1366 x 768 – Our score – 8.5/10
Pros
- It has the strongest RYZEN 7 APU at the moment as the processor.
- Fast bootup and data flow thanks to the SSD storage and fast RAM.
- An excellent cooling system doesn’t let the laptop heat up during intense work sessions.
Cons
- The keyboards don’t feel comfortable while typing.