Best Laptops for Virtualization

Virtualization is a marvelous thing that demands a tonne of power from the computers that are used in it. And in the event that you’re looking for a laptop, that search can become time-consuming.

To help those with that particular search, we’ve put together a list of some of the best laptops for the job. Select from our list of the best laptop for virtualization, or you could also check our guide on key aspects to be looking for.

Top 7 Best Laptops for Virtualization

As usual, we’ve included a list of components to help you figure out the specs behind our choices. Here are the laptops that we consider the best for virtualization work.

Acer Predator Helios 300

Component List

• Processor: Intel Core i7-7700HQ
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060
• Memory: 32GB
• Storage: 256GB SSD

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Our top pick for a laptop for virtualization is the Acer Predator Helios 300. Acer alone is a fairly popular brand that produces high-end performance computers. And naturally, this best laptop for virtual machines is no different.

From a hardware perspective, it’s already quite solid with the latest i7 processor, but it also has 16GB of RAM, a 256 GB SSD card, a dual 4th Gen Aeroblade 3D fan, and more. All around, it’s capable of offering increased levels of performance and speed to the user.

Beyond that, the other feature to highlight for virtualization is connectivity. For virtualization, this is extremely important, and the Acer laptop can deliver this well with several ports. You can connect to multiple devices at once, which makes virtualization work easier.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon

Component List

• Processor: Intel Core i7-8650u
• Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620
• Memory: 16GB
• Storage: 512GB

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A good runner-up for a virtualization laptop is Lenovo’s ThinkPad brand. Lenovo alone produces and designs all kinds of laptops as it is known to include the latest specs in them. This laptop is especially good for what you’re looking for. 

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon has much of the same hardware as Acer’s laptop and then some. More specifically, it’s got a 512 GB SSD and an 8th Gen i7 processor. All in all, this laptop can perform.

It has the same number of USB ports, but it’s here where Acer is better as it offers more variety in ports. If you care more about a higher power and not so much the ports, this is a good option.

Dell XPS 15 9570

Component List

• Processor: Intel Core i7-8750H
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
• Memory: 32GB
• Storage: ‎1 TB

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Another one that makes our list of best laptop for virtualization is Dell. The Dell brand has time and again provided great laptops and computers. One prime example of that is their XPS series, as they provide an incredible amount of power.

Like the previous entries, the processor is an i7 version, but that’s only the start. It has exceptional storage of 1TB SSD and 32 GB RAM. As a result, it takes minimal effort for this laptop to create a virtual machine.

Apple MacBook Pro

Component List

• Processor: Intel Core i9
• Graphics: AMD Radeon Pro 5500M
• Memory: 16GB
• Storage: 1TB

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Even Apple can offer a good virtualization laptop to its consumers if you’re an Apple fan. Thanks to MacBook Pro, you’ll find that this is the best laptop for virtual machines that Apple can offer. And it doesn’t disappoint.

In short, it offers the best hardware for virtualization. Right out the door, it offers incredible power with an i9 processor. It also has an upgradable RAM and SSD card, letting you bump it up to 32 GB and 512 GB, respectively. The ability to be doing that alone pulls it away from much of the competition.

If you’ve got the budget for it, this is a solid investment if you plan to do virtualization long-term.

Asus ZenBook

Component List

• Processor: Intel Core i7-8565u
• Graphics: ‎Intel UHD Graphics 620
• Memory: 16GB
• Storage: 512GB

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Another selection of a brand to consider is Asus. It’s a very prominent brand and, like all on this list, produces great quality laptops. The ZenBook series is a great example of what the brand can offer you.

The design is sleek and solid, but it offers a good bit of power inside of it too. This makes our list for best laptop for running virtual machines as it offers much of the same specs as we’ve mentioned before: 16 GB RAM and 512 GB storage.

Where it goes above and beyond has more to do with the design itself. It’s incredibly lightweight at 2.6 pounds, making it easy for those who travel and to move the laptop around. It’s also ergonomically designed to ensure that you have an easier time typing too.

Lenovo ThinkPad P53s

Component List

• Processor: Intel Quad-Core i7-8565U (1.8GHz – 4.6GHz, 8MB Cache)
• Graphics: NVIDIA Quadro P520 2GB GDDR5
• Memory: 40GB
• Storage: 1TB HDD

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Although we’ve covered a Lenovo laptop prior to this, this entry shows that the brand professionals know what they’re doing and can produce devices worthy of being called the best laptop for running virtual machines. 

Their P53s series have become extremely popular for virtualization and computer performance work because the laptop can withstand those demands well. Through upgrading, you can easily bring this laptop up to 64 GB RAM and 1TB SSD storage, outshining even Apple’s MacBook Pro.

Furthermore, this laptop’s design is built with comfort in mind: similar to the Asus ZenBook, you’ll have an easier time being comfortable while working.

MSI GF75

Component List

• Processor: Intel Core i7-10750H
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB GDDR6
• Memory: 64GB
• Storage: 2TB HDD

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The last on our list for the best pc for virtual machines is MSI GF75. It’s popular amongst gamers, but it’s also great for virtualization work. Through upgrades alone, the laptop can reach 64 GB RAM and 2 TB SSD storage, and it’s surprisingly affordable to do so when compared to other laptops that offer this.

It provides a good selection of ports to be choosing between as well, making it a solid option to be going for.

The Ultimate Guide to Buying the Best Laptop for Virtualization

There are a handful of things to be considering for laptop virtualization work. We offered some solid options while keeping in mind these factors, but if you still wish to look further and assess better, consider the following criteria.

Budget

Your budget is incredibly important when deciding what laptop you should get. The only thing to keep in mind with your budget is if you’re interested in laptops with upgrade options, it’s okay if you can’t afford to get the upgrades immediately.

RAM

RAM determines the loading speed of applications, and virtualization will require you to run plenty of systems. The best RAM for virtualization needs to be extensive since it’s one of the main variants in determining whether you can run a virtual lab or not.

As a minimum, the laptop should provide 16 GB of RAM. If there is an opportunity to be upgraded for more, you should seek that out too.

Processor

The best processor for virtualization will start with i7 or greater. Anything below that isn’t ideal since such versions don’t always offer hyperthreading. In short, hyperthreading is the function that allows you to run multiple demanding applications at the same time – something crucial in virtualization work.

Another thing to consider for the best CPU for virtualization is one that can support a Hexa core processor. Unlike dual-core or quad-core processors, Hexa cores make a virtual laptop more effective.

Battery Life

Battery life is another crucial criterion of a laptop for some people who are traveling or aren’t always charging their laptop. Because virtualization is energy-demanding, the last thing you want is the laptop to run out of battery quickly.

Before buying, be sure to check the battery life if it’s an important factor in your decision. Overall, anything above a 7-hour battery life is ideal.

Storage

Right next to RAM, storage is another big determining aspect for a laptop for this kind of work. The more storage you have available, the better. Of course, factoring in upgrade potentials is wise as well.

All that being said, there are plenty of ways to increase storage to fit your needs: external hard drives, external USB storage, CD/DVD storage, and more.

Another thing to note is that SSD storage cards and drives are ideal as they read and write data 3 times faster than HD storage devices.

Graphics Card

While not a huge factor in virtualization, the graphics display on the computer can help significantly in long-term work. Graphics cards ensure sharper images and reduce eye strain. It’s a small thing, but be sure that the graphics card used is solid.

Weight

If you’re someone who carries around the laptop for whatever reason, this can be another minor criterion in your decision. Laptops already are pretty light, but getting the lightest one will help significantly when traveling or transporting your device.

Display

The last factor to consider is the display, particularly how big the screen is. With computers, the difference between displays is in inches, so it doesn’t always play a huge role. It becomes further moot with the fact these laptops have ports to connect to larger external monitors.

Conclusion

Virtualization is something that’s becoming increasingly popular over the years. It’s tremendous that computer companies are producing laptops that meet the demands this kind of work calls for.

There are many options to consider, with plenty of them able to be upgraded to meet the demands of virtualization. To ensure you get the best one, check the processor to see if it’s i7 or greater and factor in the amount of storage and RAM space the laptop offers. Keeping in mind the option to upgrade, weigh the other criteria you consider important to you, and we’re confident that you’ll find an excellent laptop that fits your needs.