Best AI Laptops for Students ?

Question

I'm an undergrad student planning to study artificial intelligence and machine learning. I'm looking to get a new laptop that will be powerful enough to handle the demands of AI/ML coursework and projects. Ideally, I'd like something that strikes a good balance between performance and portability, since I'll need to carry it to classes.

Some key things I think I need:

Powerful CPU and GPU for training ML models
At least 16GB RAM, preferably 32GB if it fits the budget
512GB or more SSD storage
Lightweight for portability, ideally under 5 lbs
Decent battery life (8+ hours)
Budget: Would like to keep it under $2000 if possible

I've been considering options like the Dell XPS 15, MacBook Pro 16", or maybe a gaming laptop like the Razer Blade 15. But I'm open to any suggestions!

What laptops are other AI/ML students using? Any particular models you recommend that have worked well for you? Would appreciate any advice!

madman · Accepted Answer

If your goal is to run AI models locally on your laptop, I'd actually recommend considering a gaming PC instead. Laptops, even higher-end ones, will typically be much slower for AI/ML workloads compared to a desktop with a powerful GPU.

However, if you plan to run your models in the cloud using services like ChatGPT, Claude, etc., then really any laptop will suffice since the heavy computation is happening on remote servers. In that case, even an inexpensive Chromebook would get the job done.

Personally, I'm a fan of MacBooks for general use due to the build quality, trackpad, and ecosystem. But there are great Windows laptops out there too. For cloud-based AI work, I'd optimize for things like portability, battery life, a nice screen and keyboard - raw specs are less critical.

veryhotssay · Answer

Waiting for several months for upcoming AI laptops from both AMD and Intel.

Hal9000 · Answer

[quote data-userid="88" data-postid="982"] Waiting for several months for upcoming AI laptops from both AMD and Intel. [/quote] I'm also waiting for AI laptops, see what can they bring new techs to us.