Virtual machines are useful. They are used by many professionals from different fields including cybersecurity, IT, software development, etc. And as someone who has been using Virtualbox for years, I know how important it is to have a computer that is powerful enough to do the job. For far too long I used a mid-end laptop and it was a painstakingly slow experience whenever I used a virtual machine.
In this article, we will cover the basics of virtualization, what specs you should look for, and the current best laptops for running virtual machines.
Contents [hide]
- 1 What are Virtual Machines Used For?
- 2 Recommended Specs for Virtualization
- 3 Best Laptops for Virtualization in 2022
- 4 5. Acer Swift 3 – Cheapest Option
What are Virtual Machines Used For?
Virtual Machines (VMs) are used to emulate hardware to create virtual computer systems. Put simply, virtualization allows you to run multiple “computer systems” on a single machine. This is useful for many applications.
A common example of this is running software on operating systems that they normally don’t have access to. For example, if you have a windows computer and you need to run a program that is only on macOS. You can just simply create a VM to run macOS as a guest operating system, and then run that program on it.
Cybersecurity experts use virtual machines to find vulnerabilities in software. And many app developers use virtual machines to test their applications on different platforms and operating systems.
Some of the most common virtualization software include VirtualBox, VMware, and Parallels.
Recommended Specs for Virtualization
Before we get to my opinion on the best laptops for virtualization, let’s briefly go over the recommended specs. You don’t need to spend too much on a good laptop for virtual machines if you know what you exactly need.
RAM
You’ll need a good amount of RAM to run virtual machines smoothly. That’s because you’ll have more than one operating system running at the same time, each of them occupying memory separately. Ideally, you should have at least 8GB of RAM. But if you’re planning to run multiple virtual machines at the same time, we recommend you install at least 16GB.
Besides, you can always install more RAM if necessary. Except on Macbooks – if you’re buying one, check the amount of RAM it has.
CPU
CPU is one of the most important factors in virtualization. As you run multiple systems simultaneously, each of them uses the CPU constantly, putting a significant load on it. So you want to get a laptop with a fast, multi-threaded processor to meet the high computational demand.
In 2022, both AMD and Intel are fantastic options. Both of them have virtualization support at the hardware level. Both feature multiple cores for parallel processing, which reduces latency and boosts the guest OS’s performance. AMD’s Ryzen 5000 series and Intel’s 11th gen series are both very competitive CPUs these days. You really can’t go wrong choosing either one, as their performance and temperatures are very similar. Intel edges out AMD ever so slightly while AMD is typically a smidge cheaper.
But more cores mean more threads for your virtual machines, so our recommendation would be to go for an AMD processor for maximum performance.
Hard Drive
The storage will also have a big impact on the performance of your VMs.
HDDs are okay if you are just doing some testing and do not need virtualization frequently. SSDs are what you want as they are very reliable and fast. SSDs will also help with startup times, program launch times, and can even be used as a “substitute” for ram if you are running out of ram running your VMs.
Best Laptops for Virtualization in 2022
Here’s my list of 5 laptops for virtualization in 2022. All of these are chosen based on the factors I mentioned above, but I did try to include laptops for a wider range of applications. I hope you’ll find a good match for your requirements.
1. Dell XPS 15 9510 – Our Pick
- CPU: Intel Core i7-11800H
- RAM: 16GB
- Screen: 15.6″ FHD+ OLED
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Battery: 10+ Hours.
- Weight: 4.3 lbs
Pros:
- Sleek and attractive design.
- Bright OLED screen.
- Powerful Intel H-series CPU.
- Excellent battery life.
Cons:
- Expensive.
- Fewer ports.
Product Description
It’s been more than a year since Dell fully redesigned the XPS 15 model, and things have only gotten better.
The XPS 15 is a premium laptop designed for professionals. It looks awesome with its thin bezels and sleek chassis. Its super-bright OLED is a lot better than the conventional IPS displays. The screen makes everything more vibrant and lively, thanks to its excellent color accuracy.
The laptop comes with a superfast Intel core i7–11800H processor, with 8 cores and a speed of up to 4.8 GHz. It can easily handle your virtualization needs, no matter how many VMs you want to run at a time.
It also comes with 16GB of RAM, sufficient for a smooth multitasking experience. And though not a gaming laptop, it comes with a dedicated RTX3050 GPU for graphics-related tasks.
With its 86-WHr battery, the XPS 15 can last more than 10 hours when streaming youtube at low brightness. So under normal load, it can easily last a whole day at work without charging.
The XPS 15 is very slim, but not very lightweight. It’s approximately 4.3 pounds – not the heaviest but may cause back pain if you need to carry it often.
Related: Is Your Laptop too Heavy for Traveling?
2. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 – More power, Less Weight
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS
- RAM: 16GB
- Screen: 14” IPS HD 144Hz
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Battery: 9 Hours
- Weight: 3.5 lbs
Pros:
- Super-fast AMD Ryzen 9 processor.
- Clean, and attractive Design.
- Lightweight and portable.
- Commendable battery life.
Cons:
- Cooling fans are noisy under load.
- 14″ display.
- No Webcam.
Product Description
With the Rog Zephyrus G14, Asus has redefined Gaming Laptops. Never has been a gaming laptop so clean and portable, not without sacrificing performance or battery life. The professional, non-gaming design and excellent balance of speed and mobility easily make it one of the best gaming laptops for professionals.
Related: 8 Gaming Laptops That Don’t Look Like One.
The Rog Zephyrus G14 has a clean and attractive design, with no shiny stripes or lightings. So it’s a great choice for both college-goers and professionals.
The performance is top-notch as well. It’s packed with a superfast, 8 core Ryzen 9 processor, which can handle even the heaviest virtual machines with ease. Moreover, the duo of Ryzen 9 and RTX3060 can easily reach triple-digit FPS in many titles.
While its 14″ inch display isn’t the best choice for gaming, it has decent clarity and a high refresh rate for a smooth gaming experience.
The laptop weighs just under 3.7 pounds and has a very compact form factor. The battery backup is also commendable. It has a 76 WHr lithium battery that lasts more than 9 hours under a normal workload.
Like many other laptops from Asus, this one lacks a front-facing webcam, so you need to buy a USB webcam for video chats.
3. Dell XPS 13 9310 – Best Ultrabook
- CPU: 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1185G7
- RAM: 16GB
- Screen: 13.4″ FHD+ Touchscreen
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Battery: 8+ Hours
- Weight: 2.8 lbs
Pros:
- Breathtaking display.
- Unbeatably sleek and compact.
- Solid preformance.
- Premium Build.
Cons:
- Very few ports.
- Expensive.
Product Description
The Dell XPS 13 9310 is a premium, ultraportable laptop that features a fantastic display. Its build quality is solid and attractive, with smaller bezels and a very polished look. The touchscreen display that it features is one of the best in the world, with rich, vivid colors and razor-sharp details.
The combo of a high frequency, 11th gen core i7, and 16 GB of RAM provides solid multitasking performance. It should be able to handle most virtual machines with ease. And the 512 GB SSD storage should be enough to store all your documents and files.
In terms of battery backup, the XPS 13 doesn’t break records but sits beside the average ultrabook. You can expect around 8 hours of screen-on time under normal use.
Thanks to its slim and ultraportable design and relatively low weight of 2.8 lbs, you can carry the XPS 13 easily in a backpack or handbag.
4. Razer Blade 15 RTX3060 – Best Gaming Rig
- CPU: Intel Core i7-11800H
- RAM: 16GB
- Screen: 15.6″ QHD 1440p 240Hz
- Storage: Up to 1TB SSD
- Battery: 5+ Hours
- Weight: 4.63 lbs
Pros:
- Sleek, non-gaming design.
- Premium build quality.
- Advanced vapor chamber cooling system.
- High performance CPU and GPU.
- Wide range of CPU/GPU combo available.
Cons:
- Trackpad could have been better.
- Expensive compared to the specs.
- On the heavy Side.
- Average Battery life.
Product Description
The updated version of Razer Blade 15 has been around for just a few months. And already it’s become one of the best gaming laptops around. It’s relatively thin and light compared to older bulky beasts, while also providing decent battery backup.
The laptop’s minimal look and sleek design are perfect for work and business, it doesn’t scream for unwanted attention. but make sure to turn the RGBs off.
The Blade 15 is designed with gaming experience in mind. Its 11th gen core i7 processor and the RTX 3060 GPU can easily produce three-digit frame rates. You can also buy the RTX3080 model if you’re really serious about performance.
It also stays cooler thanks to the vapor chamber cooling system – which efficiently dissipates heat, to keep the chassis cool. We recorded a maximum keyboard and chassis temperature of 44°C.
The premium 240Hz display is smooth enough for hardcore gamers and the 1440p resolution will be good enough for doing work as well.
5. Acer Swift 3 – Cheapest Option
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700U
- RAM: 8GB
- Screen: 14″ FHD
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Battery: Upto 17 Hours
- Weight: 2.65 lbs
Pros:
- Colorful, bright 3:2 AR display.
- Excellent CPU performance.
- Great battery life.
- Lightweight.
- Clear Microphone.
Cons:
- No Touchscreen.
- No SD or microSD card slot.
Product Description
The Acer Swift 3 is a laptop designed for everyone – from professionals to students. The latest version features a powerful Ryzen 7 processor and 8 GB of RAM, sufficient for smooth multitasking and VM performance.
The laptop has an unusual, 14″ square display with an aspect ratio of 3:2. The screen is bright and colorful and has a high screen-to-body ratio. The build quality is good for the price, and the keyboard is easy-to-use and comfortable.
The Swift 3 is lightweight, at around 2.6 lbs. Its square design also takes less space in the backpack, saving room for other college stuff. Plus, its battery backup is insanely amazing. You can expect more than 12 hours of screen-on time under normal use.
