{"id":22390,"date":"2023-05-03T16:47:10","date_gmt":"2023-05-03T14:47:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/g100.us\/?p=22390"},"modified":"2023-06-14T10:06:21","modified_gmt":"2023-06-14T08:06:21","slug":"best-laptops-for-after-effects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-laptops-for-after-effects\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Laptops for After Effects [2024 Update]"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_39 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6681cceee53cb\" class=\"cssicon\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6681cceee53cb\" class=\"cssiconcheckbox\">1<\/label><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6681cceee53cb\" checked><nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 \"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-laptops-for-after-effects\/#What_Should_I_Look_For_In_a_Laptop_for_After_Effects\" title=\"What Should I Look For In a Laptop for After Effects?\">What Should I Look For In a Laptop for After Effects?<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-laptops-for-after-effects\/#Processor_CPU\" title=\"Processor (CPU)\">Processor (CPU)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-laptops-for-after-effects\/#RAM\" title=\"RAM\">RAM<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-laptops-for-after-effects\/#Graphics_Card_GPU\" title=\"Graphics Card (GPU)\">Graphics Card (GPU)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-laptops-for-after-effects\/#Storage\" title=\"Storage\">Storage<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-laptops-for-after-effects\/#Hardware_Requirements_Summary\" title=\"Hardware Requirements Summary\">Hardware Requirements Summary<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-laptops-for-after-effects\/#What_Are_the_Best_Laptops_for_After_Effects\" title=\"What Are the Best Laptops for After Effects?\">What Are the Best Laptops for After Effects?<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-laptops-for-after-effects\/#Razer_Blade_16_2023\" title=\"Razer Blade 16 (2023)\">Razer Blade 16 (2023)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-laptops-for-after-effects\/#ASUS_ROG_Zephyrus_G16_2023\" title=\"ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2023)\">ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2023)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-laptops-for-after-effects\/#HP_ZBook_Fury_16_G9_Mobile_Workstation\" title=\"HP ZBook Fury 16 G9 Mobile Workstation\">HP ZBook Fury 16 G9 Mobile Workstation<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-laptops-for-after-effects\/#ASUS_ProArt_Studiobook_16\" title=\"ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16\">ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-laptops-for-after-effects\/#Dell_Alienware_m18_or_m16\" title=\"Dell Alienware m18 [or m16]\">Dell Alienware m18 [or m16]<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-laptops-for-after-effects\/#MacBook_Pro_1416\" title=\"MacBook Pro 14\/16\">MacBook Pro 14\/16<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-laptops-for-after-effects\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-laptops-for-after-effects\/#FAQ\" title=\"FAQ\">FAQ<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-laptops-for-after-effects\/#Do_I_Need_a_Powerful_Laptop_for_Adobe_After_Effects\" title=\"Do I Need a Powerful Laptop for Adobe After Effects?\">Do I Need a Powerful Laptop for Adobe After Effects?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-laptops-for-after-effects\/#Whats_the_Cheapest_Laptop_That_Will_Run_After_Effects_Well\" title=\"What\u2019s the Cheapest Laptop That Will Run After Effects Well?\">What\u2019s the Cheapest Laptop That Will Run After Effects Well?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-laptops-for-after-effects\/#Are_M1_and_M2_MacBooks_Good_Enough_for_After_Effects\" title=\"Are M1 and M2 MacBooks Good Enough for After Effects?\">Are M1 and M2 MacBooks Good Enough for After Effects?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-laptops-for-after-effects\/#How_Much_VRAM_Should_My_GPU_Have_for_After_Effects\" title=\"How Much VRAM Should My GPU Have for After Effects?\">How Much VRAM Should My GPU Have for After Effects?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-laptops-for-after-effects\/#Is_After_Effects_CPU_or_GPU-Intensive\" title=\"Is After Effects CPU or GPU-Intensive?\">Is After Effects CPU or GPU-Intensive?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-laptops-for-after-effects\/#How_Much_RAM_Do_I_Need_for_After_Effects\" title=\"How Much RAM Do I Need for After Effects?\">How Much RAM Do I Need for After Effects?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-laptops-for-after-effects\/#Over_to_You\" title=\"Over to You\">Over to You<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>After Effects is, without a doubt, one of Adobe\u2019s most demanding applications.<\/p>\n<p>And, by proxy, it requires a truly beastly machine in order to run properly. It all hinges on the complexity of your projects and, well, the sheer ability and horsepower of the computer you\u2019re using \u2014 be it a laptop or, conversely, a full-fledged PC.<\/p>\n<p>After Effects scales in a myriad of different ways. <strong>Each and every single component \u2014 and its overall strength \u2014 matters <em>immensely<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>You can\u2019t just hone in on, say, the CPU and call it a day; you need an incredible amount of RAM and even a surprisingly beefy GPU, one with as many gigabytes of VRAM as possible.<\/p>\n<p>You don\u2019t <em>need<\/em> all of this if you\u2019re only going to be tackling simple, undemanding projects, but if you happen to cut any corners \u2014 and your projects happen to grow in size and become more comprehensive \u2014 you\u2019ll immediately hit a series of insurmountable bottlenecks.<\/p>\n<p><strong>You should, therefore, invest as much money as you possibly can, lest you end up with a laptop that struggles and fails to deliver once you start pushing it to its limits.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Powerful laptops cost a ton. That\u2019s a fact and, sadly, there\u2019s no way to circumvent such a reality.<\/p>\n<p>That being said, if you plan on creating motion graphics and composites, and visual effects for a living, a pricey laptop will pay itself off in no time.<\/p>\n<p>Before we delve any deeper into this topic, though, we first need to go over the <em>actual<\/em> hardware requirements of Adobe After Effects.<\/p>\n<p>In other words: <strong>we need to explain <em>which <\/em>components matter most and further elaborate on how After Effects scales with more powerful hardware.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Should_I_Look_For_In_a_Laptop_for_After_Effects\"><\/span>What Should I Look For In a Laptop for After Effects?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Picking the right laptop for After Effects is of the utmost importance. And, frankly, the machine you end up buying will need to cover as many proverbial bases as possible.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Processor_CPU\"><\/span>Processor (CPU)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The CPU plays the biggest part in how After Effects will perform on your laptop. It\u2019s not the <em>only<\/em> component that matters, mind you, but it <em>is<\/em> the most important one.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_22397\" style=\"width: 2048px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22397\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22397\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Laptop-CPU.jpg\" alt=\"Laptop CPU\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Laptop-CPU.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Laptop-CPU-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Laptop-CPU-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Laptop-CPU-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Laptop-CPU-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22397\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22397 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Laptop CPU\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Laptop-CPU.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Laptop-CPU-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Laptop-CPU-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Laptop-CPU-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Laptop-CPU-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Laptop-CPU.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-22397\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dell.com\/en-us\/shop\/dell-laptops\/alienware-x17-r2-gaming-laptop\/spd\/alienware-x17-r2-laptop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dell<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>You\u2019ll need a CPU that has high clock speeds, can sustain those frequencies for longer periods of time, can draw ample amounts of power, and has as many cores as possible.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Laptop CPUs have come a <em>long<\/em> way and can, by all means, be used for all kinds of stupendously demanding workflows. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The best ones can actually compete on even footing with their desktop-class counterparts, which means you can easily work on your projects while you\u2019re out and about without losing much in terms of performance.<\/p>\n<p>That obviously hinges on the complexity of said projects, but the point stands nonetheless.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_22391\" style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22391\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border wp-image-22391\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/intel-13th-gen-i9-13950hx-performance-by-puget-sys.png\" alt=\"Intel 13th Gen i9-13950HX Performance by Puget Systems\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1235\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/intel-13th-gen-i9-13950hx-performance-by-puget-sys.png 1920w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/intel-13th-gen-i9-13950hx-performance-by-puget-sys-300x193.png 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/intel-13th-gen-i9-13950hx-performance-by-puget-sys-1024x659.png 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/intel-13th-gen-i9-13950hx-performance-by-puget-sys-768x494.png 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/intel-13th-gen-i9-13950hx-performance-by-puget-sys-1536x988.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22391\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border wp-image-22391 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201920%201235%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Intel 13th Gen i9-13950HX Performance by Puget Systems\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1235\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201920%201235%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/intel-13th-gen-i9-13950hx-performance-by-puget-sys.png 1920w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/intel-13th-gen-i9-13950hx-performance-by-puget-sys-300x193.png 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/intel-13th-gen-i9-13950hx-performance-by-puget-sys-1024x659.png 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/intel-13th-gen-i9-13950hx-performance-by-puget-sys-768x494.png 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/intel-13th-gen-i9-13950hx-performance-by-puget-sys-1536x988.png 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/intel-13th-gen-i9-13950hx-performance-by-puget-sys.png\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-22391\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: Intel 13th Gen i9-13950HX Performance, Puget Systems<\/p><\/div>\n<p>What you\u2019re after is an H-series processor that has a TDP of around 45-55W, something like the Intel Core i7-12800HX or, say, the Core i9-12900HX\/13950HX.<\/p>\n<p>These are some of the most powerful mobile processors on the market and while they <em>do<\/em> command a high price, the performance they provide makes them a worthwhile investment.<\/p>\n<p>You <em>can<\/em>, obviously, get by with a less powerful CPU, but that also depends on the complexity of your projects. Moreover, you probably won\u2019t be buying a new laptop in two or three years\u2019 time so future-proofing yourself is definitely advisable.<\/p>\n<p>For this piece, specifically, we\u2019re talking about laptops that can, for the most part, replace your desktop workstation and allow you to create whilst on the go \u2014 without any overly noticeable loss in performance.<\/p>\n<p>For additional information on how After Effects scales, make sure to check out the <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/adobe-after-effects-system-requirements\/\">following article<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"RAM\"><\/span>RAM<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>After Effects is <em>extremely<\/em> RAM-intensive. If you want to create without feeling too limited memory-wise, make sure to go with a laptop that has at least 32GB of RAM, with a 64GB set-up being a fair bit more preferable (budget permitting).<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_22398\" style=\"width: 2048px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22398\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22398\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Laptop-DRAM.jpg\" alt=\"Laptop DRAM\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Laptop-DRAM.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Laptop-DRAM-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Laptop-DRAM-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Laptop-DRAM-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Laptop-DRAM-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22398\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22398 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Laptop DRAM\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Laptop-DRAM.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Laptop-DRAM-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Laptop-DRAM-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Laptop-DRAM-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Laptop-DRAM-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Laptop-DRAM.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-22398\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dell.com\/en-us\/shop\/dell-laptops\/alienware-x17-r2-gaming-laptop\/spd\/alienware-x17-r2-laptop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dell<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>That way, After Effects won\u2019t have to rely too much on a cache disk, therefore resulting in smoother timeline performance and playback.<\/p>\n<p>A fast SSD <em>can<\/em> mitigate some of this, but it <em>cannot<\/em> match the blazing speed which RAM brings to the table.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-22399\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/RAM-vs-Pagefile-virtual-memory-usage.jpg\" alt=\"RAM vs Pagefile virtual memory usage\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/RAM-vs-Pagefile-virtual-memory-usage.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/RAM-vs-Pagefile-virtual-memory-usage-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/RAM-vs-Pagefile-virtual-memory-usage-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/RAM-vs-Pagefile-virtual-memory-usage-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/RAM-vs-Pagefile-virtual-memory-usage-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-22399 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"RAM vs Pagefile virtual memory usage\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/RAM-vs-Pagefile-virtual-memory-usage.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/RAM-vs-Pagefile-virtual-memory-usage-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/RAM-vs-Pagefile-virtual-memory-usage-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/RAM-vs-Pagefile-virtual-memory-usage-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/RAM-vs-Pagefile-virtual-memory-usage-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/RAM-vs-Pagefile-virtual-memory-usage.jpg\"><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Graphics_Card_GPU\"><\/span>Graphics Card (GPU)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Generally speaking, a mid-tier GPU <em>will<\/em> suffice for After Effects.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_22400\" style=\"width: 2048px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22400\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22400\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Discrete-Laptop-GPU.jpg\" alt=\"Discrete Laptop GPU\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Discrete-Laptop-GPU.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Discrete-Laptop-GPU-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Discrete-Laptop-GPU-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Discrete-Laptop-GPU-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Discrete-Laptop-GPU-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22400\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22400 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Discrete Laptop GPU\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Discrete-Laptop-GPU.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Discrete-Laptop-GPU-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Discrete-Laptop-GPU-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Discrete-Laptop-GPU-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Discrete-Laptop-GPU-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Discrete-Laptop-GPU.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-22400\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dell.com\/en-us\/shop\/dell-laptops\/alienware-x17-r2-gaming-laptop\/spd\/alienware-x17-r2-laptop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dell<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>Still, if you\u2019re into heavy 3D work, if you use GPU-accelerated effects \u2014 or just want to maximize the potential of AE\u2019s Multi-Frame Rendering \u2014 then buying a laptop with a more capable graphics card will definitely come in clutch.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking of <a href=\"https:\/\/helpx.adobe.com\/after-effects\/using\/multi-frame-rendering.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MFR<\/a>, the most important thing isn\u2019t necessarily the <em>speed <\/em>of your graphics card but rather its VRAM. 6GB will be enough for the most part, but going with 8GB (or more), if possible, would definitely be the way to go.<\/p>\n<p>If you want to learn more about Multi-Frame Rendering, be sure to give this video a look:<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/p9sFn-b777k\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/p9sFn-b777k\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Storage\"><\/span>Storage<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Last but certainly not least, we have storage.<\/p>\n<p>For storing your project files, you can use a regular SSD \u2014 its speed is more than enough.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-22401\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/SSD-Speed-Comparison.jpg\" alt=\"SSD Speed Comparison\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/SSD-Speed-Comparison.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/SSD-Speed-Comparison-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/SSD-Speed-Comparison-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/SSD-Speed-Comparison-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/SSD-Speed-Comparison-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-22401 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"SSD Speed Comparison\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/SSD-Speed-Comparison.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/SSD-Speed-Comparison-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/SSD-Speed-Comparison-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/SSD-Speed-Comparison-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/SSD-Speed-Comparison-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/SSD-Speed-Comparison.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>For caching and scratch purposes, make sure to employ a blazing-fast NVMe.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hardware_Requirements_Summary\"><\/span>Hardware Requirements Summary<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Getting a powerful processor should be your top priority. Clock speed still matters a ton, but so does core count, ever since Adobe introduced multi-frame rendering.<\/p>\n<p>You should, therefore, go with a CPU that has a high enough TDP, has an impressive number of cores, and can sustain its frequencies for longer periods of time (thanks to a sufficiently beefy cooling solution).<\/p>\n<p>Once you have that covered, try to find a model with at least 32GB of RAM, ample amounts of fast storage, and a graphics card with a respectable amount of VRAM \u2014 with 6GB being the <em>bare minimum<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>If you can, go with 8GB or more as you won\u2019t be able to upgrade your laptop\u2019s GPU further down the line should the need arise.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, make sure to buy a laptop that has a bright, pixel-dense, and color-accurate display.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll be staring at the thing for hours on end, so having a beautiful digital canvas to preview your work on is, one could argue, equally as important as everything listed above.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_the_Best_Laptops_for_After_Effects\"><\/span>What Are the Best Laptops for After Effects?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Good laptops are never cheap, and <em>great<\/em> ones always command a high price. That\u2019s just the reality of it all.<\/p>\n<p>And, frankly, if you plan on working in After Effects, you\u2019ll <em>have<\/em> to shell out a fair bit of money in order to get a respectable performance.<\/p>\n<p>Down below you\u2019ll find our list of laptops, all of which are guaranteed to deliver.<\/p>\n<p>You shouldn\u2019t, however, focus on <em>these<\/em> models specifically \u2014 <strong>take this more as a primer of sorts, a kind of guidance, as laptops tend to be refreshed and updated with each new generation of hardware.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZtnDjsiyZNg\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZtnDjsiyZNg\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Razer_Blade_16_2023\"><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.razer.com\/gaming-laptops\/razer-blade-16\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Razer Blade 16 (2023)<\/strong><\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The latest Blade laptops from Razer are stupendously powerful and, perhaps surprisingly, thicker and heavier than before.<\/p>\n<p>That added weight and bulk is a highly welcome change, though, as it allows the laptop\u2019s internal to run hotter and, by proxy, deliver the kind of performance you need over prolonged periods of time.<\/p>\n<p>These are some of the finest Windows laptops on the market and are equipped with the very best internals that Intel and NVIDIA have to offer.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KwkvWugKER4\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KwkvWugKER4\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"ASUS_ROG_Zephyrus_G16_2023\"><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/rog.asus.com\/laptops\/rog-zephyrus\/rog-zephyrus-g16-2023-series\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2023)<\/strong><\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Much of the same can be said for the latest Zephyrus G16 from ASUS. It\u2019s a truly spectacular machine and comes packed with some of the most powerful mobile components money can buy.<\/p>\n<p>Its CPU, despite being less capable on paper, can nonetheless <em>outperform <\/em>the one found in the Blade 16 because it is allowed to draw more power and can, therefore, sustain its performance for longer.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not as well built and it doesn\u2019t have nearly as many bells and whistles, but that also means that it\u2019s not as obscenely expensive. It\u2019s a worthwhile trade-off, all things considered.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6T9SylC91sU\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6T9SylC91sU\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"HP_ZBook_Fury_16_G9_Mobile_Workstation\"><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hp.com\/us-en\/shop\/pdp\/hp-zbook-fury-16-g9-mobile-workstation-pc-wolf-pro-security-edition-p-766x9ua-aba-1\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>HP ZBook Fury 16 G9 Mobile Workstation<\/strong><\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Going with a mobile workstation, as far as working in After Effects is concerned, may well be a wise choice. Laptops such as this one from HP are large, and bulky, but also <em>tremendously <\/em>capable.<\/p>\n<p>They come with some of Intel\u2019s most powerful CPUs, ample amounts of (user-upgradeable) RAM \u2014 up to 128GB, in some cases \u2014 and NVIDIA\u2019s pro-grade A-series GPUs.<\/p>\n<p><strong>They\u2019re not stylish conversation-starters nor will they catch anyone\u2019s eye, but whatever they might lack in aesthetics they more than make up for in sheer horsepower.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PMRZWAVyerM\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PMRZWAVyerM\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"ASUS_ProArt_Studiobook_16\"><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.asus.com\/laptops\/for-creators\/proart-studiobook\/proart-studiobook-16-oled-h7604\/techspec\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16<\/strong><\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Another stellar option, one that is basically purpose-built for content creators and those who are heavily submerged in Adobe\u2019s creative suite of applications. It, too, comes jam-packed with the best hardware money can buy, but it also features a jaw-dropping 3K OLED display that covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and is PANTONE validated.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a truly spectacular machine that matches slick, \u201cprofessional\u201d looks with power-hungry internals that can run circles around most laptops on the market.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xdiZl0CSz-E\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xdiZl0CSz-E\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Dell_Alienware_m18_or_m16\"><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dell.com\/en-us\/shop\/dell-laptops\/alienware-m18-gaming-laptop\/spd\/alienware-m18-r1-laptop\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Dell Alienware m18 [or m16]<\/strong><\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>This behemoth is amongst the biggest and heaviest laptops on the market, but that kind of size has allowed Dell to push its power draw to a whopping 250W of sustained crossload power between the CPU and GPU.<\/p>\n<p>This, in addition to a superb thermal solution with a vapor chamber, four fans, and a whopping <em>seven heat pipes<\/em>, means that the m18 will chew through any task or project you might throw its way.<\/p>\n<p>It's a true desktop replacement and, perhaps best of all, it comes in both Intel <em>and <\/em>AMD variants.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTeam Red's\u201d Zen 4 CPUs can finally trade blows with the very best processors that Intel has to offer all the while consuming <em>less <\/em>power even when under full load.<\/p>\n<p>The only downside is that these laptops come with regular IPS displays and there's still no option to equip them with, say, OLED or miniLED. They <em>do <\/em>have full DCI-P3 coverage, so at least you\u2019re covered on that front.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IhqCC70ZfDM\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IhqCC70ZfDM\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"MacBook_Pro_1416\"><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/macbook-pro-14-and-16\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>MacBook Pro 14\/16<\/strong><\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Apple\u2019s latest ARM-based MacBooks have taken the world by storm and, thanks to After Effects now being natively supported, it\u2019s accurate to say that these laptops are amongst the best and most powerful on the market (to say nothing of their efficiency). They\u2019re worthwhile purchases in every way, shape, and form.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The M1 Max chipset, in particular, trades blows with \u2014 and, in certain scenarios, <em>beats<\/em> \u2014 the very best that Intel has to offer all the while drawing many times less power.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This, paired with Apple\u2019s bespoke <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/apple-unified-memory-guide\/\">unified memory architecture<\/a>, has resulted in some truly awe-inspiring performance.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_22392\" style=\"width: 2048px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22392\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border wp-image-22392\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/apples-m1-max-performance-by-puget-systems.png\" alt=\"Apple\u2019s M1 Max Performance by Puget Systems\" width=\"2048\" height=\"912\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/apples-m1-max-performance-by-puget-systems.png 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/apples-m1-max-performance-by-puget-systems-300x134.png 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/apples-m1-max-performance-by-puget-systems-1024x456.png 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/apples-m1-max-performance-by-puget-systems-768x342.png 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/apples-m1-max-performance-by-puget-systems-1536x684.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22392\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border wp-image-22392 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%20912%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Apple\u2019s M1 Max Performance by Puget Systems\" width=\"2048\" height=\"912\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%20912%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/apples-m1-max-performance-by-puget-systems.png 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/apples-m1-max-performance-by-puget-systems-300x134.png 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/apples-m1-max-performance-by-puget-systems-1024x456.png 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/apples-m1-max-performance-by-puget-systems-768x342.png 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/apples-m1-max-performance-by-puget-systems-1536x684.png 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/apples-m1-max-performance-by-puget-systems.png\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-22392\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: Apple\u2019s M1 Max Performance, Puget Systems<\/p><\/div>\n<p>These are just a few stellar \u2014 and most pricey \u2014 laptops that\u2019ll not only get the job done but do it with aplomb. They\u2019re some of the finest options on the market and are imbued with an insane amount of power.<\/p>\n<p><strong>You could, by all means, go with something that\u2019s, say, a year or two older, but your mileage will vary in regards to how well they\u2019ll perform.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Intel\u2019s Alder Lake is still a spectacular option, so just keep that in mind, especially if you can find a good deal.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Do note<\/strong>: This list pertains to the \u201cbest-case scenario.\u201d If you\u2019re on a budget, you\u2019ll still be able to get some work done in After Effects, but you\u2019ll need to temper your expectations and, of course, endure longer render times and choppier performance.<\/p>\n<p>Still, it <em>is<\/em> possible, and you don\u2019t <em>need<\/em> to spend two or three thousand dollars\/euros just to work in After Effects.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Adobe After Effects is a truly demanding application, especially when it comes to professional use.<\/p>\n<p>Fortunately, it <em>does <\/em>scale quite well hardware-wise. The more money you invest the better of a user experience you\u2019ll get. That\u2019s true for content creation as much as it is for gaming and general productivity work.<\/p>\n<p>The best laptops on the market can nowadays compete with full-fledged desktop counterparts which means that working in After Effects whilst on the go is not only <em>possible<\/em> but even <em>enjoyable<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>That <em>does<\/em> come at a cost, though, so try to find a good common ground, relative to the work you plan on doing.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Let\u2019s go over a few potential questions you might have regarding this particular topic:<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_I_Need_a_Powerful_Laptop_for_Adobe_After_Effects\"><\/span>Do I Need a Powerful Laptop for Adobe After Effects?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>You absolutely do. After Effects is incredibly demanding, and having a powerful CPU, fast storage, and ample amounts of RAM is absolutely <em>necessary<\/em> for After Effects to run well.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re looking at Windows laptops, getting an H-series processor (with a ~45W TDP), 32GB of RAM, and a dedicated GPU with at least 6GB or 8GB of VRAM should be the goal \u2014 or, rather, the bare minimum.<\/p>\n<p>With MacBooks the situation is a bit different \u2014 the M1 and M2 chipsets <em>could <\/em>suffice for moderate workloads and projects (16GB SKUs), but going with an M1\/M2 Pro or M1 Max would definitely give you a noticeable boost in performance.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Whats_the_Cheapest_Laptop_That_Will_Run_After_Effects_Well\"><\/span>What\u2019s the Cheapest Laptop That Will Run After Effects Well?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Your best \u2014 and perhaps <em>only<\/em> \u2014 option is the M1 MacBook Air (the 16GB SKU, in particular).<\/p>\n<p>Adobe products are most often better optimized for macOS and the way After Effects runs on Apple silicon is nothing short of extraordinary.<\/p>\n<p>The M1 MacBook Air is by no means the most powerful laptop around, but its novel architecture means that it\u2019ll perform way better than one would ever expect given its spec sheet.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_22402\" style=\"width: 1500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22402\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22402\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Aftereffects-on-M1-Macbook-Air.jpg\" alt=\"Aftereffects on M1 Macbook Air\" width=\"1500\" height=\"807\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Aftereffects-on-M1-Macbook-Air.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Aftereffects-on-M1-Macbook-Air-300x161.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Aftereffects-on-M1-Macbook-Air-1024x551.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Aftereffects-on-M1-Macbook-Air-768x413.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22402\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22402 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201500%20807%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Aftereffects on M1 Macbook Air\" width=\"1500\" height=\"807\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201500%20807%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Aftereffects-on-M1-Macbook-Air.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Aftereffects-on-M1-Macbook-Air-300x161.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Aftereffects-on-M1-Macbook-Air-1024x551.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Aftereffects-on-M1-Macbook-Air-768x413.jpg 768w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Aftereffects-on-M1-Macbook-Air.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-22402\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/macbook-air-m1\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>That being said, temper your expectations; it <em>is<\/em> a phenomenal laptop, but it can only do so much.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve written about this <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/macbooks-vs-laptops-for-creative-work\/\">in the past<\/a> as well, but if you\u2019re on a budget \u2014 by which we mean have around a thousand or so dollars\/euros to spend \u2014 your best bet would be going with an ARM-based MacBook.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UFU3ViMyVfQ\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UFU3ViMyVfQ\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_M1_and_M2_MacBooks_Good_Enough_for_After_Effects\"><\/span>Are M1 and M2 MacBooks Good Enough for After Effects?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>They absolutely are! They punch way above their \u201cweight class\u201d and are truly spectacular \u2014 and astoundingly well-optimized \u2014 machines.<\/p>\n<p>That being said, if you\u2019re dealing with complex projects and need as much power as you can get, going with an <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/m1-vs-m2-macbook\/\">M1\/M2<\/a> Pro or M1 Max (to say nothing of the M1 Ultra) will definitely provide you with a phenomenal performance uplift and a truly stellar experience.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, if you\u2019re serious about working in After Effects on a MacBook Pro, make sure to spec it out with at least 32GB of unified memory (only available on the higher-end models).<\/p>\n<p>To see how After Effects runs on Apple\u2019s base Mac Studio (M1 Max chipset with 32GB of unified memory and a bit more thermal headroom as compared to the MacBook Pro), you can watch the following video:<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/w8AojcOUXPA\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/w8AojcOUXPA\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Much_VRAM_Should_My_GPU_Have_for_After_Effects\"><\/span>How Much VRAM Should My GPU Have for After Effects?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>That heavily depends on the complexity of your projects. If you\u2019re serious about working in After Effects, don\u2019t go for a model that has fewer than 6GB of VRAM, with 8GB being a more advisable target.<\/p>\n<p>If your budget allows it, go with 12GB as that\u2019ll not only provide better performance but also ample amounts of headroom.<\/p>\n<p>Employing multi-frame rendering will allow for multiple frames to be processed simultaneously, which means that having a higher amount of VRAM will speed up your workflow by quite a bit.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_22403\" style=\"width: 786px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22403\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22403\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Multi-Frame-Rendering-Adobe-Aftereffects.jpg\" alt=\"Multi Frame Rendering Adobe Aftereffects\" width=\"786\" height=\"459\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Multi-Frame-Rendering-Adobe-Aftereffects.jpg 786w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Multi-Frame-Rendering-Adobe-Aftereffects-300x175.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Multi-Frame-Rendering-Adobe-Aftereffects-768x448.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 786px) 100vw, 786px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22403\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22403 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20786%20459%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Multi Frame Rendering Adobe Aftereffects\" width=\"786\" height=\"459\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20786%20459%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 786w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 786px) 100vw, 786px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Multi-Frame-Rendering-Adobe-Aftereffects.jpg 786w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Multi-Frame-Rendering-Adobe-Aftereffects-300x175.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Multi-Frame-Rendering-Adobe-Aftereffects-768x448.jpg 768w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/05\/Multi-Frame-Rendering-Adobe-Aftereffects.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-22403\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/community.adobe.com\/t5\/after-effects-discussions\/low-memory-warning-in-after-effects-23-0-2023\/m-p\/13298965\/page\/3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Adobe<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>Additionally, <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-computer-for-after-effects\/#Best_Graphics_Card_GPU_for_After_Effects\">go with NVIDIA<\/a>, if possible. Their drivers are often more stable and, in general, they offer better compatibility with Adobe\u2019s creative suite of applications.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_After_Effects_CPU_or_GPU-Intensive\"><\/span>Is After Effects CPU or GPU-Intensive?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>After Effects is predominantly CPU-intensive, although certain strides <em>have<\/em> been made over the years as far as its GPU utilization is concerned.<\/p>\n<p>GPU acceleration is a truly tremendous addition, but having a powerful processor should still be a top priority as it'll have a much bigger impact on the way your system performs in After Effects.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Much_RAM_Do_I_Need_for_After_Effects\"><\/span>How Much RAM Do I Need for After Effects?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In short: <strong>a lot.<\/strong> After Effects is incredibly resource-intensive, so going with 32GB should be your baseline.<\/p>\n<p>You can, generally speaking, get by with 16GB for smaller, less complex projects, but you\u2019re bound to face a memory-related bottleneck at some point.<\/p>\n<p>The problem with laptops is that most of them come equipped with just 16GB. Sometimes this memory is soldered onto the motherboard, other times it is not, so you really need to do a bit of digging and read the fine print before making any kind of purchasing decision.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, not all manufacturers have CTO options (Configure to Order).<\/p>\n<p>Certain laptops can only be specced with 16GB or, in some cases, 32GB \u2014 no if, ands, or buts.<\/p>\n<p>Most gaming ones \u2014 and those geared towards professionals \u2014 <em>can<\/em> be configured with 64GB, but those aren\u2019t nearly as omnipresent as we\u2019d like them to be.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s all sort of convoluted, but don\u2019t get disheartened as there\u2019s definitely a host of different laptops out there, all of which are sufficiently capable and will run After Effects the way you need them to.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Over_to_You\"><\/span>Over to You<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><em><strong>Do you work in After Effects on a laptop and, if so, which one? How has that experience been like? Let us know in the <a href=\"#comments\">comment<\/a> section down below and, in case you need any help, head over to <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/forum\/\">our forum<\/a> and ask away!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After Effects is, without a doubt, one of Adobe\u2019s most demanding applications. And, by proxy, it requires a truly beastly machine in order to run properly. It all hinges on the complexity of your projects and, well, the sheer ability and horsepower of the computer you\u2019re using \u2014 be it a laptop or, conversely, a...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2346,"featured_media":22417,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[113,173],"tags":[150,147],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22390"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2346"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22390"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22390\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22419,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22390\/revisions\/22419"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22417"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22390"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22390"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22390"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}