The kind of laptop you need as a math major depends on what you want to use it for. If you are simply a casual college student then you don’t need much, but if you will be running complex calculations using Mathlab then you might want to go with something a little more powerful. The best laptop for math majors most of the time is a mid-range laptop. If you are doing things such as deep learning then go for a higher end option.
Here are three laptops that I think are among the best options.
Math majors do tend to venture into data analysis, something can make use of a good laptop. There are also more budget friendly options here for those who will only be using the laptop for regular school activities.
Best Laptops for Math Majors
Below are what I think are great laptops for math majors. This should give you a good starting point for your research into what is the best laptop for you.
MSI GS66 Stealth
The MSI GS66 is one of the power laptops on this list. It is the best option for anyone who will be working on resource intensive tasks such as data science or machine learning. Artificial intelligence is a hot market and many math majors tend to go into it, so you might want to consider this option if it fits your budget.
The laptop comes with an Intel Core i7-1075H CPU, but you can also get one with an i9-10960HK if you want. This is one of the best CPUs you will find for laptops and there is a reason why most high end laptops have it. This will perform really well. You can see why having this CPU in the Dell Inspiron is such a good deal when you see how powerful this laptop is.
There is a Nvidia GeForce RTX2060 GPU in this laptop, and you can also select other versions on the page with up t a 2080 Super.
The computer has a 16 GB of DDR4 RAM which definitely should be more than enough for a math major.
You get a 512 GB SSD on this laptop which is quite good, and should be enough for most people.
See the MSI GS66 on Amazon.
Dell Inspiron 14
The computer comes with the Intel i7-1165G7H CPU. This is a pretty decent CPU, although not the most powerful i7 out there. Being an 11th gen means it will stay current for quite some time, and it should last you though your whole college career.
The laptop does not have a dedicated GPU, which is okay unless you want to play video games or get into data science.
There is 12 GB of RAM on board which should be good. You can always upgrade it in a few years if you feel like you need more at that time.
As far as storage goes there is a 512 GB SSD. This should be enough for most people, but if you will be working with large datasets for class projects then you might want to consider getting some external storage as well.
See the Dell Inspiron on Amazon.
Acer Aspire 5
The Acer Aspire is an amazing entry level laptop. This is one of the best laptops for people who just want a laptop for normal use. If you will be browsing the web, writing papers, and watching Netflix, then this is the laptop for you. It is not the most powerful option out there, but it will get those tasks done really well.
The laptop comes with an Intel Core i5-1035G1, a CPU that is quite good. It is an 10th generation of the i5 which should still be able to last for 4 years of college.
The laptop has 8 GB of DDR4 RAM. This is the same as many mid-range options you will find. 8 GB should be good enough for most, but if you plan on playing video games or something like that then this laptop is not the best option.
The storage is a 256 GB SSD. This should be good for most people, and you can always get some external storage if you need more.
See the Acer Aspire 5 on Amazon.
Dell XPS 13
The Dell XPS is a premium looking laptop in this list. It features tiny bezels and a good build quality. This laptop is good for you if you care what the laptop looks for. It is also good if you want a powerful laptop but don’t want to go all the way in terms of price.
The laptop comes with a great CPU, the Intel Core i7-1185G7. An 11th gen CPU will last you a long time. Make sure you check the age of the CPU when doing your research, as you don’t want to go with something as old as an 8th gen.
There is 16 GB of LPDDR4 RAM on board, which should be plenty for most college students. The LP means low power and helps the laptop have better battery life.
You should also check out the screen on this computer. It can get up to 500 nits bright which is quite high, and should work well if you want to use the laptop in situations where you can’t control the lighting around you. This laptop has a lot to offer.
See the Dell XPS on Amazon.
What Should you look for in a math major laptop?
Which laptop is best for you depends on your use case. If you want a laptop that in general is good and is well suited for a lot of things then go for the Dell Inspiron. It is not the most powerful laptop out there, but you can do statistical analysis, some machine learning, and play a few video games.
If you are looking for a cheap laptop that is still good, then go with the Acer Aspire. The laptop has a good reputation for deliverying a lot of bang for your buck. It is not the best if you want to do things like mathlab on a high level, but for the easy stuff it will be just fine.
If you want the most powerful option because you are planning on going deep into machine learning and mathematical computations, then you should consider then MSI laptop. It is one of the best laptops out there.
Conclusion
The best laptop for math majors depends on what it will be used for. If you just want a regular laptop then check out the Aspire. If you want something powerful that you can use for data analysis and machine learning then have a look at the MSI. If you want something premium and very good looking then check out the Dell XPS.
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