Data analysis involves big data sets and the laptops with normal configuration cannot meet your requirements. So if you are looking for laptop for data analysis you may need a higher configuration laptop.
The configurations that you must look for
You can choose either a Mac or Windows with good configuration for data analysis. The configurations of the various components must be:
1. Processor
It is better to go for i7 quad core processor though the i5 processors are also fine if you do not have to work on very large data sets. The quad core processors have 4 cores that make the processing speed very fast and it is better to use the latest 6th Generation processors.
2. Hard Drive
The system must have at least 512 GB HDD for big data sets. It’s better to have more hard disk drive space than running short of space. Solid state drives are better than HDD’s as they are fast as well as do not spin like the HDD’s.
3. Memory/RAM
The system you choose must have at least 16 GB RAM as sometimes you may need to run virtual machines when your machine can not handle heavy processing. More the RAM the better it is for the overall performance of your system.
Popular Laptops that we recommends
Thus an i7 quad-core processor with 16 GB of RAM is ideal for the data analysis. We are reviewing topmost laptops below that you can choose from for data analysis depending upon your requirements and budget.
1. Lenovo ThinkPad W541 Mobile Workstation
This is portable and powerful workstation that is thin and light. It is mainly designed for professionals to create 3D models or edit videos and has blazing fast performance. It can be used for data analysis as it is powered by quad-core 2.8 GHz Intel i7-4810 MQ processor with turbo speed up to 3.8 GHz. The system comes with 8 GB RAM by default however you can upgrade it up to 32 GB depending upon your requirements. Three optional memory modules are supported by the system.
The 15.6” full HD display allows you to view the graphics in a native resolution of 1920 x 1080. A 2 GB dedicated NVidia Quadro K1100M graphics card is provided with the laptop. The laptop can support a maximum of 2 TB HDD and 1 TB of SSD (solid state drive). The system comes preinstalled with Windows 7 Pro 64 bit and is eligible for Windows 10 Pro Upgrade.
The 4th generation processor delivers excellent performance and increases your productivity. The NVidia Optimus technology allows you to switch to discrete graphic card only when required while playing HD videos, using applications that need high end graphics and 3D views etc.
The price of the system with 8GB RAM and 256 GB SSD is $1519.99
2. MacBook Pro 15-inch with retina display
The Apple MacBook Pro 15.4 inch with retina display is a very powerful notebook computer that is ultrathin and ultraportable and can be used for data analysis. The all flash architecture is built for speed. The backlit LED display with IPS technology and the resolution is 2880 by 1800 is amazing with almost 220 pixels per inch and supports millions of colors.
The processor is 2.5 GHz quad -core Intel Core i7 and the turbo boost is up to 3.7 GHz with 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The system can be also configured to 2.8 GHz quad core i7 processor with a turbo boost up to 4.0 GHz. The memory available in the system is 16 GB (1600 MHz DDR3) and the 512 GB PCIe based flash storage is available that can be configured to 1 TB.
The integrated Intel Iris Pro Graphic card comes in the system along with the 2 GB AMD Radeon R9 M370X card. The graphic cards can be automatically switched for optimum performance. When you are using any graphic intensive applications such as games, the AMD card is used and when you are using the system for normal browsing the integrated card is used. The system comes preinstalled with OS X El Captain which has amazing collection of apps. The price of this system is $2499.
3. Asus Rog GL552VW-DH74 Laptop
This gaming system has a premium build quality and unique design and can be used for data analysis due to its high end configuration. The laptop comes with a 2 GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M graphic card. The processor is the latest 6th Generation 2.6 GHz Intel quad-core i7-6700 with turbo speed up 3.5 GHz.
The RAM is 16 GB and the HDD is 1 TB with 7200 rotational speed along with 128GB SSD. The system comes preinstalled with Windows 10. The screen size is 15.6 inches the display is Matte IPS FHD with a resolution of 1920 by 1080. The Ultra- fast SSD gives the laptop superior load time and faster data transfer. The cost of this laptop is $1299.
4. Alienware AW17R3-4175SLV
Though the Alienware systems are traditionally used by the gamers however their excellent configuration is idle for data analysis as well. The Alienware 17 is designed for high performance with 17.3 inches FHD display. The laptop comes with Intel 2.6 GHz i7-6700 HQ processor that provides amazing performance.
The RAM that comes preinstalled in the system is 16 GB and storage includes 1 TB Hard drive along with 256GB SSD. The NVidia GeForce GTX 970 graphic card is installed in the system. The system comes preinstalled with Windows 10 and ODD is not included. The price of this laptop is $1699.
5. Lenovo Ideapad Y700 – 17”
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 is a very powerful system fuelled by the latest Intel quad core processor 2.60 GHz (i7-6700HQ). The laptop display is 17.3”diagonally, based on FHD IPS technology (antiglare) and resolution offered is 1920 by 1080.
The 16 GB memory and 1 TB HD along with 128GB SSD makes this system an excellent choice for data analysis. For visualizations the system comes with 4 GB NVidia GeForce GTX 960 M Graphic card. The configuration of the system is excellent and comes preinstalled with windows 10. The cost of this laptop is $1299.99.
6. Acer Aspire V15 Nitro Black Edition
The laptop offers superb style along with overwhelming power and brims with top end hardware. This is an excellent machine with 4th generation 2.6 GHz Intel Core i7-4720 HQ processor with turbo boost technology up to 3.6 GHz and 15.6 inch widescreen Ultra HD IPS display.
The native resolution is 3840 by 2160 and comes with 256 GB solid state drive. The HDD on the system is 1 TB and the memory is 16 GB DDR3. The discrete video card that comes with the laptop is NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 M. The system comes preinstalled with windows 8.1.
7. Apple MacBook Pro 13 inch with retina display
This laptop with 4 million pixels on the 13.3 inch model comes with LED backlit display based on IPS technology. The standard resolution provided by the system is 2560 by 1600 with around 227 pixels per inch. The dual core i5 processors are available in following configurations:
- 7 GHz with turbo speed up to 3.1 GHz dual core i5 processor with 128 GB SSD. This can be configured up to 2.9 GHz dual core i5 or 3.1 GHz dual core i7 processor.
- 7 GHz processor with 256GB SSD and can be configured to 2.9 GHz i5 (dual core) or 3.1 GHz dual core i7 processor.
- 9 GHz dual core Intel core i5 processor with Turbo boost up to 3.3 GHz with shared L3 cache of 3 MB. The SSD or flash based storage is 512 GB for this and can be configured to 1TB flash storage.
This processor can also be configured to 3.1 GHz dual core Intel i7processor with turbo boost up to 3.4 GHz with 4 MB shared L3 cache.
The 8 GB memory module comes by default with this system and can be configured to 16 GB. The system comes with the integrated Intel Iris Graphic card 6100 and does not support discrete graphics card.
The OS of the system is OS X Yosemite that features an elegant design, is intuitive and easy to use. The price of the system is between $1299.00 and $1799.00 depending upon the configuration you choose.
8. Razer Blade Pro
It is an ultimate machine that can be used both for work as well as gaming. It comes with a 47 watt quad core i7 processor, 16 GB RAM (8 GB in each slot) and dual storage SSD plus HDD. The laptop delivers outstanding performance and can take most intensive applications with ease. Along with this it comes with NVidia GeForce GTX 960 M graphic card.
The dual storage provides high speed as well as large capacity. The frequently accessed content can be stored in the ultra-fast Solid state drive with up to 512 GB space. The large files can be stored on the secondary HDD that allows up to 1 TB of storage space in addition to the storage provided by SDD.
The display is 17.3 inch full HD matt anti-glare and provides a resolution of 1920 by 1080. The system comes preloaded with Windows 10 and laptop also has switchable UI for a more efficient and intuitive experience.
The processor is 2.6 GHz quad core i7-4720 HQ with turbo boost speeds up to 3.6 GHz. The laptop with its amazing performance and awesome configuration is worth the price you pay for it. The price of the laptop is $3099.97.
9. HP ZBook 15 G2 Mobile Workstation
These laptops offer powerful processing and graphics to help you analyze large volume of data real fast. You can select the configuration that suits you as there are 16 specifications in which the system is available. The workstation is versatile and mobile and you can choose the i5 dual core or quad core i7 processors. You can choose the various Windows OS or Linux and also DOS if you wish to install the OS on your own.
The system offers various customizations to meet your demands. The maximum memory that is supported is 32 GB for quad core and 16 GB for dual core processor with transfer rates up to 1600 MT/s. There are 2 memory slots available in systems with dual core processor and 4 memory slots in quad- core processors.
The storage up to 2.2 TB is available depending upon your requirement you can select the configuration that offers maximum performance. You can easily handle large files and reduce your work time by using this HP Z turbo drive.
The processor clock speed is 2.5 GHz and turbo boost is up to 3.5 GHz for i7- 4710 processor. The display is 15.6 inches and resolution is 1920 by 1080 pixels. The system comes with integrated Intel HD graphic card and discrete video card which is NVidia Quadro K2100 M.
The price of the system starts from $1469 and the prices vary on the basis of the model you select.
10. Asus Zenbook Pro UX501VW-DS71T
This laptop offers mobility and power to do whatever you want. The Asus Zenbook Pro redefines its class by combining high standard designing along with the high performance components.
The system features 15.6 inch touchscreen display based on IPS and is a host of technologies that provide breathtaking clarity and definition. The resolution of the display is 3840 by 2860.
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