Solid everyday pick
Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 7 (Intel Core Ultra 7 255H)
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Laptops
Laptops I actually recommend to engineering students.
Updated September 22, 2026
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Top of the line
Dell 16 Premium (16.3-inch 4K OLED, Core Ultra 9 285H, 64GB RAM, 2TB SSD, RTX 5070)
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The two ThinkPads use built-in graphics, which is plenty for coding, Excel, MATLAB, and most coursework. If you run heavy CAD or simulation software like SolidWorks, ANSYS, or Revit, a dedicated NVIDIA graphics card makes a real difference.
Check the NCEES calculator policy at ncees.org before any FE or PE exam, since the approved list can change.