VIT seniors, is the ASUS Zenbook 14 a good choice for CSE/AIML projects?

Hey everyone,

I’m a 1st-year CSE student at VIT Vellore and I’m planning to buy a laptop mainly for college work, programming, projects, hackathons, and eventually AI/ML-related work.

I’ve been looking at the ASUS Zenbook 14, particularly the newer models with Intel Core Ultra 7/Ultra 9, 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD.

I know it isn’t a gaming laptop, but I’m leaning toward it because I want something that is:

• Fast and smooth for programming and multitasking
• Portable enough to carry around campus
• Good for Python, C/C++, VS Code, Git, Docker/WSL, etc.
• Capable of handling normal AI/ML coursework and projects
• Good battery life and build quality
• Something I can comfortably use throughout my B.Tech

I also have access to college labs for more GPU-intensive AIML work, so I’m not necessarily looking for a laptop with a dedicated RTX GPU.

For seniors who have used a Zenbook or a similar thin-and-light laptop at VIT:

1. How does it hold up for your CSE coursework and projects?
2. Is 32GB RAM worth getting, or is 16GB enough?
3. Would you recommend Core Ultra 7 or Ultra 9 for this use case?
4. Are there any issues with thermals, performance throttling, battery life, or durability?
5. Do you actually find yourself needing a dedicated NVIDIA GPU for college projects?
6. If you had to buy your laptop again as a CSE student, would you choose the Zenbook or something else?

I’d especially appreciate advice from 2nd/3rd/4th-year CSE students who have actually used their laptops for projects and hackathons.

Thanks!