Computer Recommendations

General Recommendations:

PC

• Processor:
  • Minimum: 11th or 12th Generation Intel i7 / AMD equivalent
  • Recommended: 13th Generation Intel i7 / AMD equivalent or higher
• Operating System:
  • Genuine 64-bit versions of Windows 10 22H2 or Windows 11 23H2, and Windows 11 24H2.
• RAM:
  • Minimum: 16 GB
  • Recommended: 32 GB
• Storage:
  • Minimum: 512 GB Solid State Drive (SSD)
  • Recommended: 1 TB or greater SSD
• Graphics:
  • Minimum: Integrated graphics with high-end CPU
  • Recommended: NVIDIA RTX 2/3xxx series, Quadro series, or Ampere series (at least 4 GB GDDR5), or equivalent AMD discrete graphics card
• Warranty:
  • Minimum: 1-year Warranty + Accidental Damage
  • Recommended: 4 years ProSupport+ Warranty (includes Accidental Damage Coverage)
• Accessories:
  • USB-C adapter hub (If applicable)
  • 1TB External Hard Drive or better
• General Tips:
  • Screen Size: 13″ or larger is recommended for better visibility.
  • External Mouse: Essential for precision tasks, especially in design and engineering

Arcadia DELL Discount

MacBook Air

• Processor:
  • Minimum: Apple M1
  • Recommended: Apple M3
• Operating System:
  • macOS Ventura 13, Sonoma 14 or Sequoia 15
• RAM:
  • Minimum: 8 GB
  • Recommended: 16 GB
• Storage:
  • Minimum: 256 GB SSD
  • Recommended: 512 GB SSD or higher
• Display:
  • Minimum: 13.3-inch Retina display
  • Recommended: 15-inch Retina display
• Battery Life:
  • Up to 18 hours

MacBook Pro:

• Processor:
  • Minimum: Apple M1 Pro
  • Recommended: Apple M3 Max
• RAM:
  • Minimum: 16 GB
  • Recommended: 32 GB
• Storage:
  • Minimum: 512 GB SSD
  • Recommended: 1 TB SSD or higher
• Display:
  • Minimum: 14-inch Retina display
  • Recommended: 16-inch Retina display
• Battery Life:
  • Up to 20 hours
• Accessories
  • USB-C adapter hub (If applicable)
  • 1TB External Hard Drive or better

General Tips:

• Portability: MacBook Air is lighter and more portable, ideal for carrying around campus.
• Performance: MacBook Pro offers higher performance, suitable for demanding tasks like video editing, programming, and design.
• External Mouse: Essential for precision tasks, especially in design and engineering

Arcadia Apple Education Discount

Chromebook or Tablet Use

Chromebooks, iPads and Android tablets are great and affordable solutions to basic computer needs, such as web browsing and video chat. They may not meet all the needs of your average use as a student. We advise the purchase of a Mac or Windows computer over these when possible!

Major Specific Recommendations

If you are unsure please reach out to IT or your department for specs on software recommendations and requirements

Computer Science

• Windows Laptop
• Processor: Gen Intel® Core™ i7 or better
• Operating System: Genuine Windows® 10 Professional or Home (64-bit) or better
• Memory: 16GB RAM or better
• Hard Drive: 256GB or better Solid State Hard Drive
• Battery: 6-cell (60WH) Primary Lithium Ion Battery
• Bluetooth: Bluetooth Module
• Camera/Microphone: Webcam and Microphone
• WiFi Wireless: 802.11 b/g/n/ac
• Ethernet Port or USB/USB-C Port
• Accessories:
  • USB-C adapter hub (If applicable)
  • 1TB External Hard Drive or better
• Warranty: 3/4 year manufacturer supported warranty

You can learn more about purchasing a computer using an academic discount and recommended Dell Computer systems on our Purchase Programs page.

Supported Software

Operating Systems
In the rapidly changing world of computer technology, the Office of Information Technology requires that computers connecting to the network must meet a minimum operating system level. Permitted operating systems are:

Window 10 or greater
MAC OS 10.14 or greater
Linux

Computers which do not meet this standard will not be granted access to the network.