Laptop Requirements
Undergraduate Programs
Operating System:
- Windows 11 or macOS 14
Processor:
- Intel Core Ultra7/i7+ (minimum)
- Intel i9 or Xeon (recommended)
- Apple M series (M3 or higher recommended)
RAM:
- 16GB RAM (minimum), 32GB RAM (recommended)
Graphics Card:
- 8GB Discrete Graphics Card or higher (NVIDIA/ M3 or higher preferred)
Storage:
- 1TB of storage (SSD recommended for speed)
Additional Requirements:
- 32GB or larger USB drive (required for plotter use)
- Corded or wireless mouse (trackpads are not sufficient)
Example Hardware:
- Microsoft Surface Book Studio
- Dell XPS 15
- Apple 16″ MacBook Pro
Operating System:
- 64-bit Windows 11 (no macOS)
Processor (CPU):
- Intel i7, Xeon or AMD equivalent 2.5 GHz or higher (minimum)
- Higher clock speed and multiple cores are beneficial (recommended)
RAM:
- 16GB (minimum)
- 32GB (recommended)
Graphics Card:
- 4GB Discrete Graphics Card (minimum)
- 8GB Discrete Graphics Card (recommended)
Hard Drive Storage:
- 512GB SSD (minimum)
- 1TB SSD (recommended)
Example Hardware:
- Asus Rog Zephyrus G16
- Dell Pro 16 Plus
- Lenovo Thinkpad P16
Operating System:
- Windows 11 or macOS 14
Processor:
- Intel Core Ultra7/i7+ (minimum)
- Intel i9 (recommended)
- Apple M series (M3 or higher recommended)
RAM:
- 16GB RAM (minimum), 32GB RAM (recommended)
Graphics Card:
- 8GB Discrete Graphics Card (NVIDIA/ M3 or higher preferred)
Storage:
- 512GB to 1TB (1TB recommended for better performance)
Additional Requirements:
- 8GB or larger USB drive (required for plotter use)
- Corded or wireless mouse (trackpads are not sufficient)
Example Hardware:
- Microsoft Surface Book Studio
- Dell XPS 15
- Apple 16″ MacBook Pro
Graphic Design:
Since the Apple Macintosh remains the dominant computer in the print design, publishing and multimedia design industries, the Graphic Design program is primarily a Mac environment.Minimum Recommended Hardware: All hardware is to be purchased by the student.
- 13″ MacBook Air OR 14″ MacBook Pro (M3 Apple Silicon Chip or better)
- Mac OS 14
- 16GB Memory (minimum)
- 512GB SSD internal storage (1TB recommended)
- AppleCare+
- 16GB or greater USB flash drive
- Mouse (recommended)
Software:
- All required software will be provided by the Graphic Design program upon entering GDES 2230.
- Microsoft Office 365: Word, Excel, PowerPoint (Free)
- Adobe Creative Cloud (Free)
When do I purchase my computer?
- Computer ownership is a requirement for students entering the second-year level program for GDES 2210 Graphic Processes and GDES 2220 Typographics I.
We Strongly Recommend the Following:
- Security cable for locking the laptop down at a workstation.
- Security software—to prevent strangers from accessing your data.
- Renter’s insurance to cover the loss or theft of your laptop.
Miscellaneous Notes:
- In addition to Apple Outlets, you also may check the University Bookstore, Best Buy and MacMall for pricing and availability.
- We recommend that you consider purchasing the AppleCare Protection Plan for up to three years from your computer’s original purchase date. You get access to Apple’s telephone technical support for questions about Apple hardware, Mac OS.
Note: Students in financial distress may consider purchasing a Windows laptop as their final option. While there may be some disadvantages, the Graphic Design program will allow this option to encourage students who have the talent and desire but lack sufficient funds to purchase the more expensive option. If you do need to purchase a Windows laptop, follow the guidelines for the Industrial Design laptop specifications.
Windows and Macs are welcome. However, SolidWorks will not run natively on a Mac without other virtualization software and additional system configuration that will need to be purchased and supported by the student. A limited number of computers are available throughout the building with SolidWorks installed.
Windows laptop (preferred):
- Windows 11
- Intel Core Ultra7/i7+ or better
- 16GB RAM (32GB recommended)
- 512GB SSD internal storage (1TB recommended)
- 8GB graphics card (NVIDIA recommended) that supports OpenGL
- 16GB USB flash drive
Mac Laptop (not preferred but accepted):
- 13″ MacBook Air OR 14″ MacBook Pro (M3 Apple Silicon Chip or better)
- Mac OS 14
- 16GB Memory (minimum)
- 512GB SSD internal storage (1 TB recommended)
- AppleCare+
- 16GB or greater USB flash drive
- Mouse (recommended)
Software:
- Microsoft Office 365: Word, Excel, PowerPoint (Free)
- Adobe Creative Cloud (Free)
Please note that Bachelor of Landscape Architecture program requires a Windows laptop; MacOS will not be supported.
Operating System:
- Windows 11
Processor:
- Intel Core Ultra7/i7+ (minimum)
RAM:
- 16GB RAM (minimum)
Graphics Card:
- 8GB Discrete Graphics Card or higher (AMD or NVIDIA preferred)
Storage:
- 1TB (SSD recommended for optimal performance)
Additional Requirements:
- 8GB or larger USB drive (required for plotter use)
- Corded or wireless mouse (trackpads are not sufficient)
Example Hardware:
- Microsoft Surface Book Studio
- Dell XPS 15
Graduate Programs
Please note that Master of Landscape Architecture program requires a Windows laptop; MacOS will not be supported.
Operating System:
- Windows 11
Processor:
- Multi-Core Intel Xeon or Intel Core Ultra7/9 (recommended)
RAM:
- 32GB RAM (minimum)
Graphics Card:
- 8GB Discrete Graphics Card or higher (AMD or NVIDIA preferred)
Storage:
- 1TB SSD
Additional Requirements:
- 8GB or larger USB drive (required for plotter use)
- Corded or wireless mouse (trackpads are not sufficient)
Example Hardware:
- Microsoft Surface Book Studio
- Dell XPS 15