Hardware considerations when purchasing a computer for the College of Engineering
The College of Engineering recommends that all incoming students own a desktop, laptop, or similarly powerful tablet. Please consider our recommended specifications on the following table for new computers and laptops:
| CPU Minimum |
Intel i5 or i7 processor 10th generation or Ryzen 5 or 7 3000 series 2.5 GHZ |
| CPU Recommended |
Intel i5 or higher 14th generation or Ryzen 5 or higher 5000 series |
| Minimum RAM | 16 GB |
| Recommended RAM | 32GB or higher |
| *Minimum Graphics card | NVIDIA or AMD graphics card with 4GB of dedicated video memory |
| *Recommended Graphics card | NVIDIA or AMD graphics card with 8GB of dedicated video memory |
| Optical Drive (DVD/CD/BluRay) | Optional |
| Minimum Storage | 256 GB Solid State Drive (SSD) |
| Recommended Storage | 512 GB or larger Solid State Drive (SSD) |
| Operating System |
Windows 10 (64-bit) Or Windows 11 (64-bit) |
| Wireless | 802.11ac |
| Warranty | 3 years or more |
Apple devices
You may notice that Apple hardware is not listed here, this is because many applications used by College of Engineering students are only compatible with Windows. Apple devices roughly between the years of 2012 to 2020 with Intel CPUs offer Boot Camp which will allow you to partition your hard drive and install Windows on an Mac (More details here).
Other Software Access Options
We highly advise using the Eos Virtual Lab environment in order to access Windows exclusive applications on MacOS instead of using Boot Camp. You can also make use of our on campus Eos Labs.
Discrete Graphics Cards
For Civil, Industrial, Mechanical, Aerospace, and Chemical Engineering Students, having a computer equipped with a discrete graphics card either from AMD or Nvidia is needed for some software to run optimally.
Warranty Information
We recommend warranties that are backed by the manufacturers themselves (as opposed to third-party warranties offered by retailers) so you can get service no matter where you are when a problem occurs.
There are repair technicians on-campus at the OIT Walk-In Center who can provide hardware repairs for computers and laptops from Dell, Apple, and Lenovo that are under manufacturer warranty or CPS warranty.
If you purchase a device above the recommended specifications, you might consider a 4-year warranty, accidental damage coverage and theft coverage.