Laptop Recommendations
Coursework in the Department of Computer Science regularly involves programming, software development, and other computer-based projects, so having a personal laptop is strongly recommended. A reliable laptop gives you the flexibility to complete assignments, participate in coursework, and work on projects without depending on campus lab availability.
To help you prepare, we’ve outlined minimum and recommended laptop specifications below for students entering the program.
Note: Students planning to focus on multimedia projects, machine learning, or artificial intelligence development should consider a laptop with a discrete graphics card (dedicated GPU) for better performance.
| Type | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System (OS) | Windows 11 - Windows 11 is installed by default on the majority of new computers sold today. Windows 10 will no longer be supported by Microsoft as of October 2025. The Computer Science Department allows the latest Mac and Linux OSes as well, but some software such as Unity may have some compatibility issues with out Windows labs | |
| CPU | Intel i5, 13th gen. or better AMD Ryzen 7000 series 5 or better Apple M3 or better* | Intel i7, 13th gen. or better AMD Ryzen 7000 series 7 or better Apple M3 pro or better* |
| RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB or more |
| Storage | 512 GB | 1 TB or more (solid state drive preferred) |
| Webcam | 720p | 1080p |
| USB Storage | 64 GB, USB 3.0 or better | 256 GB |
* The Office of Information Technology will not support Apple laptops, and some specialized software may not be supported. Use of Apple laptops can be cone with most software and virtualization but will require a knowledgeable student to support the device.