NOTICE: The following recommendations are not part of the UTSOA Computer Policy which has been approved by the faculty and administration of the school. These technical recommendations are provided by the Office of Information Technology (OIT) based on our technical experience with hardware, software and student, faculty and computer lab support.
Pre-existing Hardware: As a general rule, we recommend postponing new hardware purchases until your current hardware breaks or cannot perform adequately. Pre-existing hardware, or other hardware that does not explicitly meet the hardware specifications below, will be treated as being 'in compliance' so long as the hardware is successfully running all of the software required by the student’s program and courses.
For those considering purchasing Apple hardware the following should be noted:
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Specifications: The specific minimum and recommended hardware specifications for the next academic year will be updated annually on or before July 1. The minimum requirements constitute a computer system with an anticipated lifespan for architectural design purposes of two to three years. The recommended requirements constitute a computer system with an anticipated lifespan for architectural design purposes of five years.
Table 1: |
| FALL 2013 |
---|---|---|
Hardware Component | Minimum | Recommended |
Processor | Intel i5 dual core | Intel i7 quad core |
Memory | 8.0 GB | 16.0 GB with expansion space or 32 GB |
Hard Drive | 250 GB 7200RPM | 256 GB SSD + Optional Data Drive |
Video Card (1) | 1 GB NVIDIA Quadro | 2GB or more |
Screen Size (2) | 13 inch | 14-17 inch |
Networking (Wireless) | 802.11 a/g/n | 802.11 a/g/n |
Networking (Wired) | 10/100 Ethernet | 10/100/1000 Ethernet |
Peripheral Connectivity | USB 2.0 | USB 3.0 |
Warranty | 3 year | 5 year + accidental damage |
(1) - The most important recommendation for video cards is that they are on the list of Autodesk Certified Hardware for Revit. The card search can be found at http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/syscert?id=18844534&siteID=123112
(2) - Screen size is mostly about usage style, weight, portability, and eyesight. Smaller screens provide lower weight and higher portability while larger screens provide a larger desktop at the expense of weight and portability.
Below is a comparison of the competing laptops (described on the Hardware Purchasing Resources page) when configured comparably to the Dell M3800. NOTE: These comparisons are not fully apples-to-apples because the HP and Lenovo options are ‘packages’ and not fully customizable like the Dell. |
ZBook 15 (model: F2P51UT)
Specs: 15.5" LED Notebook - Intel - Core i7 i7-4800MQ 2.7GHz. STK# 11241635 MFG# F2P51UT#ABA MFG:HEWLETT PACKARD - 16 GB RAM - 750 GB HDD - 32 GB SSD - Blu-ray Reader/DVD-Writer - NVIDIA Quadro K2100M, Intel HD 4600 Graphics - Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64-bit - 1920 x 1080 Display - Bluetooth
ZBook 15 F2P52UT
Specs: 15.6" LED Notebook - Intel - Core i7 i7-4800MQ 2.7GHz - Graphite. STK# 11241636 MFG# F2P52UT#ABA MFG:HEWLETT PACKARD - 16 GB RAM - 750 GB HDD - DVD-Writer - NVIDIA Quadro K2100M, Intel HD 4600 Graphics - Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64-bit - 1920 x 1080 Display - Bluetooth.
ThinkPad W540 (model: 20BHS17Y00)
Specs: 15.5" LED (In-plane Switching (IPS) Technology) Notebook - Intel Core i7 i7-4700MQ 2.40 GHz. STK# 11328512 MFG# 20BHS17Y00 MFG:LENOVO - 16 GB RAM - 256 GB SSD - DVD-Writer - NVIDIA, Intel Quadro K1100M, HD 4600 - Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit - 2880 x 1620 Display - Bluetooth.
ThinkPad W540 (model: 20BH002DUS)
Specs: 15.5" LED Notebook - Intel Core i7 i7-4800MQ 2.70 GHz. STK# 11284786 MFG# 20BH002DUS MFG:LENOVO - 8 GB RAM - 256 GB SSD - DVD-Writer - NVIDIA, Intel Quadro K1100M, HD Graphics 4600 - Windows 8 Pro 64-bit - 2880 x 1620 Display - Bluetooth.
In summary, with the Dell M3800 you get a more lightweight workstation with very good battery life. The HP and Lenovo options offer more ‘room for growth’ (higher max RAM, slightly faster and more power hungry processors) at the expense of an approximately 50% increase in weight. Additionally, the new Dell high-resolution touchscreen is superior to the other displays. Admittedly, that the ~$2000 Lenovo is a tempting comparison, however the HPs are less impressive. The other key difference is warranty – the Dell comes with a 3 year "no-matter-what warranty", whereas the others come with a 3 year (HP) or 1 year (Lenovo) factory warranty. How much you value this warranty is an individual matter. |
In addition to your required laptop there are several peripherals which can be very helpful to your digital productivity and security.