Laptop Requirements for Engineering & Computer Science Students

Laptop
Engineers know that to do the work, you need the right tools. The digital tools we teach you to use require a lot of computing power. We provide some classroom computers, but you are required to have your own laptop to fit your degree program’s needs.
 

2024 System Requirements

Engineering students need:
  • Windows OS
  • 16 GB RAM or more
  • 500 GB of free hard drive space (SSD or M.2 hard drives will provide the fastest speeds)
  • Advanced graphics card (Some models include ATI FireGL, ATI FirePro, NVidia Quadro FX line)
  • Minimum i7 CPU
  • A USB-C port

The laptops sold through the vendor links below are approved and will be supported by SEAS IT. If you have any questions, please contact SEASIT@gonzaga.edu.

Technology Partners

Computers purchased from the vendor links below are approved and will be supported by SEAS IT for support or warranty issues.

Computer Science students may purchase from above or may consider the Apple – MacBook Pro.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • A four-year warranty his highly recommended!
  • Extra power supply
  • USB-C/thunderbolt port
  • Portable mouse
  • 1 USB Microphone Camera
  • SSD or M.2 hard drives provide the fastest speeds
  • Advanced graphics cards include  ATI FireGL, ATI FirePro, NVidia Quadro FX line

 

 
Our computer partners promise to offer a fair discount for Gonzaga families, however there are likely to be sales. Please look closely at the graphics card and hard drive space before buying any computer from an outside source. 
 

The laptops through the Technology Partners links were selected to meet the needs and requirements of the different software packages that you might use during your time at Gonzaga. We do recommend that you choose a model from the link provided. We cannot verify that all the required software will run properly on other machines. If you have questions, please contact SEASIT@gonzaga.edu.

 

Unfortunately, due to software packages that are used throughout the engineering coursework, we must limit the laptop choices to only Windows PCs for engineering students. Computer Science students may bring an Apple MacBook Pro.

 

Most engineering software doesn't work on Mac products.

Computer Science programs are too large to run properly on the MacBook Air.

 

All Computer Science and Engineering students have access to an online repository of all apps/software used in SEAS programs.