Architecture

Components	Window Laptop	Macintosh Laptop
CPU (Processor)	Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.4 GHz or faster	MacBook Pro, any current 15" or 17" model
System RAM Tell me more	4 GB minimum, more preferred if capable	4 GB minimum, more preferred if capable
CD/DVD Tell me more	DVD-R/CD-RW drive	SuperDrive (DVD-R/CD-RW)
Hard Disk Size Tell me more	250 GB minimum, more preferred	250 GB minimum, more preferred
Monitor Tell me more	15" minimum (second external monitor optional)	15" minimum (second external monitor optional)
Video Adapter Tell me more	256 MB VRAM or higher	256 MB VRAM or higher
Operating System	Windows XP Professional or Vista Business (NO "Home" versions)	Mac OS X version 10.5 or later
Sound Card	100% Windows compliant sound card	Built-in
Ethernet Adapters Tell me more	Built-in RJ-45 connector (802.11g compatible wireless ethernet card optional, but needed for wireless network access)	Standard on Macintosh (Wireless Airport Extreme card also standard)
External Hard Drive for Back-ups	An external drive at least as large as your computer's internal drive for backing up your computer.
Warranty Service	minimum 3-year onsite parts and labor	3-year AppleCare Protection Plan
Software (Be sure to check for educational discounts through NCSU Bookstores or ask for educational pricing. Autodesk offers many of its software applications free of charge to students through their Education Community Web Site.)	• Microsoft Office 2007 or later (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) • Autodesk Architecture or AutoCAD 2009 or later (NOT LT version) • Adobe Photoshop CS4 or later • Adobe InDesign CS4 (optional) (Consider Adobe Creative Suite 4, which is now available in several different bundles. "Creative Suite 4 Design Standard" is a good fit for most Architecture students. It includes InDesign, Acrobat, Illustrator, and Photoshop. Other bundles are available.) • (MultiFrame 3D required after first year for ARC331 and ARC332)	Macintosh-compatible Software: • Microsoft Office 2008 or later (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) • Adobe Photoshop CS4 or later • Adobe InDesign CS4 (optional) (Consider Adobe Creative Suite 4, which is now available in several different bundles. "Creative Suite 4 Design Standard" is a good fit for most Architecture students. It includes InDesign, Acrobat, Illustrator, and Photoshop. Other bundles are available.) Windows-compatible Software: • Microsoft Windows XP Professional (in addition to Mac OS X) and Windows-compatible software of your choosing. (You do not need to have the same software applications for both operating systems.) • Autodesk Architecture or AutoCAD 2009 or later (NOT LT version) • (MultiFrame 3D required after first year for ARC331 and ARC332) AutoDesk products and MultiFrame 3D do not run in Mac OS X. Users will have to install Windows operating system.

Questions?

Go back to the College's Student Computing Requirements and Information page for general information.

For technical assistance or if you would like us to look over your purchase selection before you spend money, feel free to contact the College's Information Technology staff by sending an email to: design_help@ncsu.edu.