Please read the College of Design's General Computer Requirement information before buying computer hardware or software. That page includes information on what to buy, where to find the best deals, running Windows on a Macintosh computer, services the College and University provide, and where to get help.
Each department has different computer hardware and software requirements.
The Department of Industrial Design requires purchase of computers by students depending on their individual curriculum. Students may use either Macintosh or Windows computers for their coursework. While the industrial design industry uses different platforms, our department has chosen to use the Windows platform for certain software applications. Information on running Windows software on a Macintosh computer is available on the General Computer Requirement information page.
Software requirements are listed at the bottom of the chart below. Additional specialized software may be required in other courses, as determined by the instructor. Students are encouraged to consider the purchase of other software to support their particular goals and learning styles. Many software applications are available at educational prices at the NCSU Bookstores. Other software companies and internet stores also offer savings through educational prices. Autodesk offers many of its software applications free of charge to students through their Education Community Web Site.
Adobe Creative Suite is available in several different bundles. "Creative Suite Design Premium" is a good fit for most Industrial Design students. It includes InDesign, Acrobat, Illustrator, Photoshop Extended, Flash Professional and Dreamweaver. Other choices are available. Contact the NCSU Bookstores for more information.
For students purchasing new computers to bring to campus, we recommend that your computer meet or exceed the specifications below. This chart provides minimum recommendations for students purchasing new computers. Depending on your computing needs, a computer you purchase today may not meet your needs for your entire tenure at the College of Design. A computer with greater capability (processor speed, RAM, disk capacity) and expandability will be more likely to continue to run the software you require. Clicking on "Tell Me More" will provide detailed information about a component.
Students in Industrial Design should pay particular attention to the AutoDesk AliasStudio qualified hardware list to find computers and hardware compatible with Alias StudioTools. In addition, students are encouraged to select NVidia graphics cards for increased compatibility. Because of the intense software needs of Industrial Design students, higher-end computers are specified.
WINDOWS
| Components | Window Dekstop | Windows Laptop |
|---|---|---|
| CPU (Processor) | Intel-compatible (Pentium, AMD): 3 GHz or faster | Intel-compatible (Pentium, AMD): 2.4 GHz or faster |
| System RAM Tell me more | 4 GB minimum, more preferred | 4 GB minimum, more preferred if capable |
| CD/DVD Tell me more | CD-RW/DVD-ROM or CD-RW/DVD-R | |
| Hard Disk Size Tell me more | 320 GB minimum, more preferred | 250 GB minimum, more preferred |
| Monitor Tell me more | 18" or larger | 14" or larger (second external monitor optional) |
| Video Adapter Tell me more | 512 MB VRAM minimum (NVIDIA preferred) | |
| Operating System | Windows XP Pro or Vista Business | |
| Sound Card | 100% Windows compliant sound card | |
| Ethernet Adapter Tell me more | Built-in RJ-45 | Built-in RJ-45 (802.11g compatible wireless ethernet card optional, but needed for wireless network access) |
| 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 | |
| Software (Be sure to check for educational discounts through the College of Design or NCSU Bookstores) | • Microsoft Office 2007 or later • AutoDesk AliasStudio (Optional for sophomore year) • Students wishing to pursue work in Animation and Game Development should consider purchasing Autodesk 3ds Max | |
MACINTOSH
| Components | Macintosh Dekstop | Macintosh Laptop |
|---|---|---|
| CPU (Processor) | MacPro, any current model | |
| System RAM Tell me more | 4 GB minimum, more preferred | 4 GB minimum, more preferred if capable |
| CD/DVD Tell me more | SuperDrive (DVD-R/CD-RW) | |
| Hard Disk Size Tell me more | 320 GB minimum, more preferred | 250 GB minimum, more preferred |
| Monitor Tell me more | 18" or larger | 15" or 17"(second external monitor optional) |
| Video Adapter Tell me more | 512 MB VRAM minimum (NVIDIA is standard) | |
| Operating System | Mac OS X version 10.5 or later | |
| Sound Card | Standard on Macintosh | |
| Ethernet Adapter Tell me more | Standard on Macintosh | 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 | 3-year AppleCare Protection Plan | |
| Software (Be sure to check for educational discounts through the College of Design or NCSU Bookstores) | • Microsoft Office 2008 or later If you want to run both Mac OS X and Windows on a Mac, you will also need: • AutoDesk AliasStudio (Optional for sophomore year) • Students wishing to pursue work in Animation and Game Development should consider purchasing Autodesk 3ds Max. AutoDesk products do not run in Mac OS X. Users will have to install Windows operating system. | |
Questions?
For additional assistance, please contact the Department of Industrial Design office at 919.515.8322 or send email to: design_help@ncsu.edu
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
