Student Laptop Recommendations
Minimum system requirements
Hardware recommendations when purchasing a laptop computer
Apple recommendations and requirements
| Apple MacBook | Recommendations | Minimum Requirement |
|---|---|---|
|
Operating System |
macOS Tahoe |
macOS Sonoma |
|
Processor |
M5 chip |
M3 or better |
|
Memory (RAM) |
16GB or better |
16GB |
|
Hard Disk Drive |
1TB or better |
512GB |
|
Wireless |
802.11 ac |
802.11 n |
|
NIC / Ethernet* |
10/100 wired ethernet (see notes) |
10/100 wired ethernet (see notes) |
|
Warranty |
3 year AppleCare |
Some type of warranty is highly recommended |
|
Optical Drive** |
SuperDrive (see notes) |
None |
Windows system recommendations and requirements
| Windows Platform | Recommendations | Minimum Requirement |
|---|---|---|
|
Operating System |
Windows 11 |
Windows 11 |
|
Processor |
Intel i7 or better |
Intel i5 |
|
Memory (RAM) |
16GB or better |
16GB |
|
Hard Disk Drive |
512GB SSD or better |
512GB SSD |
|
Wireless |
802.11 ac |
802.11 n |
|
NIC/Ethernet* |
10/100 wired ethernet (see notes) |
10/100 wired ethernet (see notes) |
|
Warranty |
3 year onsite with accidental damage coverage |
Some type of warranty is highly recommended |
Notes:
*Many vendors no longer include a wired network port on their laptops. However, this is not required at DePauw since wireless network access is available in most areas of campus. A wired network port allows an alternative way to connect to the campus network and the Internet and is still a desirable option if available.
Other Items to consider
When considering what type of system to bring to campus, you might also consider bringing some other items as well. For more information, see Other Suggestions.
Last updated: 11-Mar-2026