Student Computer Requirements and Recommendations
Faculty/Staff: Please visit the Computer Ordering site for more information
To use the USD network, the following minimum components are required for both laptop and desktop machines. Computers with less capacity may not be able to connect to our network or run applications necessary in the classroom.
If you are buying a new computer
While almost any computer purchased today will be compliant with the network, we recommend that each machine have the following features.
- At least 1 GB RAM (2 GB recommended for Windows Vista)
- 80 GB or more hard drive
- Extended warranty that covers accidental damages
- A CD-RW or DVD-RW drive for making extra copies of your data
- A wireless card for laptops (802.11G or 802.11N)
If you already have a computer
We realize that not everyone will be bringing a new computer to campus. Computers with less than the required capacity may not be able to connect to our network or run applications necessary in the classroom.
Minimum Requirements
| Minimum Requirements for Apple | Minimum Requirements for Windows | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Mac Processor | Pentium 4 Celeron Athlon |
| Operating System | Macintosh 10.4 | Windows XP with Service Pack 3 |
| Memory (RAM)) | 512MB | 512MB |
Recommended Software
| Office Suite | Microsoft Office 2007, Office 2003 or Open Office |
| Web Browser | Mozilla Firefox 2.0 or Internet Explorer 7.0 are recommended. |
| Anti-Virus Software | Symantec Anti Virus is free for all students of the University. You can download Symantec AntiVirus from the following site: http://www.sandiego.edu/unet/virus.php If you have a different antivirus program, you can choose to uninstall it and install SAV. If you would prefer to keep it, please contact the ITS Help Desk to make sure your software is supported on the network. |
| Adobe Reader | Available free on the internet at www.adobe.com. |
Recommended Accessories
- Laptop Lock
- All original operating system and software CD’s
- External hard drive (to backup your data)
- USB thumb drive (to quickly and easily backup and transfer files)
- Personal Printer
- Wireless ready/compatible (Most new computers are equipped for wireless access)
Looking for a new computer? Try the USD Bookstore at (619) 260-4551 or online at www.usdbookstore.com
