SCI
Computer Hardware & Software Specifications
for 2003 - 2004
NOTE:
Specs for 2004-2005 will be posted the week of April 5.
Recommendation
for: New or Existing
Computer
The
following academic programs have different or specific requirements
for computers. If you plan to be in one of these programs,
please check carefully the requirements of your program and make
sure you get a computer that conforms to their requirements.
If your school/program is not listed here, you can follow the
general computer requirements below.
Operating
System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional,
for Windows-based computers, Macintosh OS 9.2 or OS X
for Apple Macintosh computers. The operating system should come
pre-installed on any computer that you purchase. If you purchase
a computer that has Windows XP Home Edition, you will
need to upgrade to Professional. Please see the
Software Suite information below, as there is a special upgrade
price for students for XP Professional.
Software
Suite: Microsoft Office XP for Windows-based computers,
Microsoft Office 2001 or Microsoft Office X for Apple Macintosh
computers. If your computer does MS Office XP, you can buy the
suite for $59.95/69.95 (depending on version) from Online@VCU
(see "specials") if you are a student and
have a student ID. You will obtain a student ID
at STAR, so you can plan on making that purchase when you come
to STAR. You should plan at least 30 days lead time
to obtain the software at this special price.
Other
Software: Either MS Internet Explorer or Mozilla are
recommended for web-browsing. Mozilla and Norton Anti-virus software
can be downloaded
free from VCU. Norton Anti-virus software is available from
VCU under a site license agreement.
If you are buying a new machine, the following are recommended
minimum configurations to access the VCU network and computing
environment:
| Recommended
Minimum Configurations for New Computers |
| Hardware |
Windows |
Macintosh |
| Recommended |
|
|
Processor
(updated
6/16) |
Pentium
IV, or equivalent 1.8 GH or higher desktop/laptop (1.3
GH minimum for Pentium M or Centrino
equipped laptops) |
PowerPC
G4 - 867 or Powerbook G4 |
Memory
(RAM) |
256
MB (minimum)
512 MB recommended
|
512
MB (minimum) |
| Hard
Drive |
20
GB (minimum) |
20
GB (minimum) |
| Monitor |
17"
Color SVGA, 75Hz refresh rate (desktop) 12" color (laptop) |
17"
Color, 75Hz refresh rate (desk)
12" color (laptop) (minimum) |
| Video
Adaptor |
AGP
w/32MB RAM (desktop);
AGP
w/16MB RAM (laptop)
|
NVIDIA
GeForce4 MX w/64MB video RAM(desktop);
NVIDIA GeForce 420 Go w/32MB RAM (laptop) |
| Multi-Media |
Soundblaster
16bit compatible with speakers |
Built-in
with speakers |
| CD-RW |
Required
(DVD optional) |
Required
(DVD optional) |
| Removable
Media |
1.44MB
3.5" floppy |
|
| Operating
System |
Windows
XP Pro |
MacOS
System 10.2 |
| Software |
MS
Office XP or higher |
MS
Office X or higher |
| |
|
|
Optional
(these items will be helpful to many or most students)
|
| Removable
Media |
250MB
ZIP drive |
1.44MB
3.5" floppy; 250MB ZIP drive (desktop) |
| |
|
ATI
Mobility USB or Firewire Iomega 250MB Zip (laptop) |
| Miscellaneous
Hardware |
15"
flat panel monitor,
ink-jet
or laser printer;
flat-bed scanner
|
15"
flat panel monitor,
ink-jet
or laser printer;
flat-bed scanner |
| Security
Devices |
security
cable and locks for computer and printer |
security
cable and locks for computer and printer |
| |
|
|
Network
Connection |
| On-Campus |
10/100
BaseT Ethernet; 25 foot cable |
10/100
BaseT Ethernet; 25 foot cable |
| Off-Campus |
56
Kbps V.90 modem and ISP Service (minimum),
DSL or cable modem recommended |
56
Kbps V.90 modem and ISP Service (minimum),
DSL or cable modem recommended |
Optional
Wireless Adaptors for Laptop Computers |
| |
Cisco
350 Series PC Card
(AIR-PCM 352)
Must
support standard 802.11b |
Apple
Airport card (M7600LL/E) or (M8881LL/A)
Must
support standard 802.11b |
| Recommended
Minimum Configurations for Existing Computers |
| Hardware |
Windows |
Macintosh |
| Recommended |
|
|
| Processor |
Pentium
II MMX (400 MHz) |
PowerPC
G3 (400MHz) |
Memory
(RAM) |
128
MB |
128
MB |
| Hard
Disk |
10
GB (minimum) |
6
GB (minimum) |
| Monitor |
15"
Color SVGA, 75Hz refresh rate
|
15"
Color, 75Hz refresh rate |
| Video
Adaptor |
AGP
w/16MB RAM (desktop); AGP w/8MB RAM (laptop) |
AGP
w/16MB RAM(desktop); AGP w/8MB RAM (laptop) |
| Multi
Media |
Soundblaster
16-bit compatible (with speakers) |
Built-in
Sound card |
| Removable |
1.4MB
3.5" floppy |
|
| CD
/ DVD Drive |
4X
DVD-ROM
24X CD-ROM |
4X
DVD-ROM
24X CD-ROM |
| Operating
System |
Windows
98se or higher |
MacOS
System 9.1.1 or higher |
| Software |
MS Office 2000 (standard) or higher |
MS Office 2001 or higher |
| |
|
|
Optional
(these items will be helpful to many or most students) |
| Removable |
ZIP
drive |
1.44MB
3.5" floppy; ZIP drive |
| Miscellaneous |
CD-RW,
ink-jet or laser printer; flat-bed scanner |
CD-RW,
ink-jet or laser printer; flat-bed scanner |
| Security
Devices |
security
cable and locks for computer and printer |
security
cable and locks for computer and printer |
| |
|
|
Network
Connection |
| On-Campus |
10/100
BaseT Ethernet; 30 foot cable |
10/100 BaseT Ethernet; 30 foot
cable |
| Off-Campus |
56
Kbps V.90 modem and ISP Service (minimum), DSL or cable modem
recommended |
56
Kbps V.90 modem and ISP service (minimum), DSL or cable modem
recommended |
Optional
Wireless Adaptors for Laptop Computers |
| |
Cisco
350 Series PC Card
(AIR-PCM 352) with Integrated RP-TNC, Diversity Antenna, 128
bit (Disys Corp - 703 802-0500)
Must
support standard 802.11b |
Apple
Airport card (M7600-001B)
Must
support standard 802.11b |
Detailed
Specs / 2000-2001
|