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Knowledge Base: Public
Category: Desktop & Mobile Computing / Desktop Support
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6.0 - Updated on 2023-11-07 by Noah Chang

5.0 - Updated on 2023-09-25 by Stephanie Holmes

4.0 - Updated on 2023-09-13 by Matthew Clark

3.0 - Updated on 2023-09-13 by Matthew Clark

2.0 - Updated on 2023-09-13 by Matthew Clark

1.0 - Authored on 2016-04-06 by IET

UC Davis expects each student to own a computer that meets certain minimum performance standards, as shown here. Tablets, Chromebooks and other similar computing devices are currently too limited to comfortably perform all the functions you are likely to need as a student UC Davis. For additional information, see Computer Ownership – FAQ for Students.

Consult your department about specific software or hardware requirements that might differ from these recommended configurations.

Recommended Computer Configurations for the 2023/24 Academic Year

PlatformWindows PCApple Mac
CPUIntel Core i5 or higher, AMD A10 or higherIntel Core i5 or higher, or M1 or higher
RAM8 GB is acceptable. For laptops without user-upgradeable RAM, 16 GB is highly recommended.
Hard driveUC Davis strongly encourages using a solid-state drive (SSD), 256 GB minimum, larger if you expect to store a lot of data. 500 GB minimum if using a traditional hard drive.
BackupBacking up your system is strongly recommended. See note #1 below for information on options.
DisplaySee note #2 below for laptop screen size
NetworkWireless: 802.11ac Wired: Ethernet port. See note #3 for more about Ethernet ports. Students who want to connect additional network devices to the data network will need an Ethernet cable. In most cases, a cable of 12 to 15 feet should suffice.
PrinterSee note #4 below
WebcamA webcam or HD webcam for use with Zoom. See note #5 below for more information.
OS

Microsoft Windows 10 or 11

Apple macOS 11 or higher
SoftwareSee note #6 below for information about buying software products and downloading free anti-virus software. Anti-virus software is required when using the campus network.
Warranty

3-year parts and labor is highly recommended (an on-site repair warranty is also recommended, if funds permit)

Apple Care (a 3-year warranty may be purchased for a new computer within one year of the purchase date)

Additional computing notes

1. Backing up files:
At a minimum, you should back up your important files to an external location, such as a USB device, external hard drive, server, or online service. If you regularly back up large amounts of data, such as multimedia and music files, consider a backup resource with up to one-third more storage than your drive.

Once new students have a valid UC Davis email address, they can take advantage of free cloud storage through Box, Microsoft OneDrive, and Google Drive. For more information, see What does UC Davis offer for cloud storage?

2. Display:
Laptop – Laptop displays should have a minimum resolution of 1366x768. The display should be comfortable for you to read and view. The screen should be at least 13 inches diagonally.

Desktop – Desktop displays should have a resolution of at least 1440x900 (widescreen). We recommend at least a 19-inch monitor.

3. Ethernet port:
All computers must be ready to use the network either in wired or wireless formats. For a wired connection, computers and other devices such as game consoles and internet speakers require either an Ethernet (RJ-45) port or a USB-to-Ethernet adapter (Apple’s version is Thunderbolt-to-Ethernet). 

4. Printer:
If you live in the residence halls, think twice before bringing a printer. A wireless printer will not work with the wireless residential network available at your location. Check with your residence hall as there may be printing services available.

Regardless of where you live, you can use the printers in IET’s computer rooms on campus. Printing there incurs a small cost, but saves you the expense of buying a printer, ink, and paper. A wireless printing service lets you print to one of several computer rooms from your laptop while using the UC Davis wireless network.

5. Zoom
The recommended system configurations documented in this article will meet the minimum requirements for use with Zoom. For additional details, please visit Zoom's System Requirements documentation directly.

6. Software:
UC Davis offers various software for download from the Software Catalog. Find information on free and discounted software in KB0005189

Current students can download Office 365.

Students will also need anti-virus software. Please note that commercial anti-virus software pre-installed in new computers may be only time-limited trial versions and may not be long-term solutions.

Obsolete Computers

These computer systems might not be able to 1) run current software needed for daily computing, or 2) use specific file formats required for classes. Vendors usually do not support them.

If you have a computer that has any of these specifications—or if your machine is even older, or has less capacity than is listed here—then it is not suitable for campus computing needs, depending on your intended function. Please consider upgrading as soon as possible.

 Obsolete Computers
PlatformWindows PCApple Mac
CPUIntel Core 2 Duo, Celeron, or Pentium. AMD A8 or earlierIntel Core 2 Duo or earlier
RAMLess than 8 GB
DisplayScreen resolution of 1024x768 or less
NetworkWired: Any system without an internal or external network adapter
Wireless: 802.11 a/b-only wireless adapter
OSWindows 7, Vista, XP, and earlier. NOTE: Microsoft ended support for Windows 7 on January 14, 2020.macOS 10.15 and earlier
SoftwareVersions of Microsoft Office earlier than 2016Versions of Microsoft Office earlier than 2016