College Of Engineering Computer Recommendation  

The University and College do not require students to bring their own personal computer to College.  However, students will be required to use computers frequently for communications and academic activities.  Computer ownership, whether it is a desktop or laptop model, will enable students to benefit from the in-class and out-of-class activities and opportunities to the fullest extent.

The College has gone to great lengths to enhance the computing experience for its students by expanding services.   Deployment of College-wide Secure Wireless networking (802.11a/b/g) equipment in the thirteen primary department buildings, coupled with Virtual Private Networking (VPN) services, open a whole new set of computing opportunities for College of Engineering students.   Additional wireless networking services provided at various on-campus locations and on-campus housing add to the Internet and collaborative computing environment.

College of Engineering students who live off-campus and access the Internet through dial-up, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) or Cable Modem services from a local Internet Service Provider (ISP) are able to access all College networking and computing service through the College's VPN services.  

With the expanding wireless capabilities and increasing dependence on computers for individual and group work at various campus locations, it appears that there are many advantages to having a laptop computer with built-in wireless capability.  Since the purchase of a computer may be one of the largest single expenditures made by a student and since portability also increases security risk, students need to closely guard their investment and take steps to secure their computer when not in use.

Incoming first-year students who already own a desktop or laptop computer capable of networking (wired and wireless) with a system that is no more than three years old will most likely be able to use this system into their Sophomore year.  In such cases, the type of computer and its operating system are not critical; that is to say, a computer running any of he following Operating Systems will suffice: Mac OS X, MS Windows/Windows XP, Unix, or Linux.  First-year and second-year student computing assignments will typically require report writing, spreadsheet generation, and classroom presentations. If you intend to upgrade your Operating System to Microsoft Vista, you will most likely need to upgrade system and video card memory; failure to upgrade these memories will result in less than satisfactory computer performance.

Upon entering the Junior year, older computing systems will most likely not be able to run many of the engineering applications the student will need to use.  After declaring a major, students will find that computing requirements will become more specific to their major.  At that time, students with older systems may want to discuss laptop configuration requirements with their faculty advisor, if they plan to purchase a new system. 

For those incoming first-year students who do not already own a computer or plan to purchase a new system, the following information is provided for a Laptop or desktop system configuration; this is a minimum system configuration recommendation.  It should provide acceptable performance for the majority of undergraduate students through their Sophomore year and possibly longer:

• Processor: Any Intel, AMD based or equivalent processor operating at a minimum 2.0 GHZ; for example, an Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Athlon processor meets the requirements.
• Memory: 512 MB RAM, recommended 1 GB
• Hard Drive: 80 GB, recommended 120 GB
• Video Card: 64 MB RAM, recomended 128 MB RAM Minimum
• Networking: 10/100BaseT Ethernet
• Wireless Networking: 802.11g
• DVD/CD Read/Write Drive
• 2 USB 2 Ports
• Sound Card & Speakers
• Operating System: Microsoft VISTA**, Windows XP Pro with latest Microsoft Service Packs applied, Mac OS X (running, as a minimum, Version 10.3.x), Unix, or Linux
• Display: 14 inch or greater
• Lock & Cable

NOTE: ** In the opinion of the College's computing staff, Microsoft XP is still the preferred Operating System until at least the first major Service Pack is released later this year. If you are contemplating or must buy a system with the Windows Vista Operating System, you should have the above "recommended" Memory, Hard Drive and Video Card RAM; otherwise, you are likely to be disappointed or have problems with your computer's performance. Naturally, more system and video memory plus additional hard drive storage will enhance the performance of any system.

Incoming first-year students should note that the system of choice need not be the most expensive available.  Also, computing requirements will vary by department and becomes major–specific in one's Junior and Senior year.  In the case of Architectural Engineering, the requirements will become major–specific in the Sophomore year.  If a student is committed to a major upon entering the University, the student should contact the major's Department Technical Contact for specific computer configuration recommendations.  A list of these individuals may be found at the following link: Department Technical Contacts.

Specific Departmental Computer Recommendation Links:

Architectural Engineering

The Pennsylvania State University Computer Store:

The University's Computer Store  offers a number of software applications at reduced cost to students as a result of negotiated licensing agreements.  Some of the software applications that students will want to purchase from the store and install as a minimal set include the following:

• Office Productivity (Microsoft Office Pro, Open Office...)
• Email Client (MS Outlook or Apple Mail preferred...)
• Anti Virus (site licensed and available to registered students at no cost)
• Adobe Acrobat Pro

NOTE: Before purchasing any software, check with a University Computer Store representative to see if an application is available at no cost to students through negotiated University-wide licensing agreements between Penn State and a software vendor.   Use of University licensed software usually has restrictions on system installations and its use.  Students with University Access Accounts may download free licensed software at http://downloads.its.psu.edu/  Access to this site requires a user ID and Password.

The computer store also offers some standard computer system configurations. They also have links to preferred vendor sites for students, faculty, and staff to link to for configuring their preferred system. It is important to note that a Penn State Access account obtainable from the University's Information and Technology Services is required to access these preferred vendor sites: PSU Access Account Information

Other software applications may be required during a student's undergraduate degree program and will be specific to a major or course.  Such software requirements will be conveyed to students by their faculty, as needed.  In addition, each department in the College of Engineering has computer facilities and software packages for high-end engineering applications that are needed by its students for academic assignments.

wjb, 8 February 2005

last updated: 17 May 2007

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