From using email to enhancing student-faculty communications to conducting academic research, computers allow you to accomplish a broad range of educational activities. Therefore, UC Davis expects every student to own a computer that meets certain minimum performance standards and that can connect effectively to the Internet. When purchasing a computer, students should seriously consider purchasing a laptop. Laptops have the considerable advantage and convenience of being mobile and easy to bring to classes, the library, wireless study lounges, cafés, etc.

MICROSOFT VISTA

The recommendations for Windows PC computers on this site meet the hardware requirements of Microsoft's newest operating system, Vista. If you have questions about Vista or its compatibility with campus applications, see http://iet.ucdavis.edu/microsoft/vista/index.cfm.

MACINTOSH OS X LEOPARD

The latest Apple operating system, Mac OS X version 10.5 (also known as Leopard), was released in October 2007. The recommendations for Apple computers on this site meet the hardware requirements of Leopard. If you have questions about Leopard or its compatibility with campus applications, see http://iet.ucdavis.edu/macintosh/leopard/matrix.cfm.

Starting in December 2007, Information and Educational Technology (IET) officially began supporting Leopard. In consultation with the campus technical community, IET has developed recommendations and support plans for Leopard and continues to examine Leopard’s compatibility with other applications commonly used on campus. Before upgrading to Leopard or purchasing a new Mac, please read the Mac Leopard Campus Recommendation.

Laptop Configuration 2008-2009 Platform Windows PC Apple CPU AMD Turion 64 X2 or Intel Core 2 Duo Intel Core 2 Duo RAM 2 GB Hard Drive 160 GB Optical Drive CD-RW/DVD±RW burner combo Portable Drive 512 MB USB keychain Backup Backing up your system is strongly recommended. See note #1 for more information on backup options. Sound Vendor default configuration Graphic Card DirectX 9 capable Vendor Default Display see note #2 below for laptop screen size Network Wired: 10/100 or 10/100/1000 Base-T wired Ethernet card (only wired connectivity is supplied in the residence halls) Wireless: 802.11g wireless card Dial-up: A 56k bps, V.92-compliant modem is recommended if you intend to use a dial-up connection to the internet or as a backup to your high-speed connection Printer A personal printer is recommended (when selecting a printer, consider the cost of replacement ink/toner and other supplies) OS Students: Students purchasing new PCs should purchase Vista Home Premium Faculty and Staff: Faculty and staff are encouraged to check with their departmental technology support staff when purchasing a PC for personal or University use. Departments: Departments should use Vista Business or better. Mac OS X version 10.4 or 10.5 (please read the full Campus Recommendation for details) Software Anti-virus software is required when using the campus network. See note #3 below for information about obtaining a free copy of anti-virus software and about purchasing software products. Warranty 3-year parts and labor is highly recommended (an on-site warranty is recommended if funds permit) Apple Care

Consult your department about specific software and/or hardware requirements that may be different from these recommended minimum configurations.

If you believe a desktop will better meet your needs, then you should purchase a desktop system that meets the minimum recommended desktop computer configurations for 2008-2009 and that connect effectively to the Internet.

Additional Computing Needs

Backing up files: At a minimum, you should backup your important files to CD, DVD, or USB drive. To backup your entire system, you should consider purchasing an external backup drive. If you need to backup various large files, such as multimedia and music files, you should consider purchasing an external hard drive with up to a third more storage than your hard drive (e.g., roughly 200 GB for a 160 GB hard drive). If you’re backing up smaller files, a few GB may suffice. For more information on computer backups, please visit the UC Davis Security Site.

Laptop displays: Laptop displays should have a minimum resolution of 1024x768, but more importantly, the display should be comfortable to read and view. Laptop displays vary in size from about 12 inches up to 17 inches; however be aware that the larger the display, the more the computer weighs. We advise viewing the monitor or the monitor of a comparable model, before purchasing, to determine reading and viewing comfort. Additionally, consider your current and future computing needs when deciding between a standard or widescreen monitor.

Software: IET provides UC Davis students, staff and faculty access to free Sophos Anti-Virus software and other products to protect your computer. (Please note that Sophos Anti-Virus may not be used by UC Davis Health System students, staff, or faculty. UCDHS has a separate agreement with McAfee for anti-virus software). Students, staff and faculty may download Sophos Anti-Virus software from the Software License Coordination (SLC) Web site. Additionally, the TechHUB offers productivity, creativity, and other software packages to students, staff and faculty. Many of the software packages offered by the TechHUB have special academic pricing that may be substantially lower than commercial vendors.

Network Interface Card (NIC): A network-ready computer has an installed Ethernet network interface card (NIC). Visually inspect your computer for the RJ-45 port that indicates an NIC. An RJ-45 jack looks similar to a regular telephone jack used by modems and telephones, but it is slightly wider. You must also have an Ethernet cable with RJ-45 connecters to connect your computer NIC to the data wall jack in your dorm room. For best performance, the cable should be Category 5, 5e, 6, or better. The recommended length is about 15 feet. You can purchase a 10 Base-T or twisted pair network pair cable from the TechHUB.

Tech Support

The IT Express Computing Services Help Desk provides assistance with many topics, including software, campus Internet access, and activating and accessing your UC Davis email and computing accounts. Call for help at 530-754-HELP (4357).