The University College at NC State has adopted the standard university-developed computer recommendations for students in the college. The Tech Den recommends the models below to meet the needs of University College students.
Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon Gen 9
Intel i7 11th generation CPU
16GB RAM
512GB SSD Drive
14" WUXGA Screen
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3 year Lenovo warranty coverage including accidental damage, battery, and keep-your-hard-drive coverage
$1,599
Dell Latitude 5440
Intel i7 13 th Generation Processor
16GB onboard RAM
512GB SSD Drive
14" FHD Screen
3 year Dell ProSupport Plus warranty coverage + accidental damage, onsite service, and keep-your-hard-drive coverage
$1,499
Lenovo Thinkpad X13 Yoga Gen 3
Intel i5 12th generation CPU
16GB RAM
512GB SSD Drive
13.3" 2 in 1 Touch Screen
3 year Lenovo warranty coverage including accidental damage, battery and keep-your-hard-drive coverage
$1,399
(If viewing the recommended specification table on a phone, please view in landscape mode for easiest access to both PC and MacBook recommendations)
| Item | PC | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Type of machine | Business-class | Any Apple Silicon (M1 or M2) based |
| Mobile device (e.g., iPad Pro, tablet, Chromebook, Pixel Book) | Not recommended; Cannot adequately substitute for PC laptop or desktop | Not recommended; Cannot adequately substitute for Mac laptop or desktop |
| CPU | Minimum: Intel i5 or i7, 11th generation Recommended: Intel i5 or i7, 12th generation or later | Minimum: Apple Silicon M1 Recommended: M1 Pro or later
|
| RAM | Minimum: 8 GB if upgradeable otherwise 16 GB Recommended: 16 GB | Minimum: 8 GB Recommended: 16 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB or greater SSD | 256 GB or greater SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11, 64-bit Recommended: Pro or Educational NC State Students can download the Educational Upgrade for free. You will need to use your Unity ID and password access the upgrade | macOS 13 or later |
| Wireless | Yes | Yes |
| Camera & Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty Service (very highly recommended) | 3 or more years | 3 or more years |
| Accidental Damage Coverage (for drops and spills) | Yes | Yes |
| Theft Coverage (may be included in homeowner’s policy) | Yes | Yes |