IT Service Desk Update

 

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Recommendations & Computer Requirements

Marshall University Student Computer Hardware Recommendations and Software Requirements 2023/2024
Updated: April 2023

Marshall University requires all students to come to campus with a notebook or laptop computer based on Windows 10, Windows 11 or macOS. Some Windows-based computers called 2-in-1’s or Convertibles serve both as a notebook/laptop and as a tablet device. We recommend you also have a Smartphone or a Tablet.

College and program-specific requirements

Note: Where “core i” processors are recommended, we recommend 12th or 13th generation processors and Windows 11

Department Minimum Configuration Recommended Configuration Best Configuration Operating System
All Core i5 / 8GB RAM / 256GB SSD Core i7 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD Core i7 or i9 / 32GB RAM / 1TB SSD Windows
Department Minimum Configuration Recommended Configuration Best Configuration Operating System
Geography / GIS Core i7 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD / 4GB dedicated Graphics memory Core i7 / 32GB RAM / 512GB SSD / 8GB dedicated Graphics memory Core i9 / 32GB RAM / 1TB SSD / 8GB dedicated Graphics memory Windows
All other Liberal Arts Departments Core i5 or M1 / 8 GB RAM / 256 GB SSD
Core i7 or M1 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD
Core i9 or M1 Pro / 32GB RAM / 1TB SSD
Windows & MacOS
Department Minimum Configuration Recommended Configuration Best Configuration Operating System
All Core i5 or M1 / 8 GB RAM / 256 GB SSD Core i7 or M1 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD Core i9 or M1 Pro / 32GB RAM / 1TB SSD Windows & MacOS
Department Minimum Configuration Recommended Configuration Best Configuration Operating System
All Core i5 or M1 / 8 GB RAM / 256 GB SSD Core i7 or M1 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD Core i9 or M1 Pro / 32GB RAM / 1TB SSD Windows & MacOS
Department Minimum Configuration Recommended Configuration Best Configuration Operating System
Journalism, Art & Design, Music M1 / 16GB RAM / 256GB SSD M1 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD M1 Pro / 32 GB RAM / 1TB SSD MacOS
Theater Core i5 / 16 GB RAM / 256 GB SSD
Core i7 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD
Core i7 or i9 / 32GB RAM / 1TB SSD
Windows
Department Minimum Configuration Recommended Configuration Best Configuration Operating System
All Core i7 / 16 GB RAM / 512 GB SSD Core i7 / 32GB RAM / 512GB SSD Core i7 or i9 / 32GB RAM / 1TB SSD Windows
Department Minimum Configuration Recommended Configuration Best Configuration Operating System
Biology, Chemistry, Physics Core i5 or M1 / 16 GB RAM / 256 GB SSD Core i7 or M1 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD Core i7, i9 or M1 Pro / 32GB RAM / 1TB SSD Windows & MacOS
Criminal Justice, Cyber Forensics & Security, Geology, Math, Natural Resources & Environment
Core i7 or M1 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD
Core i7, i9 or M1 / 32GB RAM / 1TB SSD
Core i9 or M1 Pro / 64GB RAM / 1 TB SSD
Windows & MacOS
Computer & Information Tech.
Core i7 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD / discreet graphics =/> RTX2000
Core i7 or i9 / 32GB RAM / 1TBSSD / discreet graphics =/> RTX2000
Core i9 / 64GB RAM / 1 TB SSD / discreet graphics =/> RTX2000
Windows
Department Minimum Configuration Recommended Configuration Best Configuration Operating System
All Core i5 or M1 / 8 GB RAM / 512 GB SSD Core i7 or M1 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD Core i7, i9 or M1 Pro / 32GB RAM / 1TB SSD Windows & MacOS
Department Minimum Configuration Recommended Configuration Best Configuration Operating System
All Core i5 or M1 / 8 GB RAM / 512 GB SSD Core i7 or M1 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD Core i7, i9 or M1 Pro / 32GB RAM / 1TB SSD Windows & MacOS
Department Minimum Configuration Recommended Configuration Best Configuration Operating System
Aviation Maintenance Technology Core i7 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD Core i7 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD Core i7, i9 / 32GB RAM / 1TB SSD Windows
Commercial Pilot: Fixed Wing 11th Generation Core i5 or AMD Equivalent / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD
12th Generation Core i5 or AMD Equivalent / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD / Direct X 11 Capable Graphics
12th Generation Intel i7 or AMD Equivalent / 32+GB RAM / 1+TB M.2 SSD / NVIDIA GTX 970 or AMD Radeon RX 590 or Better
Windows
Department Minimum Configuration Recommended Configuration Best Configuration Operating System
University College is not a degree granting college. Once students declare their major, additional, more specific requirements may be preferred.
Core i5 or M1 / 8 GB RAM / 512 GB SSD Core i7 or M1 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD Core i7, i9 or M1 Pro / 32GB RAM / 1TB SSD Windows & MacOS

**If your department or major isn’t listed, please contact your department or the IT Service Desk

Student Pricing

Dell: Click Here

Lenovo: Click Here

Apple: Click Here

Is my current Windows 10 or macOS Catalina computer adequate?

If you have a current notebook computer that is less than four years old and meets the following minimums then it should be adequate for your use in most disciplines at Marshall University until 2024. Please check with your advisor or the IT Service Desk if you are unsure:

  • Intel Core i5 or i7 Processor 9th Generation or above
  • Windows 10 Pro version or higher 1H2020 release OR macOS Catalina 10.15.x or higher
  • 8GB RAM
  • 256GB Hard Drive
  • 1080p Display
  • USB port(s)
  • WiFi5 (802.11ac) or above
  • Bluetooth 5.x or above
  • 720p (1 megapixel) or higher webcam plus microphone and headset/earbuds

Smartphones and Tablets

The decade has seen rapid growth in the use of Smartphones and Tablets based on the Apple iOS or Android operating systems. These products have matured to a point that they have become an essential tool for today’s college student. Students and faculties have rapidly assimilated them into daily college life. These devices offer powerful functions that provide fantastic tools for communication and learning. In addition, those tools are comfortable, convenient, and foster interaction with people, as well as multitasking facilitation for formal and informal learning. It is recommended that all smartphones have NFC connectivity to take advantage of all of the resources available: Point of sale, room entry, and scanning of IDs for all uses on campus.

Software and applications that Marshall University provides to all students and employees free of charge on these mobile devices include:

  • MUMobile which provides mobile access to nearly everything at Marshall University
  • Marshall MobileID Card providing services to enter building/rooms, ride TTA buses, pay with Herd Points, etc.
  • Transact eAccounts providing your Marshall Mobile ID with the ability to pay at various locations accepting Herd Points
  • LinkedIn Learning providing over 10,000 free courses on a variety of topics
  • Blackboard Learning Management System App with access to your course information, material, grades, and the ability to attend some courses remotely and interactively.
  • Microsoft Office 365
    • Includes mobile versions of Outlook, Teams, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote, OneDrive (1TB, of personal cloud storage accessible from any device), SharePoint, and Microsoft 365 Exchange Email with 100GB storage quota.
  • Mobile Credential/ID for mobile wallets to use as your student ID on campus for access to buildings, labs, residence halls, meal services, attendance tracking, tickets, and purchases at vending machines and campus food service locations.
  • AppsAnywhere (https://appsanywhere.marshall.edu/) is a software streaming service that allows you to stream software on your Windows, macOS, iOS or Android devices.

The camera and Internet connectivity on these devices do not just offer access to social media but to valuable resources for scanning and saving notes & documents for class projects and learning objectives, accessing & storing digital content such as books, periodicals, journal articles, and current media content.

FCC Smartphone Security Checker – use this tool to help protect you against mobile security threats.

Notebooks and Laptops

Although some students may be able to get by using their SmartPhone, Tablet, and/or relying on public computer labs to meet their academic needs; it will be much easier, or required in some disciplines, to have a Windows or macOS based computer. Newer mobile computers are more powerful and capable than those that are just a few years old. They are thinner, lighter, and have much longer battery life. Many Windows-based computers can also double with many of the characteristics of an iPad or Android Tablet with near instant-on and pen capabilities.

Full notebook computers can also be easily attached to home docking stations or campus classroom or huddle space devices to provide multiple monitors or large screen displays for work that requires that type of resource.

If you are considering a new device, we would recommend you purchase with an extended warranty of at least three years and from a top tier manufacturer like Dell, Microsoft, HP, Lenovo, or Apple.  Check out the link below for Educational Discounts using your marshall.edu email address.[/mu_toggle] [/mu_toggles]

General Computer Recommendations

  • Intel Core i5, i7, or i9 Processor 12th Generation or above
  • Apple M1 or M2 or above
  • 16GB of RAM
  • NVMe Solid State Storage (preferred)
    • 256GB SSD storage minimum, 512GB SSD or higher Recommended
  • 1920×1080 Full HD IPS or 4K display 13, 14, or 15-inch minimum
  • USB 3.x (3.2 gen 2 preferred) minimum with USB Type C port availability preferred
  • USB Type C charging preferred
  • Thunderbolt 3 preferred
  • WiFi 5 minimum or WiFi6 preferred
  • Bluetooth 4.x minimum 5.x preferred
  • LTE/5G Optional
  • HDMI port or adapter
  • Webcam minimum 1080p (2 megapixel) or 4K Webcam preferred
  • Headset or earbuds with microphone

Recommended Computer Models

Dell Latitude 5xxx, 7xxx, 9xxx, Dell XPS 13 or 15 (2020), Dell XPS 2 in 1 (2020), Lenovo X1, Lenovo X1 Yoga, Microsoft Surface Pro 7, Microsoft Surface Book 3, Microsoft Surface Laptop 3, Microsoft Surface Go 2, HP Spectre x360, HP Spectre Folio, HP EliteBook x360.

  • Apple M1 / M2 Processor
  • 16GB of RAM
  • 256GB SSD storage minimum, 512GB SSD or higher Recommended
  • USB Type C to Type-A adapter
  • WiFi and Bluetooth standard
  • HDMI adapter
  • Apple Webcam
  • Headset or earbuds with microphone

Recommended Mac Models

MacBook Air, MacBook Pro 13 inch or 15 inch models, MacBook Pro 14 inch or MacBook Pro 16 inch. all with M1 or M2 processors.

  • Marshall University Software provided for Personally owned Windows 10 and macOS PCs
  • Microsoft Office 365
    • Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, OneDrive (1TB, 1,000GB personal cloud storage accessible from any device), SharePoint, Microsoft 365 Exchange email with 100GB Quota
  • AppsAnywhere is a software streaming service that allows you to stream software on your Windows, macOS, iOS or Android devices.
  • Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection for Windows and macOS (replacing Symantec’s End Point Protection)
  • EndNote (courtesy of the Marshall University School of Medicine for all students, faculty & staff)
  • Wolfram Alpha & Mathematica (courtesy of the College of Science)
  • MathWorks MATLAB and Simulink
  • Adobe Creative Cloud (limited to certain majors and courses)
  • For a list of available software marshall.edu/it/services/availablesoftware/

Security Recommendations
Available Software
Educational Discounts
Previous Purchase Recommendations