Suggested Minimum Personal Computer Features
A Reference for Prospective Engineering Students
The OSU College of Engineering does not require engineering students to have their own personal computer. The College does maintain a predominantly Windows/Intel PC environment with most computers using a version of Microsoft?s XP? operating system (Migration to Windows Vista® is occurring in some departments). Engineering students are provided access to certain College computers and software in support of their academic programs. However, the following computer related information is offered as a guideline for individuals who wish to obtain their own personal computer in anticipation of an academic career at The Ohio State University in the College of Engineering.
| Desktop | Laptop |
|---|---|
| Processor(s): 2.0 GHz, 1MB L2 Cache (each processor) | Processor(s): 1.8 GHz, 512KB L2 Cache (each processor) |
| 1GB Main Memory (2GB if shared video memory configuration) |
1GB Main Memory (2GB if shared video memory configuration) |
| 40 GB Hard Drive (with 20 GB available) | 40 GB Hard Drive (with 20 GB available) |
| DVD-ROM Drive | DVD-ROM Drive |
| 128 MB, Direct3D 9 or 10, or OpenGL-capable graphics video card (shared memory is okay if 2GB main memory) |
128 MB, Direct3D 9 or 10, or OpenGL-capable graphics video (shared memory is okay if 2GB main memory) |
| An LCD type monitor with 17 inch display* | 14 inch display |
| Ethernet Network Interface Card (NIC)** | Ethernet Network Interface (NIC)** |
| Wireless Networking Adaptor (802.11 b/g)*** |
Note that the above suggestions are MINIMUMs.
The features are ?driven? by the assumed use of Autodesk Inventor® Pro software, and The MathWorks MATLAB® software as used in the OSU First-year Engineering Program courses. Also, once enrolled, students are eligible to purchase Microsoft Office and other Microsoft products at reduced pricing (more detail found at http://oit.osu.edu/site_license/ ), and beginning SU08 quarter the campus retail tech store WIRED OUT and the laptop help service BUCKEYE BAR are located in the Central Classroom building.
* LCD monitors are lighter in weight and more space efficient than CRT type monitors.
** All campus dorm rooms are wired for internet access.
*** The OSU main campus has many wireless network access points, with more added regularly. So a wireless network feature on a notebook could be put to good use.
