Computer Requirements and Recommendations

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Computer Requirements and Recommendations

You will need an up-to-date computer to ensure functionality with PCHS information systems. These are our current requirements and recommendations for each computer operating system:

You will need a laptop or desktop computer. A tablet or cell phone can be used as a supplementary device, but it will not replace the need for a computer. Please note that your laptop or desktop needs to have the ability to run Office products such as Word and PowerPoint. It needs to have enough space on the hard drive to store documents and enough internet bandwidth to stream Netflix continuously. Your laptop or desktop will also need to have a camera.

In general your computer must meet the following:

must have a webcam and microphone
must be able to run Microsoft Office suite
your internet connection must be able to stream Netflix without constant buffering
must be a supported/ current operating system (Windows 8 or newer) (MacOS 10.13 High Sierra or newer)
must have hard drive capacity to store various documents and files

See below the recommended for your laptop or desktop:

Windows

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Recommended Computer Specifications

The following configuration is recommended for students who intend to keep a computer for four years without a major upgrade:

	Desktop Computer	Laptop Computer
Monitor	24 inch LCD, 1080p	Personal Preference
Operating System	Windows 10, 64-bit, Home or higher, fully updated with firewall enabled	Windows 10, 64-bit, Home or higher, fully updated with firewall enabled
Processor/CPU	Eighth Generation Intel i5-8600 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600	Current generation Intel Core i5 mobile processor or AMD Ryzen 5 APU
Graphics/GPU	AMD Radeon R7 570 or Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti or higher	Integrated graphics
RAM	16 GB	16 GB
Hard Drive	256 GB solid state drive (SSD) with internal/external 1TB Storage Hard Drive	256 GB solid state drive (SSD) with 1TB External Storage Hard Drive
Networking Hardware	802.11ac wireless adapter	802.11ac wireless adapter
Software	Office 365 (Free - Login with your PCHS credentials @ http://portal.office.com/)	Office 365 (Free - Login with your PCHS credentials @ http://portal.office.com/)

*A solid state drive is a storage drive that does not use "traditional" hard drive technology of recording data on magnetic disks, meaning it has no moving parts. This makes them more reliable, faster, and less prone to data loss from dropping / carrying a laptop around. The downside is solid state technology is still more expensive than "traditional" hard drive technology, and space is still a limiting factor. If a solid state drive is purchased, we recommend also purchasing an external hard drive for data storage.

Minimum Computer Requirements

Below are the minimum required specifications for any Windows computer to be used on the network. It is not recommended to use a computer on campus that does not meet these specifications. Computers that do not meet these minimum requirements will receive limited support.

Operating System: Windows 8. Please note that Windows 7, Vista, and XP are no longer supported and are not allowed on the network.
Processor: Intel Pentium dual-core or AMD A4 APU
Memory: 2GB RAM
Hard Drive: 80 GB Hard Drive with at least 15% free space
Networking Hardware: 802.11n or higher WiFi adapter
Current firewall program
Current anti-virus software
Current internet web browser

Frequently Asked Questions

What version of Windows 10 should I purchase?

First, check to see if you're eligible to upgrade for free. If not, or if you're building a new computer, there are two editions of Windows 10 currently offered to consumers:
- Windows 10 Home – The base version of Windows 10
- Windows 10 Pro – Contains all of the features of Windows 10, as well as the following features:
  - Remote Desktop Host – Ability to remotely control the computer from another Windows or Mac computer
  - BitLocker & EFS Encryption
  - Ability to join Windows Domains
  - System Virtualization – Full Hyper-V virtualization on 64-bit versions with compatible CPUs
Using the home Windows 10 edition will meet the academic needs for most students.

Should I get the 64-bit or 32-bit version of Windows 10?

Any new computer purchased after around 2006 should be capable of running a 64-bit operating system. PCHS recommends the 64-bit version in order to take full advantage of your system's processing power and to increase RAM capacity, which is limited to 3.5 GB under the 32-bit operating system.
Essentially, using the 64-bit OS will allow you access to extra features and performance. All your 32-bit applications will run fine under the 64-bit operating system.

Mac

Click here if you need help on how to view your computer specifications

Recommended Computer Specifications

The following configuration is recommended for students who intend to keep a computer for four years without a major upgrade:

	Desktop Computer	Laptop Computer
Computer	21.5" iMac with Intel Core i5 processor	MacBook Pro 13", 15" (Personal preference)
Operating System	macOS (latest version), fully updated with firewall enabled	macOS (latest version), fully updated with firewall enabled
RAM	16 GB	16 GB
Hard Drive	1TB Fusion Drive with 1+ TB External Time Machine Backup Drive	256 GB SSD with 1+ TB External Time Machine Backup Drive
Networking Hardware	802.11ac wireless adapter	802.11ac wireless adapter
Software	Office 365 (Free - Login with your PCHS credentials @ http://portal.office.com/)	Office 365 (Free - Login with your PCHS credentials @ http://portal.office.com/)

Mac Memory Upgrade Information

Current Mac offerings do not feature user-replaceable / upgradeable memory. If you purchase a Mac, you will not be able to upgrade or replace your memory after your purchase. PCHS recommends maximizing your memory configuration prior to purchase.

Minimum Computer Requirements

Below are the minimum required specifications for any Mac computer to be used on the network. It is not recommended to use a computer on campus that does not meet these specifications. Computers that do not meet these minimum requirements will receive limited support and may be blocked from the network.

Operating System: macOS 10.13 High Sierra or higher with the latest software updates
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory: 2GB RAM
Hard Drive: 80 GB Hard Drive with at least 15% free space
Networking Hardware: 802.11n or higher WiFi adapter
Current firewall program
Current anti-virus software package from this list
Current internet web browser

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I update from my current macOS version?

Updates for macOS can be found in the app store. Using your Apple ID, you should be able to upgrade your operating system to the latest version at no additional charge.

If you encountered any problems during this process, contact our tech support team for assistance. You can reach them by Clicking Here

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