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When purchasing a laptop for college, it can be challenging to know what you'll need. There are reasons why laptops may cost a variety a prices and it's important to know what you're exactly buying, but more importantly buying what's necessary for your studies/major. Listed down below will provide some specifications about what to mainly look for when looking to purchase a laptop for the 2024-2025 year. There may be some laptops that may/may not have the specific suggested specs, but it is highly recommended to get most things.
QUICK NOTES:
(Gaming Laptops should be fine by today's standards, it's just sometimes they can be loud.)
(Tablet devices aren't recommended but can still be used.)
(2-3 year warranty of laptop is highly suggested.)
Suggested Specifications:
Windows
Intel i5 11/12/13th Gen (Average Use)
Intel i7 11/12/13th Gen (Advanced Use)
or
Ryzen5 7000/8000 series (Average Use)
Ryzen7 7000/8000 series (Advanced use)
macOS (Apple):
M1/M2 Chip (Average Use)
M3 Chip (Advanced Use)
16GB of DDR4/DDR5 RAM - (RAM makes functioning the laptop easier/faster.)
(If possible, ask if there is 2 sticks of 8GB of RAM rather than 1 due to a thing called "dual channel", which is makes functioning faster than 1 stick of 16GB of RAM.)
512GB SSD or NVMe - (SSD or NVME makes downloaded applications and data transfer faster.)
Ethernet Port - (Wired connection is faster than wireless connection.)
Ethernet Adapter - (ONLY IF YOUR LAPTOP HAS NO ETHERNET PORT)
10'in Ethernet Cord - (Cord that allows you to use wired connection).
Optional Peripherals:
- Wired/Wireless Headphones/Earbuds
- Wired/Wireless Mouse
- Wire/Wireless Keyboard
- Laptop Sleeve (Protection for the laptop.)
- USB Hub (Some laptops may have a few usb ports and more may be needed.)
- 16/32GB USB Flash Drive
- 256GB Portable Hard Drive
- 24inch Monitor w/HDMI Cable (Able to project a 2nd screen for multi tasking.)
NOT Required:
Office 365 - (Lakeland University provides all students Office 365).
If there is any questions regarding this article or anything else, please feel free to contacts us!
Phone: 920.565.1143
Email: Helpdesk@lakeland.edu