(Updated April 2012)
The Department of Graphic and Industrial Design requires purchase of computers by students depending on their individual curriculum. Students may use either Macintosh or Windows computers for their coursework. While the industrial design industry uses different platforms, our curriculum has chosen to use the Windows platform for certain software applications.
Students in Industrial Design should pay particular attention to the AutoDesk qualified hardware list to find computers and hardware compatible with Autodesk products. In addition, students are encouraged to select NVidia graphics cards for increased compatibility. Because of the intense software needs of Industrial Design students, higher-end computers are specified.
Apple Macintosh computers allow both Macintosh and Windows software to run on the same computer using a dual-boot system. Other options for running Windows applications on a Macintosh using virtualization software are available. We consider the dual-boot method the better option for our students because dual-boot provides better performance than virtualization. Many of our students are choosing to use dual-boot on their own computers. Students interested in running Windows on a Macintosh computer are encouraged to speak with the College of Design Information Technology staff. Please note the cost of Windows operating system and Windows software will be in addition to Macintosh software.
Each department in the College of Design has different computer requirements. Please read the College’s Student Computing Requirements Information page for general information before spending money on computer hardware or software.
We recommend that your computer meet or exceed the specifications below. A computer with greater capability (processor speed, RAM, disk capacity) and expandability will be more likely to continue to run required software in later years of college.
This chart provides minimum recommendations for students purchasing new computers. Clicking on “Tell Me More” will provide detailed information about a component. Software requirements are listed at the bottom of the chart. Additional specialized software may be required in other courses, as determined by the instructor. Students may consider the purchase of other software to support their particular goals and learning styles.
Windows Computers
| Components | Windows Desktop | Windows Laptop |
|---|---|---|
| CPU (Processor) or Model | Intel Core i7 processor | Intel Core i7 processor |
| System RAM | 8 GB minimum, more preferred | 8 GB minimum, more preferred if capable |
| CD/DVD | CD-RW/DVD-R | |
| Hard Disk Size | 500 GB minimum, more preferred | 500 GB minimum, more preferred |
| Monitor | 18″ or larger—1280 x 1024 minimum screen resolution | 15″ or larger—1280 x 1024 minimum screen resolution (second external monitor optional) |
| Video Adapter (Graphics Card) | 512MB hardware-accelerated OpenGL 2.0 or higher professional graphics cards with recommended driver from Autodesk hardware certification pages. NVidia graphics cards preferred for increased compatibility. | |
| Operating System | Windows 7 Professional (Not “Home” version) | |
| Sound Card | 100% Windows compliant sound card | |
| Ethernet Adapter | Built-in RJ-45 | Built-in RJ-45
(802.11g compatible wireless ethernet card optional, but needed for wireless network access. This is standard on most laptops.) |
| External Hard Drive for Back-ups | An external drive at least as large as your computer’s internal drive for backing up your computer | |
| Warranty Service | minimum 3-year onsite parts and labor | |
| Additional Hardware | Three-button mouse with mouse driver software (Optional certified Wacom tablet recommended.) | |
| Software
Be sure to check for educational discounts through the College of Design or NCSU Bookstores. Many Autodesk products are available free through Autodesk’s Education Community. Additional software may be required for certain courses. |
• Microsoft Office 2010 or later (Word, Excel, Powerpoint)
• Adobe Photoshop CS5.5 or later • Adobe Illustrator CS5.5 or later • Adobe Flash CS5.5 Professional or later and Dreamweaver CS5.5 or later (optional) (Consider Adobe Creative Suite, which is available in several different bundles. “Creative Suite Design Premium” is a good fit for most Industrial Design students. It includes InDesign, Acrobat, Illustrator, Photoshop Extended, Flash Professional and Dreamweaver. Other bundles are available.) • Licensed version of Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks 2009 or later (free student license available from: http://www.ncsu.edu/software/available-software/product.php?software=205) • Sophomore ID students will need 3D Studio Max and Mudbox from the Autodesk Entertainment Suite for Education installed on their personal computers for use in ID 315 in the Spring semester. The entire suite is available free for students from Autodesk’s Education Community. • Junior ID students will need a licensed version of Pixologic ZBrush R4 (http://www.pixologic.com/store/#academic.php) |
|
Macintosh Computers
| Components | Macintosh Desktop | Macintosh Laptop |
|---|---|---|
| CPU (Processor) | Mac Pro, any current model | Mac Pro, any current 15″ (with dedicated video memory) or 17″ model |
| System RAM | 8 GB minimum, more preferred | 8 GB minimum, more preferred if capable |
| CD/DVD | SuperDrive (DVD-R/CD-RW) | |
| Hard Disk Size | 500 GB minimum, more preferred | 500 GB minimum, more preferred |
| Monitor | 18″ or larger—1280 x 1024 minimum screen resolution (Monitors from other vendors will work with Apple computers.) | 15″ or 17″—1280 x 1024 minimum screen resolution (second external monitor optional) Monitors from other vendors will work with Apple computers. |
| Video Adapter (Graphics Card) | 512 MB VRAM minimum (NVidia graphics cards are standard on Macintosh.) | |
| Operating System | Mac OS X version 10.6 or later | |
| Sound Card | Standard on Macintosh | |
| Ethernet Adapter | Standard on Macintosh
(Wireless Airport Extreme card also standard.) |
Standard on Macintosh
(Wireless Airport Extreme card also standard.) |
| External Hard Drive for Back-ups | An external drive at least as large as your computer’s internal drive for backing up your computer | |
| Warranty Service | 3-year AppleCare Protection Plan | |
| Additional Hardware | Three-button mouse with mouse driver software (Optional certified Wacom tablet recommended.) | |
| Software
Be sure to check for educational discounts through the College of Design or NCSU Bookstores. Many Autodesk products are available free through Autodesk’s Education Community. Additional software may be required for certain courses. |
• Microsoft Office 2011 or later (Word, Excel, Powerpoint)
• Adobe Photoshop CS5.5 or later • Adobe Illustrator CS5.5 or later • Adobe Flash CS5.5 Professional or later and Dreamweaver CS5.5 or later (optional) (Consider Adobe Creative Suite, which is available in several different bundles. “Creative Suite Design Premium” is a good fit for most Industrial Design students. It includes InDesign, Acrobat, Illustrator, Photoshop Extended, Flash Professional and Dreamweaver. Other bundles are available.) If you want to run both Mac OS X and Windows on a Mac, you will also need: • Microsoft Windows 7 Professional (in addition to Mac OS X) and Windows compatible software of your choosing. (You do not need to have the same software applications for both operating systems.) • Licensed version of Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks 2009 or later (free student license available from: http://www.ncsu.edu/software/available-software/product.php?software=205) • Sophomore ID students will need 3D Studio Max and Mudbox from the Autodesk Entertainment Suite for Education installed on their personal computers for use in ID 315 in the Spring semester. The entire suite is available free for students from Autodesk’s Education Community. • Junior ID students will need a licensed version of Pixologic ZBrush R4 (http://www.pixologic.com/store/#academic.php) AutoDesk is adding more products to run in Mac OS X. Check to see if the software you need will run in Mac OS X. Some AutoDesk products do not run in Mac OS X. Users will have to install Windows operating system in order to run them. |
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Questions?
The College’s Information Technology staff will be glad to go over purchase choices or answer any related questions. Contact them by sending an email to: design_help@ncsu.edu