Information about the standard computer hardware configurations for faculty, staff, and computer lab facilities at ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ.
ITS tests hardware and software for compatibility and functionality to offer recommendations that will meet the campus' computing needs.
Faculty and Staff Computers
Standard Recommendations
These hardware recommendations reflect ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ and industry trends. ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ's ITS office budgets for a primary computer per employee every 4 years.
Advanced Needs and Upgrades
These are the minimum recommendations from ITS, meeting the needs of most users for typical daily tasks. Users with specific or advanced computing needs should contact ITS for upgrade options as needed.
Windows
HP EliteDesk 800 G4 SFF (small form factor) PC
- ENERGY STAR Certified Label
- EliteDesk 800PLA SFF 250W Chassis
- Windows 10 Enterprise 64-bit
- Intel Core i5-8500 3.0 6C 65W
- 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 2666 DIMM
- 512GB SATA SSD
- USB BusSlim Keyboard and mouse
- HP DisplayPort Port
- DVDWR
HP EliteBook 840 G7 Laptop
- eStar Enable
- 14-in LED UWVA slim
- Windows 10 Enterprise 64-bit
- Core i5 G8 Label
- 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4
- 512GB PCIe SSD
- 3 Cell 50 WHr Long Life
- 45 Watt Smart AC Adapter
Mac
21.5-inch iMac with Retina 4K display
- 3.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i5
- 16GB 2400MHz DDR4
- 512GB SSD SATA
- Radeon Pro 560 with 4GB video memory
- Wired Apple Mouse
- Wired Keyboard
13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar – Space Gray
- 2.0GHz quad-core Intel Core i5
- 16GB 3733MHz LPDDR4X
- 512GB SSD storage
- Intel Iris Plus Graphics
- Force Touch Trackpad
- Four Thunderbolt 3 ports
- Touch Bar and Touch ID
- Backlit Keyboard - US English
Video Adapter Cables
Provided upon request, one per user
Laboratory Computers
Desktop computers with specifications similar to the basic standards outlined for faculty and staff computers are installed in public laboratories across the campus.
HP EliteDesk 800 G4 SFF PC
- ENERGY STAR Certified Label
- EliteDesk 800PLA SFF 250W Chassis
- Windows 10 Enterprise 64-bit
- Intel Core i5-8500 3.0 6C 65W
- 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 2666 DIMM
- 512GB SATA SSD
- USB BusSlim Keyboard and mouse
- HP DisplayPort Port
- DVDWR
21.5-inch iMac with Retina 4K display
- 3.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i5
- 16GB 2400MHz DDR4
- 512GB SSD SATA
- Radeon Pro 560 with 4GB video memory
- Wired Apple Mouse
- Wired Keyboard
About Our Hardware Choices
We currently partner with HP and the rest of the schools for consortial pricing which enables us to acquire better machines for less. In addition to this partnership we have service contracts with HP and Apple which allow us to repair ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ-owned devices on premise and give us access to premium support with these vendors.
Supported Software
For information about supported software, see:
Recommendations for Students
In making any purchasing decision for computer hardware, in general a college student should consider the battery life of the device, a device that is lightweight, and one that has a fast CPU. When looking at your individual preferences, you may want to consider if one wants to take handwritten notes, or use a computer/tablet hybrid (also called convertibles or 2-in-1 combination units) to take notes.
Below are some of the minimum specs you might want to consider.
Processor
Windows - Core i5 - 12th Gen or AMD 5000 series
Macs - M1 or M1+
Memory
Intel 16 Gig (32 is better)
Mac M1 8 - 16 GB
Storage
256 GB (perhaps more for large or heavy media or graphic design work)
Note on storage: use a cloud storage vendor such as Google Drive or DropBox. That way if your laptop needs repair you can access your files from another computer.
Size
11"-12" thinnest and lightest
13"-14" balanced approach (balances performance with size)
15"-16" larger size, but will also come in as being heavier than the rest (consider this if you plan on graphic or film editing)
Other Considerations
- a comfortable mouse
- a well padded backpack or other case
- if you will be on the move a lot, consider ergonomics
- headphones with a microphone
- USB and external hard drives
- USB adapter and/or hub
Printers
Students do not need to bring a printer to campus. We offer free printing on campus with some spaces available 24/7. Consumer-grade printers won't work wirelessly on our campus network.
Scanning also offered at several of our public labs and workspaces.
Software
Check out what you are eligible for at no cost at colgate.edu/software before purchasing any software. You can also see what's available in our public computing labs here.
Need more help? Contact the ITS Service Desk.
Ask for Help
If you are unable to find the information you need in the documentation available online, the ITS Service Desk is available to assist.