Computer Recommendations – School of Engineering
Minimum Standards
The School of Engineering recommends the following minimum standards in order to be able to support all software packages which engineering students might using during their time at Benedictine:
| Standard | Processor (CPU) | Memory (RAM) | Graphics Card (GPU) | Storage | Display Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | 2.5 GHz or greater | 16 GB RAM | 2 GB GPU with 29 GB/s bandwidth and DirectX 11 compliance | 40 GB Drive | 1920 x 1080 |
| Recommended | 3.0 GHZ or greater, with 4 or more cores | 32 GB RAM or more | 4 GB GPU with 106 GB/S bandwidth and DirectX 11 compliance | 40 GB Solid State Drive (SSD)* | 3840 x 2160 |
*A Solid State Drive (SSD) is recommended for faster loading times and overall system responsiveness.
Other Considerations
Although not expressly prohibited, the use of Macintosh computers is not recommended for engineering students, since much of the software used by engineers is Windows-based, and thus the only way to use a Mac computer is to run Windows or pseudo-Windows. Due to the difficulties presented by software compatibility, it is generally recommended that students do not purchase a Mac computer for their engineering studies.
The Engineering Lounge, located on the first floor of Westerman Hall, provides a convenient opportunity for students to use computing resources provided the department. The Lounge houses an array of desktop computers, which are updated with all the latest software that students will use during their studies at Benedictine.
Generally speaking, it is recommended that students consider purchasing a computer that has a good processor and as much memory as is affordable. Some additional considerations include:
- Larger screens will allow easier navigation and viewing of complex CAD models, but may be more difficult to transport
- Touchscreens may be helpful for ease of use
- All software used by students is either free or provided via a license through the SoE
- It is generally recommended that students avoid purchasing machines that use ARM processors, which have good battery life but are not great for computation and raw performance
Below is a list of software that a student might use during his or her time in the program. All listed software is also available to students through use of the computers in the Lounge. This list is subject to change.
- Mechanical: Autodesk Inventor Professional, MATLAB, MiniTab, Geogebra, Microsoft Office.
- Chemical: ChemCad, Visio Pro, Minitab, Autodesk Inventor, Microsoft Office.
- Civil: Autodesk Civil 3D, Autodesk Inventor, Microsoft Office.
- Electrical: MATLAB, Python, Java and/or C, LTSpice, Microsoft Office.