For the faculty and staff, our recommendations and minimum system requirements are meant to provide general guidelines on which computer configurations work best in the UMass Amherst computing environment. They focus on the hardware specifications for the device. For free or discounted software, please check our downloads page. Note: This online document is where you will find the most accurate recommendations. Any print materials you have could be out-of-date.

Systems currently owned and connected to the UMass network need to meet the minimum macOS requirements of 10.15 or later. Any Macintosh system currently sold via the Apple Education page, which is accessible via the UMass Buyways system, can be used on the UMass Enterprise network. It is advisable to obtain a system with the fastest processor and a minimum of 16 GB of RAM. Many Macintosh systems come with a wide variety of computer screen size with the same high resolution aspects across the product lines. The purchaser should also note that some Macintosh systems are not upgradable from the original purchased system as there are no expansion slots available. Please contact your departmental IT professional or UMass Amherst IT Enterprise Desktop Support to specify system recommendations to meet your needs and provide the best expansion for the projected life of the system.

Sustainability

We recommend models of computers that have at least an EPEAT Silver rating (preferably EPEAT Gold). These computers meet the latest ENERGY STAR specifications and are designed to be easily recycled. Learn more about the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT).

Laptop Computers

Recommended Configurations

We recommend systems that meet or exceed the following specifications:

Model:	MacBook Pro 13-inch
Processor (CPU):	M1 Chip or better
Operating System:	macOS 12.x (Monterey)
Memory:	16 GB RAM
Storage:	512 GB SSD storage drive
Other:	Lock, carrying case, external hard drive for backups

 

Minimum Requirements

We support the following minimum computer configurations.

Note: The following lists minimum requirements that allow for network connectivity and other basic functions. If you are planning on purchasing a new computer, please use the recommended configurations above.

Model:	MacBook Air 13-inch
Processor (CPU):	M1 Chip or better
Operating System:	macOS 10.15.x (Catalilna) or higher
Memory:	8 GB RAM
Storage	256 GB SSD storage drive
Other:	Lock, carrying case, external hard drive for backups

Desktop Computers

Recommended Configurations

We recommend systems that meet or exceed the following specifications:

Processor (CPU):	M1 Chip or better
Operating System:	macOS 12.x (Monterey)
Memory:	16 GB RAM
Storage:	1 TB or 512 GB SSD storage drive
Monitor/Display:	24" Display

 

Minimum Requirements

We support the following minimum computer configurations.

Note: The following lists minimum requirements that allow for network connectivity and other basic functions. If you are planning on purchasing a new computer, please use the recommended configurations above.

Processor (CPU):	M1 Chip or better
Operating System:	macOS 10.15.x (Catalilna) or higher
Memory:	8 GB RAM
Storage:	256 GB SSD storage drive
Monitor/Display:	24" Display