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 Any print materials you have could be out-of-date.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 Macintosh Operating System requirements of 10.8 or later to utilize FileVault 2. 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 Retina 13-inch
Processor (CPU):	Intel Core i5 or better
Operating System:	Mac OS 10.10.x (Yosemite) or higher
Memory:	8 GB RAM
Storage:	256 GB solid state or higher. Choose 512 GB if you plan to install Windows through Azure Dev Tools for Teaching.
Network Adapter:	802.11ac Wi-Fi adaptor
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/Pro
Processor (CPU):	Intel Core i3 or higher
Operating System:	Mac OS 10.8 (Mountain Lion)
Memory:	4 GB RAM
Storage	160 GB internal hard drive
CD-ROM:	DVD/CD-RW (optional)
Monitor/Display:	13.3" LCD
Network Adapter:	AirPort Extreme card, network interface card
Other:	Lock, carrying case

Desktop Computers

Recommended Configurations

We recommend systems that meet or exceed the following specifications:

Processor (CPU):	Intel Core i5 or higher
Operating System:	Mac OS 10.10 (Yosemite)
Memory:	8 GB RAM
Storage:	1 TB internal hard drive or 256 GB SSD.
Sustainability:	EPEAT Silver rating (preferably EPEAT Gold)
CD-ROM:	8x Super Drive (double-layer) (optional)
Monitor/Display:	21.5" LED Display
Other:	802.11ac Wi-Fi adaptor

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):	Intel Core i3
Operating System:	Mac OS 10.8 (Mountain Lion)
Memory:	4 GB RAM
Storage:	250 GB internal hard drive
CD-ROM:	DVD-ROM/CD-RW (optional)
Monitor/Display:	15" LCD monitor
Other:	AirPort, Network interface card