Sonoma State University

What personal computer does the department recommend for CS?

While the CS department has adequate facilities for computing in and outside of class, here are the specifications for what would be considered a useful machine for your CS education at SSU.

 

Minimum Specifications:

  • Processor (CPU): At least M1 (base, Pro, Max, or Ultra), or 6-core, 6/12-thread processor, e.g., Intel Core i5 (10th Gen or newer) or AMD Ryzen 5 (3000 series or newer).
  • Memory (RAM): At least 8 GB DDR4.
  • Storage: At least 256 GB SSD.
  • Graphics (GPU): Integrated graphics (e.g., Intel Iris Xe or AMD Radeon Vega) for basic programming tasks and lightweight 3D rendering.
  • Operating System: MacOS Monterey (or newer), Windows 10/11 but should support WSL2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux), or Linux (Ubuntu 22.04 or any newer distribution).
  • Display: At least a 13-inch Full HD (1920x1080) display.
  • Software Compatibility: Support for JetBrains IDEs (PyCharm, CLion). Capable of running Unreal Engine 5 and Godot at basic settings. OpenGL 4.1 support for basic 3D rendering.

 

Recommended Specifications:

  • Processor (CPU): M3 (base, Pro, Max, or Ultra), or 8-core, 8/16-thread processor, e.g., Intel Core i7 (12th Gen or newer) or AMD Ryzen 7 (5000 series or newer) for multitasking and performance with  IDEs and Unreal Engine.
  • Memory (RAM): 16 GB DDR4 (32 GB for future-proofing and handling larger projects).
  • Storage: 512 GB SSD (NVMe preferred for faster speeds).
  • Graphics (GPU): Dedicated GPU, e.g., NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 or AMD Radeon RX 6600, for rendering 3D graphics, VR and running Unreal Engine smoothly.
  • Operating System: MacOS Ventura (or newer) for better alignment with lab environments. Linux (Ubuntu 22.04 or or any newer distribution). Windows 10/11 (ensure comparability with WSL2).
  • Display: 14-inch or larger display with QHD+ resolution (2560x1600) for more space and clarity. An aspect ratio of 16:10 or 3:2 is also recommended to show more lines of code on screen
  • Software Compatibility: Smooth handling of JetBrains IDEs, Unreal Engine, Godot, and OpenGL rendering.