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Buying Hardware/Software - First Year Undergraduate Students


The following computer specifications apply to incoming FIRST YEAR undergraduate students. For 2nd-5th year undergraduate students, click here. Graduate students click here.

Hardware – 2011/2012 [Software see below]

The School of Architecture and the University see computing as an essential and exciting part of a contemporary undergraduate education. Coursework using computers can be accomplished in the existing School computer labs and supporting electronic infrastructure. We are working to empower students with the best available tools for their education, and we strongly recommend that students purchase a laptop computer that can handle the advanced graphics and design applications we teach in our curriculum. We are providing a recommended specification for laptops that will best interface with the School’s current hardware and software systems. Please note that the electronic environment is constantly changing. While we do our best to anticipate the likely software requirements of computer hardware, the School cannot guarantee that any given unit will be adequate to address all computing needs throughout one’s progress in the undergraduate curriculum.

The School of Architecture and Syracuse University are set up to principally support computers with a Microsoft Windows operating system. However, students can purchase and use Apple Macintosh computers running OS X if they prefer. Macintosh users will need to run Windows in order to use certain programs and interface with some School equipment and resources.

The School recommends laptops for their easy portability between a dorm and studio space. A laptop also can be brought to class when learning certain software programs, and occupies less space on a student’s studio desk than a desktop computer. Screen size is a significant consideration for CAD and graphic work. Laptops with 15” displays are recommended as the minimum screen size. Those wishing to purchase a laptop with a 17” display should keep in mind that this will usually add 1-2 pounds of weight, making it less mobile. At a later time, students might elect to purchase a larger independent monitor. This can be used to expand the size of the virtual desktop.

Students should consider purchasing a three-year on-site/at-home service warranty for the computer. An on-site warranty means the company will send someone to the home or campus drop-off location to fix the computer, rather than waiting two weeks or more for mail-in service. In the event of a hardware problem this will greatly minimize the time a student might not be able to work on time-sensitive computing projects.

Here are some basic laptop configurations and specifications recommended for running CAD, graphic, and 3D applications that can be used as a guide to purchase your equipment:

Note: plus signs (+) below mean “or better.”

Windows Operating System (Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium or Pro, 64-bit)

Component Specs Notes
Processor/CPU Intel: Core i5 or i7 (i7 quad core preferred)
AMD: Phenom II
Clock speed: 2.2 GHz+ (or 2.0 with turbo boost) 		A faster cpu and one with more cores means quicker 3D rendering time and faster video encoding.
Memory/RAM 4 GB+  
Hard Drive 320 or 500 GB+ (7200 rpm preferred) A faster speed hard drive (7200 vs. 5400 rpm) means quicker reading and writing of data.
Video Card Nvidia or ATI, 512 MB-1 GB+, discrete not shared or integrated. Avoid Intel graphics. This link ranks graphics chipsets (stick to Class 1 or Class 2).
Screen Size 15”+  
Networking 802.11n wireless  
Warranty 3-year on-site/at-home warranty  
Accessories External optical mouse  

Expect to pay around $2000 for an appropriately configured laptop. Cheaper laptops usually have lower end video cards and processors, and are not capable of handling advanced 3D and CAD work. For a Windows system, we recommend the Dell Precision M4600, which is available as part of a package deal from the SU bookstore that meets or exceeds the School's performance criteria. The bookstore also carries the Precision M6600 during the summer months, which has a 17" screen, but is less mobile with the increased weight. The bookstore packages include a 4-year warranty, accidental damage coverage, and a 2 GB USB flash drive.

Other Dell models that can be configured to meet or exceed the listed specifications include the Dell Alienware line of laptops. Models from other manufacturers such as Hewlett Packard's EliteBook Mobile Workstations or ProBook laptops would work well when configured appropriately.

Macintosh Operating System (Mac OS X)

For a Macintosh system, we recommend the Apple MacBook Pro 15". This system is available as a configured package through the SU Bookstore. The bookstore package includes a 3-year warranty and a 2 GB USB flash drive.

Note: In order to run Windows programs such as AutoCAD or Rhino* on a Mac, you must purchase a Microsoft Windows license (make sure to get the full version and not an upgrade version; for example: try here or here). The preferred method for running Windows uses Apple's Boot Camp, which comes with OS X. Another option is to run Windows within OS X using 3rd party programs such as Parallels Desktop or VMWare Fusion, but the performance is lower compared to Boot Camp.
*A Rhino beta exists for OS X but is incomplete and has proved unstable for coursework use.

Other Essential Items (both Windows and Mac):


Software – 2011/2012

To best enable students to have the supported applications at their fingertips, we require the purchase of a software bundle for all incoming students. The bundle provides a savings of approximately $80 over buying the software individually. This package includes Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite Design Standard, and the Rhinoceros 3D modeling program.  In addition to these core applications, the School of Architecture provides free access to Autodesk AutoCAD Architecture, Bentley Microstation, Autodesk Revit Architecture, and a rendering application plug-in for Rhinoceros called V-Ray.

Please note that Apple computer owners will need to install the Windows operating system to run some of this software.  Please see the "Important Note to Macintosh Users" below.

Word Processing/Presentation Platform Estimated academic cost Notes
Microsoft Office
(Word, PowerPoint, Excel)		 PC/Mac $80-$90 Microsoft offers Office 2010 for Windows for $80 through this special link. The Bookstore price is $90. Also available in a discounted software bundle.
Digital Imaging
Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 Design Standard
(Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat Pro)		 PC/Mac $259 SU Bookstore price. Also available in a discounted software bundle.
CAD
Autodesk AutoCAD Architecture
 PC/Mac Free Obtain through the Autodesk Education Community.* The Mac version is not the Architecture edition of AutoCAD, and is not as feature complete as the Windows version.
Digital Modeling
McNeel's Rhinoceros 4.0 PC $130 SU Bookstore price. Also available in a discounted software bundle.
Rendering

ASGvis V-Ray for Rhino

PC

Free

Obtain the V-Ray installation file and installation instructions from the Resources\R drive on the lab server. Find it in R:\Software\VRay for Rhino\.

* As soon as the student has an syr.edu email address, register for free to obtain and download the software. Visit the Autodesk Education Community and look for the "Register" or "Join the community today" links. Fill out the registration form using your syr.edu email address. When creating a password, please pick a different one than your SU NetID password. After logging in with the new account info, go to the software download section to obtain the free programs.

The academic price of these applications is significantly less than commercial prices. As noted above, several of these applications are available for purchase at the SU Bookstore at the discounted academic price. Note that the above prices are approximate to those listed at the time of release of this document and are subject to change.

Software Copyright:

Students must keep the original receipt of purchase of all software. All instructors of course work that use computing media may require students using machines and software not in School computer clusters to provide a copy of the purchase receipt(s) of the relevant application(s). The School requires this to avoid software copyright violations.

Important Note to Macintosh Users:

Macintosh Users have several options for running Windows-only applications like Autodesk's AutoCAD Architecture and Rhinoceros. Macs can dual boot into Windows using Apple’s Boot Camp, or run Windows inside OS X using Parallels Desktop or VMWare Fusion with appropriate licenses. Performance of Windows applications may be slower under Parallels or Fusion than running under Boot Camp. When purchasing a Microsoft Windows license, make sure to get the full or 'system builder' version and not an upgrade version (for example: try here or here).

SU Bookstore Contact Information:

Students interested in purchasing the above listed hardware and/or software should contact the SU Bookstore. The Bookstore will be selling the required software package for all incoming students. Students also can save on shipping costs for hardware, take advantage of the Bookstore’s convenient on-campus location and use various payment methods for these and other educational products.

Website: http://www.syr.edu/bkst
Phone: 315.443.1694
Email: nhauchte@syr.edu

Syracuse University, School of Architecture, 201 Slocum Hall, Syracuse, NY 13244