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Minimum Requirements

Hardware

To study or do work at the UW, you need a computer workstation with at least the minimum specifications listed.

You may also wish to see the minimum system requirements needed to use the current version of Microsoft Office as described by Microsoft for Windows and Macintosh. Since departments at the UW vary in what specific software they recommend and support, if you are faculty or staff, check with your departmental computing support team before choosing software and be sure your system meets (or exceeds) the requirments for that software.

COMPONENT WINDOWS PC MACINTOSH
CPU
500 MHz
Intel or PowerPC G5
Memory (RAM)
1 GB 1 GB
Hard Drive
100 GB 100 GB
Optical Drive
CD-RW (or DVD-RW)
CD-RW ( or DVD-RW)
Operating
System
Windows XP SP2 or
Windows Vista SP1
OS X 10.4 ("Tiger")  or
OS X 10.5 ("Leopard")
at current update level
Video Resolution 1024 x 768
1024 x 768
Ethernet* Built in 10/100Mb
Built in 10/100Mb
Wireless** Built in 802.11 b/g
Built in 802.11 b/g
Modem*** Built in V.90 (56Kbps)
Built in V.90 (56Kbps)

  *If computer will be using the Ethernet for connecting.

** If computer will be using wireless networking.
***If computer will be using phone lines for connecting.