Laptop Requirements
In addition to the standard tuition and fees, students entering the Product Design program should also factor in the cost of a laptop and recommended software in order to complete projects and course deliverables. The following laptop specifications are the minimum requirements; please ensure your laptop has a graphics card that will enable you to create digital drawings as well as computer-aided design work.
Recommended Laptop Specifications
Operating System: 64-bit Microsoft Windows 11 OR Operating System: macOS Monterey (12) or Ventura (13)
Note for Mac users: Those students who prefer to use Mac should be aware that some software, such as Solid Works, may not be compatible. Software such as Parallels Desktop can be used on newer Intel or Apple Silicon Macs with a minimum of 16 GB of RAM.
- Processor (CPU): Intel Core i-Series/Ultra Series, Xeon, AMD Ryzen, or Threadripper (3.0 GHz+ with high single-core performance).
- Memory (RAM):
- Absolute Minimum: 16 GB.
- Professional Standard: 32 GB.
- Large/Complex Models: 64 GB to 128 GB.
- Graphics (GPU): DirectX 11 capable graphics card with Shader Model 5, and at least 4 GB VRAM (8 GB+ recommended if using 4K monitors or rendering plugins).
- Storage: Minimum of 30 GB free for installation, though NVMe SSDs are highly recommended for optimal read/write speeds when saving and syncing large BIM models.
- Cooling: Because of heat, laptops frequently throttle performance. Seek out mobile workstations that feature robust cooling solutions.
- Check Official Verification Tools: Hardware setups and configurations depend strongly on your specific project needs. Verify your target machine's compatibility using the official Solid Works and Autodesk System Requirements pages.
Note: Students often purchase "gaming" type computers in order to meet the need for 3D modeling and graphics.
Software Specifications
- Adobe Acrobat Pro (annual subscription required)
- Adobe Creative Cloud (annual subscription required)
- Microsoft Office Suite (available for download for KPU students here)
- Anti-Virus Software (annual subscription required)
Students may refer to this page to stay up to date on software and specification requirements. Students are also welcome to wait until the first week of classes to consult instructors before purchasing anything.