Recommended Computer Specifications & OIT Supported Software
Faculty and staff: Visit the Duke Technology Center website to learn about the Duke Computer Program standards offering standardized computer models at educational pricing with extended warranties through our preferred vendors; Microsoft, Dell, Lenovo, and Apple. Please work with your local IT support to propose and submit your departmental order via Buy@Duke.
Students: Duke's partnership with Microsoft, Apple, Dell, and Lenovo have enabled us to offer and recommend some of the best computers available at educational pricing. These computers come with 4 years of manufacturer's warranty including accidental damage coverage. Students have access to convenient professional service and support at the Link and access to loaner computers if repairs are needed. Visit the Duke Technology Center website to find out more and place your order. If you decide to bring a computer to Duke instead of purchasing through the Duke Technology Center, we strongly recommend that your system meet the following minimum specifications.
|
Feature |
Minimum Recommended |
Preferred (if applicable) |
Rationale for Recommendation |
|
Processor |
i5 (Windows/Mac) |
i7 (Windows/Mac) |
For technical programs, also consider computer requirements for your program. |
|
Memory |
8 GB |
16 GB |
Memory demands for currently supported operating systems will require at least 2 gigabytes (GB) of memory. |
|
Hard disk |
256 GB |
512 GB |
An increasing number of cloud storage offerings and the prevalence of solid-state drives allow for lesser local storage. |
|
Networking |
Built-in LAN 10/100 (Ethernet) for all systems; wireless for laptops (Windows: 802.11b/g/n; Mac: Airport Extreme) |
Built-in LAN Gigabit (Ethernet) for all systems; wireless for laptops (Windows: 802.11n; Mac: Airport Extreme) |
Wireless (802.11 AC) is available in all residence halls. Please do not bring any personal routers to campus as this will interfere with available wireless. The majority of laptops come standard with this capability. |
|
Operating system |
Windows 11 and Windows 10 (available for students on the software site), macOS Monterey
|
Windows 11 (available for students on the software site), macOS Ventura |
|
|
Support & protection |
Extended warranty plan, including accidental damage coverage, for expected life of machine and a laptop bag to protect your computer. |
Extended warranty plan, including accidental damage coverage, for expected life of machine and a laptop bag to protect your computer. |
|
|
Software |
Microsoft Office (available for students on the software site) |
Microsoft Office (available for students on the software site) |
|
Repair Costs of a Laptop Over Time
The Duke Technology Center's mission is to provide students, faculty, staff, and departments with efficient service for the warranty repairs and accidental damage claims of their Microsoft, Apple, Dell, and Lenovo laptops. Worried about the wait? Loaner laptops are provided to students who purchased from the DTC while on campus. Students can access this service via the OIT Service Desk at The Link located in the Perkins Library.
OIT Supported SoftwareOIT supports varied software for PC, Macintosh, and Linux. OIT aims to revise this list just prior to each fall semester but will update products as necessary. OIT reserves the right to decrease support for products when vendors decrease their support for those products.
Please see the OIT Software Licensing page to download free software or purchase discounted software. Additional volume-priced software is available for purchase from the Duke Technology Center.
If you do not see the software you are looking for on this page, you can check the Software Catalog section of the OIT website for vendor & web-support information for site-licensed products.
|
Support Software Symbols Key |
|
F |
Full Support |
|
|
L |
Limited Support |
|
|
R |
Recommend for Students |
|
|
Operating Systems |
|
R |
Windows 11 |
F |
|
|
Windows 10 (Vendor supported releases) |
F |
|
R |
Mac OS 13 (Ventura) |
F |
|
Mac OS 12 (Monterey) | F | |
|
Mac OS 11 (Big Sur) | L | |
|
Latest CentOS | L | |
|
Latest Ubuntu | L |
|
Web Browsers *Please refer to application browser requirements |
|
R |
Chrome (latest version) |
F |
|
R |
Firefox (latest version) |
F |
|
R |
Microsoft Edge |
F |
|
R |
Safari (Mac) with supported Operating Systems |
F |
|
Messaging and Calendaring |
|
R |
F | |
|
R |
Microsoft Outlook 2019 |
F |
|
R |
Microsoft Outlook 365 |
F |
|
R |
Outlook for Mobile |
F |
|
|
Mail for macOS on supported OS |
L |
|
F |
|
File Storage and Printing |
|
R |
F | |
|
R |
F | |
|
R |
F | |
|
R |
F |
|
AntiVirus and other Security Software |
|
R |
L | |
|
R |
L | |
|
R |
F | |
|
R |
L | |
|
R |
F | |
|
Malwarebytes (personal machines only) |
L |
|
Productivity Suite |
|
SSH and Secure FTP clients |
|
Remote Connectivity |
|
R |
F | |
|
R |
L | |
|
R |
X-Win32 |
L |
|
R |
Apple XQuartz |
L |
|
R |
Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection Client |
F |
|
|
Apple Remote Desktop (ARD) |
L |
|
Miscellaneous Desktop Software |
|
R |
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC |
L |
|
L | ||
|
|
7zip |
L |
|
Miscellaneous Duke Applications |
|
R |
F | |
|
R |
SISS (Peoplesoft Client / DukeHub) |
F |
|
R |
F | |
|
|
F | |
|
|
F | |
|
|
F |
Article number: KB0025071
Valid to: May 13, 2025