Be sure to review the minimum and recommended requirements below so that the laptop you choose is the right one for your schoolwork.
Purchasing Options
Both Apple and Windows laptops can be purchased from the WashU Campus Store’s e-commerce site, which can ship your order.
WashU requires that you purchase a three-year warranty with your laptop. Learn More.
School-Specific Notes
Choose your program from the list below to see the correct set of specs.
macOS computers must be able to also run Windows 10 Professional Edition.
Visit the Buying Computers page on the Sam Fox website for more information.
Note on Apple M1 and M2: Sam Fox’s Architecture department does not support Apple Silicon/M1 as Windows virtualization is not available on Apple’s newest M1 or M2 process at this time.
Windows
| Feature | Minimum Requirements | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | +2.6 GHz 9th gen i7 | +2.6 GHz 9th gen i7 |
| RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB |
| Graphics | Radeon/NVIDA (4GB memory) | Radeon/NVIDA (4GB memory) |
| OS | Windows 10 “Professional” | Windows 10 “Professional” |
| Hard Drive | +512 GB SSD | +512 GB SSD |
| Display | +16 in size; 2880 x 1800 resolution | +16 in size; 2880 x 1800 resolution |
| Connectivity | Integrated Wireless-N | Integrated Wireless-N |
| Other | USB-C HDMI USB-3.0 2TB external drive USB-C Multiport adapter 3-year warranty | USB-C HDMI USB-3.0 2TB external drive USB-C Multiport adapter, 3-year warranty |
Mac
| Feature | Minimum Requirements | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | M3 | M3 |
| RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB |
| Graphics | Radeon/NVIDA (4GB memory) | Radeon/NVIDA (4GB memory) |
| OS | Currently supported macOS version | Most recent mac OS version |
| Hard Drive | +512 GB SSD | +512 GB SSD |
| Display | +16 in size; 2880 x 1800 resolution | +16 in size; 2880 x 1800 resolution |
| Connectivity | n/a | n/a |
| Other | USB-C HDMI USB-3.0 2TB external drive USB-C Multiport adapter 3-year warranty | USB-C HDMI USB-3.0 2TB external drive USB-C Multiport adapter 3-year warranty |
| Notes | Note: Students need to check their school-specific IT page to see if there are any program-specific limitations on Apple Silicon. |
Windows
| Feature | Minimum Requirements | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | +2.5 GHz Intel or AMD | +2.5 GHz Intel or AMD |
| RAM | +16 GB | +16 GB |
| Graphics | Radeon/NVIDA (1GB memory) | Radeon/NVIDA (1GB memory) |
| OS | Windows 10 “Professional” | Windows 10 “Professional” |
| Hard Drive | 512 GB SSD | 512 GB SSD |
| Display | + 15 in size | + 15 in size |
| Connectivity | Integrated Wireless-N | Integrated Wireless-N |
| Other | 1TB external drive Computer lock 3-year warranty | 1TB external drive Computer lock 3-year warranty |
| Notes |
Mac
The Apple Silicon/M1, or M2 is NOT supported as Windows virtualization is not available on Apple’s newest M1 and M2 process at this time.
| Feature | Minimum Requirements | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | +2.6 GHz 6-core 9th-generation (Apple Silicon/M1, M2 NOT supported) | +2.6 GHz 6-core 9th-generation (Apple Silicon/M1, M2 NOT supported) |
| RAM | +16 GB | +16 GB |
| Graphics | Radeon/NVIDA (1GB memory) | Radeon/NVIDA (1GB memory) |
| OS | Currently supported macOS version | Most recent mac OS version |
| Hard Drive | 512 GB SSD | 512 GB SSD |
| Display | + 15 in size | + 15 in size |
| Connectivity | Integrated Wireless-N | Integrated Wireless-N |
| Other | 1TB external drive computer lock 3 year warranty | 1TB external drive computer lock 3 year warranty |
| Note | Computer must have a Windows 10 “Professional” OS Note on Apple M3 and M2: Sam Fox does not support Apple Silicon/M3 as Windows virtualization is not available on Apple’s newest M3 process at this time.Computer must have a Windows 10 “Professional” OS | Computer must have a Windows 10 “Professional” OS Note on Apple M3 and M2: Sam Fox does not support Apple Silicon/M3 as Windows virtualization is not available on Apple’s newest M3 process at this time. |
Windows
| Feature | Minimum Requirements | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Dual Core i5 | Quad core i7 8th or up |
| RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB |
| Graphics | Radeon/NVIDA (1GB memory) | Radeon/NVIDA (4GB memory) |
| OS | Windows “Professional” | Windows “Professional” |
| Hard Drive | 512 GB SSD | 512 GB SSD |
| Display | n/a | + 15 in size; 1080p, 1440p, or 4k resolution |
| Connectivity | Integrated Wireless-N | Integrated Wireless-N |
| Other | 1TB external drive Computer lock 3 year warranty | 1TB external drive Computer lock 3 year warranty |
Mac
The Apple Silicon/M1, or M2 is NOT supported as Windows virtualization is not available on Apple’s newest M1 and M2 process at this time.
| Feature | Minimum Requirements | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 2.6GHz 6‑core 9th‑generation | 2.6GHz 6‑core 9th‑generation |
| RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB |
| Graphics | Radeon/NVIDA (1GB memory) | Radeon/NVIDA (4GB memory) |
| OS | Currently supported macOS version | Most recent mac OS version |
| Hard Drive | 512 GB SSD | 512 GB SSD |
| Display | n/a | + 15 in size; 1080p, 1440p, or 4k resolution |
| Connectivity | n/a | Integrated Wireless-N |
| Other | 3 year warranty | 1TB external drive Computer lock; 3 year warranty |
| Note | Computer must have a Windows 10 “Professional” OS Note on Apple M3 and M2: Sam Fox does not support Apple Silicon/M3 as Windows virtualization is not available on Apple’s newest M3 process at this time. | Computer must have a Windows 10 “Professional” OS Note on Apple M3 and M2: Sam Fox does not support Apple Silicon/M3 as Windows virtualization is not available on Apple’s newest M3 process at this time. |