I’m Bringing a Computer I Already Have

Technological progress occurs very quickly; some reports claim that the life cycle of a computer is only about three years (Gartner Report, 1999).  Nevertheless, many users will need to extend this life to four years.  If you’re considering bringing a computer that you already have we’ve created a list, below, of a minimum configuration.

It’s worth remembering that older computers are often out of warranty.  We highly recommend purchasing an extended warranty.  Depending on the system, this may be a 3- or 4-year warranty.

The absolute MINIMUM configuration for an older computer is:

• RAM – 2 GB.
• Hard drive – 150 GB hard drive.
• Processor Speed – PC – dual core (AMD or Intel), 1.3 GHz (desktop) and 1.3 GHz (laptop); Mac – PowerPC G4 800 MHz.
• Operating System – PC – Windows XP Pro or Vista; Mac – OS X 10.4.
• Network Interface Card – 10/100BaseT (RJ-45).

If you bring a computer with these specifications, you should know that it is unlikely to last you the four years of your tenure at UMW.

If you are uncertain about how to determine your processor speed, RAM, or disk storage space please contact someone at the UMW IT Help Desk (helpdesk@umw.edu or (540) 654-2255).

Computers falling below these minimums should be upgraded or replaced.  Recommendations for new computer purchases are more robust.  See the Specific Recommendations page for more details.