Desktop Purchasing Guide

The following are current recommendations for new administrative desktops and other University users with demanding computing needs. These desktops meet the necessary requirements for a four year life cycle and generally cost between $1,000 and $2,100.

Important Note: these recommendations are designed by Information Systems & Computing (ISC) as a complement to the University's yearly desktop recommendations—not as a replacement for them. They will always meet the current standards and may at times exceed them, particularly later in the academic year.

These specifications reflect current system configurations being offered by Apple, Dell, and Lenovo.

Revised October 28, 2024—Specifications are reviewed and updated as appropriate

Footnotes:

1. For many years, the class of processor (e.g., Core i5, Core i7, etc.) was the primary criterion for selecting a desktop system processor. This is no longer true. For AMD, Apple, and Intel processors, ISC suggests six or more cores while ensuring the processor also has capable integrated graphics or is paired with a discrete graphics card. A more detailed University-centric perspective on processors is available from ISC's Processor Guide.
2. An option often called something like "Keep Your Hard Drive," allows the retention of defective mass storage when receiving replacement mass storage under warranty. This option usually costs about $20 and is a sound choice for many Schools and Centers to avoid possible disclosure of sensitive data.
3. Displays should be high quality, with a preference for WUXGA resolution or above—a good display should be usable for two hardware life cycles. See ISC's Display and Graphics Guide for more information as there are often significant variances in features, resolution, and display quality among displays of the same size.
4. Windows 11 versions 23H2 and above (Pro, Education, and Enterprise editions for x64 processors) is recommended for new systems. ISC does not recommend but will support Windows 11 Home. Home lacks important networking, security, and compatibility features, such as domain-based authentication, that are essential to many Schools and Centers in the University. Though version 22H2 is still supported, Windows 10 is no longer recommended for new systems. ISC does not support Windows 10 S, Windows 11 SE, any 32-bit versions of Windows 10, or any version of Windows for ARM processors.
5. macOS Sequoia (15.x) is the only choice for new Mac systems as Apple's newly released systems always require the latest macOS version. For running Windows on a Mac, supportable solutions vary widely depending upon the chipset. Parallels Desktop 20 offers added flexibility for users of Apple Silicon-based Macs who need to use Windows 11 occasionally and with the limitations stated in Microsoft's support documents. It should not be used to turn a Mac into a mainly Windows system. Parallels requires that both the Windows and the macOS operating systems be patched and maintained.
6. Apple's Boot Camp technology offers added flexibility for users of Intel-based Macs who need to use Windows 10 occasionally. It should not be used to turn a Mac into a mainly Windows system. Boot Camp requires that both the Windows and the macOS operating systems be patched and maintained. Like all Windows 10-dependent systems, Boot Camp will fall out of support in October 2025.
7. Pricing is generated using online configurators available from Apple, Dell, and Lenovo and is for general reference only.

Desktop manufacturers that ISC has had good experience with include Apple, Dell, and Lenovo.

These specifications are revised when major changes in configurations from Apple, Dell, and Lenovo (or the industry as a whole) become generally available.

Desktop Recommendations