Recommended Mac Laptop Hardware
Northwestern Information Technology (IT) establishes minimum hardware guidelines to assist in purchasing a computer for use at Northwestern. Check with your individual school for additional requirements.
Laptop — Minimum
Expect to use the computer for basic productivity, running multiple applications such as e-mail, web browsing, word processing, music and video players, and photo organization.
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Model | 13" MacBook Air |
| Processor | 1.6GHz dual-core Intel i5 |
| Memory | 8GB RAM |
| Storage | 256GB PCI-e based flash storage |
| Graphics | Supports 1920x1080 or higher resolution |
| Network | 802.1ac, Bluetooth 4.0, USB Ethernet (sold separately) |
| Operating system | macOS X 10.15 Catalina or higher |
| Warranty | AppleCare Protection Plan |
Laptop — Power user
In addition to the tasks above, expect to resource intensive programs for audio/video editing, graphic design, running multiple operating systems, storing large multimedia files and playing games.
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Model | 16" MacBook Pro |
| Processor | 2.2GHz quad-core or faster Intel i7 |
| Memory | 16GB DDR3 SDRAM |
| Storage | 512GB PCI-e based flash storage |
| Graphics | Supports 1920x1080 or higher resolution |
| Network | 802.1ac, Bluetooth 4.0, USB Ethernet (sold separately) |
| Operating system | macOS X 10.15 Catalina or higher |
| Warranty | AppleCare Protection Plan |
Last Updated: 15 June 2020
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