- COMPUTER SPECIFICATIONS
General Specifications
Many computer resources are available for general use by the campus community. It may be advantageous to wait until your first semester to decide whether to invest in a computer. Appropriate computer selection is ultimately based on a number of variables including budget, usage, and major of study. Systems meeting the minimum system requirements will work; however, other specifications may be more efficient.
Main System Components
- Duo Core Intel or AMD processor, 1.8GHz or faster
- 2GB RAM
- 80GB hard drive space
- Windows O/S: XP Pro or above (though note the caveat that Vista is not currently capable of VPN connectivity and Windows 7 is not expected to be supported for at least 90 days after its official release date of 10/22/09)
- Mac OS 10.4 or 10.5 are supported; Mac OS 10.6 is not capable of connecting to the VU network at this time.
- 100mbps network card or faster, with RJ-45 cable
- 802.11g wireless card
Office Productivity Suite Software
Microsoft Office is available on all public computer cluster workstations. If you choose to purchase Office for your personal computer it should be version 2003 or above.Anti-virus Software
Up to date anti-virus software is required to be installed on your personal computer in order to access the campus network. IT will provide a free copy of Sophos anti-virus to students while they attend Valparaiso University, although you are not required to use this if you already have a subscription of another anti-virus program. Cisco Clean Access Agent is also provided to allow authentication and will check for system security.It is a good idea to have additional firewall, anti-malware / anti-spyware software on your machine as well. (Spybot, AdAware) or simply use a security suite which provides both antivirus and anti-malware in one software package (various AVG and Trend Micro products, Norton 360, Norton Internet Security, etc). You should NOT run multiple anti-virus programs on the same machine.
Peripheral Equipment
Sound or video cards, printers, speakers, etc. are at the discretion of the individual. When deciding on these please remember to take into account desk space in a residence hall room. The same applies with laptop docks, external monitor/keyboard/mouse, etc.College / Program Requirements
Some colleges such as the College of Engineering or other academic programs may offer their own suggestions of machine capabilities or system requirements for the specific work being done in those programs. Please consult your college for these specifications.Need More Help?
Contact the IT Help Desk for further consultation at 219-464-5678 or e-mail us at IT.HelpDesk@valpo.edu