Minimum Laptop Requirement

While undergraduate students are not required to purchase a laptop through the Carolina Computing Initiative, they are required to have a laptop that meets the or exceeds the minimum laptop specifications for their class. All CCI laptops meet the minimum laptop requirement.

CCI purchases come with additional benefits, including the highest level of tech support. Your CCI laptop package includes on-site tech support from an authorized warranty repair center and access to a pool of loaner laptops when yours is under repair.

Minimum laptop specifications

Students are required to have a laptop that meets or exceeds the following minimum specifications. All CCI models meet or exceed the specifications below:

CLASS OF 2027 SPECS

Minimum specifications for first year students

View first-year laptops

Operating system:

  • PC: Microsoft Windows 11 Enterprise or Pro
  • MAC: macOS 12 or later

Processor:

  • PC: 12th Generation Intel Core i5 or better
  • MAC: Apple Silicon M2 or better

Memory:

  • 8 GB Minimum

Hard disk drive:

  • 256 GB SSD

Display:

  • 13 inches or larger
  • 1920 x 1080 Resolution or better

Media capabilities:

  • Speaker
  • Microphone
  • WebCam

Network:

  • Wireless (802.11a/b/g/n compliant)

Expansion ports:

  • USB 2.0/3.0 and/or USB-C

CLASS OF 2026 SPECS

Minimum specifications for second year students

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Operating system:

  • PC: Microsoft Windows 10 Enterprise or Pro
  • MAC: macOS 10.15 or later

Processor:

  • PC: 11th Generation Intel Core i5 or better
  • MAC: 10th Generation Intel Core i5 or better or M1 Apple Silicon or better

Memory:

  • 8 GB Minimum

Hard disk drive:

  • 256 GB SSD

Display:

  • 13 inches or larger
  • 1920 x 1080 Resolution or better

Media capabilities:

  • Speaker
  • Microphone
  • WebCam

Network:

  • Wireless (802.11a/b/g/n compliant)

Expansion ports:

  • USB 2.0/3.0 and/or USB-C

CLASS OF 2025 SPECS

Minimum specifications for third year students

View laptops

Operating system:

  • Microsoft Windows 10
  • Enterprise or Pro

Processor:

  • 10th Generation Intel Core i5 or better

Memory:

  • 8 GB Minimum

Hard disk drive:

  • 256 GB SSD

Display:

  • 13 inches or larger
  • 1440 x 900 Resolution or better
  • Integrated graphics

Audio:

  • Built-in audio capabilities
  • Speaker
  • Microphone

Communication devices:

  • Wireless (802.11a/b/g/n compliant)

Expansion ports:

  • Two USB 2.0/3.0 and/or USB-C