Aerial view of campus with Williamsport, the Susquehanna River and Bald Eagle Mountain as a backdrop

Purchasing a new computer

IT Services recommends the following for new students considering the purchase of a computer:

Regardless of operating system, we recommend students purchase a laptop to take full advantage of wireless network access in all buildings on campus.

  • Processor (Windows: Intel Core i5, i7 or i9, AMD Ryzen 5, 7 or 9; Mac: M1 or greater)
    • If you use your computer for basic tasks like surfing the web, watching Netflix, and using Microsoft Office, then an Intel Core i5 is a better choice.
    • If you use your computer to run multiple applications that require a lot of processing, such as mathematical calculations, then an Intel Core i7 or i9 is the best choice.
    • AMD processors are also acceptable for PCs.
    • Macs should use Apple silicon chips, M1 or greater
  • 8 GB of RAM minimum, 16 GB recommended
  • 256 GB hard drive
    • A solid state drive (SSD) is preferable.

If you are purchasing a PC:

Windows 11

If you are purchasing a Mac:

macOS 12 (Monterey) or higher
M1 or greater processor

Optional

Printer, thumb drive, surge protector. A good multi-year warranty is recommended.

Student Discounts

These are options to consider when purchasing, but are not vetted or endorsed by IT Services.