Be sure to review the minimum and recommended requirements below so that the laptop you choose is the right one for your schoolwork.

Purchasing Options

Both Apple and Windows laptops can be purchased from the WashU Campus Store’s e-commerce site, which can ship your order.

Learn how to place an order

Read about payment options

WashU requires that you purchase a three-year warranty with your laptop. Learn More.

School-Specific Notes

Choose your program from the list below to see the correct set of specs.

macOS computers must be able to also run Windows 10 Professional Edition.

Visit the Buying Computers page on the Sam Fox website for more information.

Note on Apple Silicon: Sam Fox’s Architecture department does not support Apple Silicon as Windows virtualization is not available on Apple’s newest Silicon process at this time.

Art+Design

Windows

FeatureMinimum RequirementsRecommended
CPU+2.6 GHz 9th gen i7+2.6 GHz 9th gen i7
RAM16 GB32 GB
GraphicsRadeon/NVIDA (4GB memory)Radeon/NVIDA (4GB memory)
OSWindows 10 “Professional”Windows 10 “Professional”
Hard Drive+512 GB SSD+512 GB SSD
Display+16 in size; 2880 x 1800 resolution+16 in size; 2880 x 1800 resolution
Connectivity Integrated Wireless-N Integrated Wireless-N
OtherUSB-C

HDMI

USB-3.0

2TB external drive

USB-C Multiport adapter

3-year warranty
USB-C

HDMI

USB-3.0

2TB external drive

USB-C Multiport adapter,

3-year warranty

Mac

FeatureMinimum RequirementsRecommended
CPUM3M3 
RAM16 GB32 GB
GraphicsRadeon/NVIDA (4GB memory)Radeon/NVIDA (4GB memory)
OSCurrently supported macOS versionMost recent mac OS version
Hard Drive+512 GB SSD+512 GB SSD
Display+16 in size; 2880 x 1800 resolution+16 in size; 2880 x 1800 resolution
Connectivityn/an/a
OtherUSB-C

HDMI

USB-3.0

2TB external drive

USB-C Multiport adapter

3-year warranty
USB-C

HDMI

USB-3.0

2TB external drive

USB-C Multiport adapter

3-year warranty
NotesNote: Students need to check their
school-specific IT page to see if
there are any program-specific
limitations on Apple Silicon.
Architecture

Windows

FeatureMinimum RequirementsRecommended
CPU+2.5 GHz Intel or AMD+2.5 GHz Intel or AMD
RAM+16 GB+16 GB
GraphicsRadeon/NVIDA (1GB memory)Radeon/NVIDA (1GB memory)
OSWindows 10 “Professional”Windows 10 “Professional”
Hard Drive512 GB SSD512 GB SSD
Display+ 15 in size+ 15 in size
ConnectivityIntegrated Wireless-NIntegrated Wireless-N
Other1TB external drive

Computer lock

3-year warranty
1TB external drive

Computer lock

3-year warranty
Notesn/an/a

Mac

The Apple Silicon/M1, or M2 is NOT supported as Windows virtualization is not available on Apple’s newest M1 and M2 process at this time.

FeatureMinimum RequirementsRecommended
CPU+2.6 GHz 6-core 9th-generation (Apple Silicon/M1, M2 NOT supported)+2.6 GHz 6-core 9th-generation (Apple Silicon/M1, M2 NOT supported)
RAM+16 GB+16 GB
GraphicsRadeon/NVIDA (1GB memory)Radeon/NVIDA (1GB memory)
OSCurrently supported macOS versionMost recent mac OS version
Hard Drive512 GB SSD512 GB SSD
Display+ 15 in size+ 15 in size
ConnectivityIntegrated Wireless-NIntegrated Wireless-N
Other1TB external drive

computer lock

3 year warranty
1TB external drive

computer lock

3 year warranty
NoteComputer must have a Windows 10 “Professional” OS


Note on Apple Silicon: Sam Fox does not support Apple Silicon as Windows virtualization is not available on Apple’s newest Silicon process at this time.Computer must have a Windows 10 “Professional” OS
Computer must have a Windows 10 “Professional” OS


Note on Apple Silicon: Sam Fox does not support Apple Silicon Windows virtualization is not available on Apple’s newest Silicon process at this time.
Architecture – Graduate School

Windows

FeatureMinimum RequirementsRecommended
CPUDual Core i5Quad core i7 8th or up
RAM16 GB32 GB
GraphicsRadeon/NVIDA (1GB memory)Radeon/NVIDA (4GB memory)
OSWindows “Professional”Windows “Professional”
Hard Drive512 GB SSD512 GB SSD
Displayn/a+ 15 in size; 1080p, 1440p, or 4k resolution
ConnectivityIntegrated Wireless-N Integrated Wireless-N
Other1TB external drive

Computer lock

3 year warranty

1TB external drive

Computer lock

3 year warranty

Mac

The Apple Silicon is NOT supported as Windows virtualization is not available on Apple’s newest Silicon process at this time.

FeatureMinimum RequirementsRecommended
CPU2.6GHz 6‑core 9th‑generation2.6GHz 6‑core 9th‑generation
RAM16 GB32 GB
GraphicsRadeon/NVIDA (1GB memory)Radeon/NVIDA (4GB memory)
OSCurrently supported macOS versionMost recent mac OS version
Hard Drive512 GB SSD512 GB SSD
Displayn/a+ 15 in size; 1080p, 1440p, or 4k resolution
Connectivityn/aIntegrated Wireless-N
Other3 year warranty1TB external drive

Computer lock;

3 year warranty
NoteComputer must have a Windows 10 “Professional” OS


Note on Apple Silicon: Sam Fox does not support Apple Silicon as Windows virtualization is not available on Apple’s newest Silicon process at this time.
Computer must have a Windows 10 “Professional” OS


Note on Apple Silicon: Sam Fox does not support Apple Silicon as Windows virtualization is not available on Apple’s newest Silicon process at this time.