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.
WashU requires that you purchase a minimum three-year warranty with your laptop. Learn More.
School-Specific Notes
The Law School requires that your computer be able to run the Exam4 software. For Mac users, this requires the macOS 10.15.7 (Catalina) or later. Windows users need Windows 10 or 11.
Note: Exam4 does not support new upgrade versions of Windows and Mac OS upon release.
Turn off Auto-updates, and do NOT update your operating system until such time as your exam administrator announces Exam4 supports that OS. Hardware that Exam4 does not support includes iPads, iPhones, Chromebooks, and Linux OS devices, among others View this page for a complete list.
Windows
| Feature | University Minimum Requirements | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel +i5 or better/ AMD equivalent | Intel i5 or better/ AMD equivalent |
| RAM | 16 GB minimum | 16 GB minimum |
| Graphics | n/a | n/a |
| OS | Windows 10 or 11 | Windows 10 or 11 |
| Hard Drive | 512 GB SSD | 512 GB SSD |
| Display | n/a | n/a |
| Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless |
| Warranty | 4 years | 4 years |
| Other | Webcam + Mic | Webcam + Mic |
Mac
| Feature | University Minimum Requirements | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel i5 or better / Applie Silicon (M1, M2) | Intel +i5 or better/ AMD equivalent |
| RAM | 16 GB minimum | 16 GB minimum |
| Graphics | n/a | n/a |
| OS | Currently supported macOS version | Currently supported macOS version |
| Hard Drive | 512 GB SSD | 512 GB SSD |
| Display | n/a | n/a |
| Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless |
| Ports | Webcam + Mic | Webcam + Mic |
| Warranty | 3 years | 3 years |
| Notes | Students need to check their school-specific IT page to see if there are any program-specific limitations on Apple Silicon | The Law School requires that your computer be able to run the Exam4 software. For Mac users, this requires the OS 10.14.6 Mojave or newer. Windows users need Windows 10. Hardware that Exam4 does not support includes iPads, iPhones, Chromebooks, and Linux OS devices, among others. Windows 10 (Home, Pro, Edu and Enterprise) [versions 20H2, 21H1, 21H2, 22H2, 23H2] Windows 11 (Home, Pro, Edu and Enterprise) [versions 21H2, 22H2, 23H2] macOS 14.x.x Sonoma macOS 13.x.x Ventura macOS 12.x.x Monterey ** ** Exam4 Support for these operating systems ends August 1, 2025 |