School of Engineering Computer Requirements
Set yourself up for success with proper technology.
Laptops are Required
All Ole Miss Engineering students are required to have their own laptop computer so they are able to work on and off campus.
Important compatibility note: Many engineering applications require a traditional Windows x86-64 environment with an Intel or AMD processor. Devices based on ARM processors (including Apple Silicon Macs running Windows via virtualization and Snapdragon-based Windows PCs) may not be able to run some required course software—particularly upper-level design/simulation tools in Chemical and Mechanical engineering. In those cases, students need to use an Intel or AMD x86-64 PC or university/departmental remote lab resources.
| Degree | Laptop type | Operating system |
|---|---|---|
| Biomedical engineering | PC or Mac | Windows, macOS, or Linux* |
| Chemical engineering | PC (x86-64 strongly recommended) | Windows 11 |
| Civil engineering | PC (x86-64) | Windows 11 |
| Computer engineering | PC or Mac | Windows, macOS, or Linux* |
| Computer science | PC or Mac | Windows, macOS, or Linux* |
| Electrical engineering | PC or Mac | Windows, macOS, or Linux* |
| General engineering | PC | Windows 11 |
| Geological engineering | PC (x86-64) | Windows 11 |
| Geology | PC (x86-64) | Windows 11 |
| Mechanical engineering | PC (x86-64 strongly recommended) | Windows 11 |
*Mac and Linux notes: Some required engineering software is Windows-only. macOS and Linux users should expect to use remote lab resources and/or virtualization (Parallels or UTM) for certain courses. For Apple Silicon Macs, Windows runs via virtualization and may not be compatible with all engineering applications.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i5 / AMD Ryzen 5 (recent generation) | Intel Core i7 / AMD Ryzen 7 (H-series or equivalent performance class for laptops) |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 GB | 32 GB |
| Primary storage | 1 TB SSD (NVMe preferred) | 1–2 TB NVMe SSD |
| Backup storage | External drive or flash drive for backups | External SSD + cloud backup (recommended) |
| Graphics | Dedicated AMD/NVIDIA GPU recommended (at least 4 GB video memory) OR modern integrated graphics (Intel Iris Xe / Intel Arc or newer) | NVIDIA RTX-class (6–8 GB VRAM or more) for CAD/visualization-heavy workflows |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi (802.11ac or newer) | Wi-Fi 6 / 6E (802.11ax) |
| Video conferencing | Webcam, microphone, and speakers (or headset) | 1080p webcam + headset (optional but helpful) |
| Ports | At least one USB-A or USB-C port | USB-A + USB-C (or a reliable adapter/dock) |
| Operating system | Windows 11 (64-bit) | Windows 11 Pro/Education (64-bit) |
Additional guidance
- Avoid ARM-based Windows PCs (e.g., Snapdragon/“Copilot+” ARM models) for programs requiring specialized engineering software.
- Avoid very thin/fanless laptops for CAD and simulation courses; they may throttle under sustained loads.
- If purchasing a Mac for Biomedical/CS/CE: 16 GB RAM minimum, 24–32 GB preferred; 512 GB SSD minimum, 1 TB recommended.
Financial aid
Students receiving assistance through the university’s financial aid office may request a cost-of-attendance increase for the purchase of a computer.
University resources
The University of Mississippi has student discount agreements with a variety of computer vendors.
The School and the University have some site licenses that allow enrolled students to load certain software packages onto their personal machines. Students should be aware that some of these packages do not run on all operating systems.
Support
Students are responsible for supporting their own computers. While the School of Engineering IT office does not actively support student-owned computers, they are always happy to provide limited support and guidance to students and parents.