Overview
This article is for students at Minnesota State University, Mankato and provides recommendations for computers that will provide the best experience with university tools and software. Minnesota State Mankato does not require students to have a personal laptop or desktop computer for enrollment. However, many students choose to bring their own devices for convenience. If you plan to do so, we provide the following hardware recommendations to ensure compatibility with university technology and software.
Device Applicability
This article applies to personal devices (equipment owned and maintained by individual users).
Hardware Specifications
The list below outlines both Recommended and Minimum specifications. Meeting the recommended specifications will provide the best experience when using university-provided technology such as Office 365, D2L Brightspace, and other academic software. Some programs may require specialized software, which could necessitate more powerful hardware than listed here.
Computer Type
- Recommended: Windows or Mac laptop/desktop
- Minimum: Windows or Mac laptop/desktop
Operating System
- Recommended: Windows 11 or macOS 13 Ventura*
- Minimum: Windows 11 or macOS 12 Monterey*
- For additional information regarding Apple device support, visit Apple Support.
Processor
- Recommended: Intel Core i5 or AMD equivalent
- Minimum: Intel Core i3 or AMD equivalent
Memory (RAM)
- Recommended: 8GB or larger
- Minimum: 4GB or larger
Storage
- Recommended: 512GB Solid State Drive (SSD) or larger
- Minimum: 256GB or higher
Wireless Network Card
- Recommended: 802.11n, ac, ax (WiFi-6)
- Minimum: 802.11n, ac, ax (WiFi-6)
Wi-Fi Compatability
- Recommended: Must support 802.1x, AES, and WPA2-Enterprise (Compatible Wi-Fi adapters are available at the Campus Computer Store.)
- Minimum: Must support 802.1x, AES, and WPA2-Enterprise (Compatible Wi-Fi adapters are available at the Campus Computer Store.)
Audio/Video
- Recommended: Web camera, speakers (or headphones), and microphone
- Minimum: Web camera, speakers (or headphones), and microphone
Devices Not Recommended
Minnesota State Mankato does not recommend relying on the following devices as a primary computer due to software limitations:
- Tablet devices (e.g., iPads)
- Mobile phones
- Netbooks and Chromebooks
While these devices may work for certain tasks, they are not fully compatible with all university software. The university continues to test these types of devices in the classroom environment and can provide basic troubleshooting support, but performance may be limited.
Still Need Help?
Visit the IT Solutions Center page to view current hours, locations, and contact information.