{"id":1202,"date":"2026-08-17T16:03:32","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T16:03:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/campus.collegeforcreativestudies.edu\/its\/?page_id=1202"},"modified":"2026-08-17T16:33:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T16:33:22","slug":"laptop-requirements","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/campus.collegeforcreativestudies.edu\/its\/laptop-requirements\/","title":{"rendered":"CCS Laptop Recommendations 2026-2027"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Updated 09.17.2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Laptop requirements vary by academic program. The specifications below are intended to help students purchase a computer that will support their coursework throughout their time at the College for Creative Studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These specifications represent the recommended configuration for students purchasing a <strong>new computer<\/strong>. A higher-performance configuration is acceptable and may provide a longer useful lifespan, provided it is compatible with the software required by your program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Students should consult their academic department if they have questions about specific hardware or software requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>General Laptop Recommendations<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The following recommendations are intended for CCS students whose departments do not have specific laptop requirements. Students entering <strong>Communication Design &amp; Strategy<\/strong> or <strong>Graduate Studies<\/strong> programs, including <strong>Transportation Design, User Experience Design (UXD), Color &amp; Materials Design,<\/strong> or <strong>Interdisciplinary Design Studies (IDS),<\/strong> should scroll down for program-specific laptop requirements and recommendations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before purchasing a computer, we strongly recommend checking with your academic department. Software requirements vary significantly between programs, particularly for students working with 3D modelling, animation, rendering, video, CAD, and other GPU-intensive applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Apple MacBook<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Recommended configuration:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Processor:<\/strong> Apple M5 or newer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recommended for demanding creative applications:<\/strong> M5 Pro or M5 Max<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Memory:<\/strong> 24 GB unified memory minimum<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recommended Memory:<\/strong> 32 GB or more<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Storage:<\/strong> 512 GB SSD minimum<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recommended Storage:<\/strong> 1 TB SSD<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Display:<\/strong> 14-inch or larger recommended for primary workstation use<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Protection:<\/strong> AppleCare+ strongly recommended<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A MacBook Pro is recommended for students regularly working with video editing, motion graphics, 3D applications, large Adobe projects, or other demanding creative workflows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A MacBook Air may be appropriate for students primarily working with applications such as Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Figma, web applications, and general productivity software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Students should verify that software required by their department is available for macOS before purchasing a Mac.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Windows Laptop<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Recommended configuration:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Operating System:<\/strong> Windows 11, 64-bit<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Processor:<\/strong> Current-generation Intel Core Ultra 7 or better, or AMD Ryzen 7 \/ Ryzen AI 7 or better<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recommended Processor:<\/strong> Intel Core Ultra 9 or AMD Ryzen 9 \/ Ryzen AI 9<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Memory:<\/strong> 32 GB RAM<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recommended for demanding 3D\/video workloads:<\/strong> 32\u201364 GB RAM<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Graphics:<\/strong> Dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX or professional NVIDIA\/AMD GPU recommended for 3D, rendering, CAD, animation, and video applications<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Graphics Memory:<\/strong> 8 GB VRAM recommended<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Storage:<\/strong> 512 GB NVMe SSD minimum<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recommended Storage:<\/strong> 1 TB NVMe SSD<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Display:<\/strong> 1920 \u00d7 1080 or higher<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Protection:<\/strong> 3-year manufacturer protection plan strongly recommended<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Students using applications such as SOLIDWORKS, Autodesk Maya, VRED, KeyShot, or other 3D and CAD software should strongly consider a Windows laptop with a dedicated NVIDIA GPU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Windows ARM Laptops<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Windows laptops using ARM-based processors, including Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, are <strong>not recommended as a general CCS laptop<\/strong> unless the student&#8217;s department has confirmed that all required applications are compatible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Windows on ARM compatibility continues to improve, some specialized creative, CAD, 3D, rendering, plug-in, peripheral, and licensing applications may require Intel or AMD x86-64 processors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Communication Design &amp; Strategy<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Communication Design &amp; Strategy students are required to own or purchase a laptop for their studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The laptop will be an important part of coursework throughout the program. Students purchasing a new computer should choose a configuration capable of supporting current creative applications for approximately four years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apple MacBook laptops are recommended for Communication Design &amp; Strategy students. A comparable Windows laptop may also be used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before purchasing a laptop, students with questions should contact their Department Chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Recommended Apple MacBook Pro<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Processor:<\/strong> Apple M5 or newer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recommended Processor:<\/strong> M5 Pro for demanding creative applications<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Memory:<\/strong> 24 GB unified memory minimum<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recommended Memory:<\/strong> 32 GB or more<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Storage:<\/strong> 512 GB SSD minimum<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recommended Storage:<\/strong> 1 TB SSD<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Protection:<\/strong> AppleCare+ strongly recommended<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Students expecting to work extensively with video, motion graphics, large Adobe files, or other demanding creative applications should consider an M5 Pro processor and 32 GB or more unified memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Apple MacBook Air<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>15-inch MacBook Air<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Processor:<\/strong> Apple M5 or newer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Memory:<\/strong> 24 GB unified memory recommended<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Storage:<\/strong> 512 GB SSD minimum<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recommended Storage:<\/strong> 1 TB SSD<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Protection:<\/strong> AppleCare+ strongly recommended<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The MacBook Air is appropriate for many Communication Design &amp; Strategy workflows, including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Figma, web-based applications, and general productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Students expecting significant video, motion graphics, 3D, or other sustained high-performance workloads should consider a MacBook Pro instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Windows Laptop Alternative<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Students who prefer Windows may purchase a comparable Windows laptop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Recommended manufacturers include Dell, Lenovo, ASUS, HP, and other major manufacturers offering professional or high-performance laptops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Recommended Configuration<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Operating System:<\/strong> Windows 11, 64-bit<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Processor:<\/strong> Intel Core Ultra 7 or AMD Ryzen 7 \/ Ryzen AI 7 or better<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recommended Processor:<\/strong> Intel Core Ultra 9 or AMD Ryzen 9 \/ Ryzen AI 9<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Memory:<\/strong> 24 GB minimum<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recommended Memory:<\/strong> 32 GB<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Storage:<\/strong> 512 GB NVMe SSD minimum<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recommended Storage:<\/strong> 1 TB NVMe SSD<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Graphics:<\/strong> Modern integrated graphics are suitable for many Communication Design workflows. A dedicated NVIDIA GPU is recommended for video, motion graphics, 3D, and other GPU-intensive applications.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Display:<\/strong> 1920 \u00d7 1080 or higher<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Protection:<\/strong> 3-year manufacturer protection plan strongly recommended<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ARM-based Windows laptops should only be purchased after confirming compatibility with all software required by the student&#8217;s program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Graduate Studies<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Laptop requirements vary by graduate program. Graduate students are required to review the recommendations for their specific program before purchasing a computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Higher-performance configurations are acceptable and may provide a longer useful lifespan, provided they are compatible with the software required by the student&#8217;s program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Color &amp; Materials Design<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Graduate students enrolling in Color &amp; Materials Design are required to own or purchase a laptop computer for their studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The following specifications represent the recommended configuration for a new computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Apple MacBook Pro<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Processor:<\/strong> Apple M5 Pro or better<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Memory:<\/strong> 32 GB unified memory minimum<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recommended Memory:<\/strong> 48 GB for intensive 3D and rendering workflows<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Storage:<\/strong> 1 TB SSD minimum<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Protection:<\/strong> AppleCare+ strongly recommended<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Windows PC<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Operating System:<\/strong> Windows 11, 64-bit<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Processor:<\/strong> Intel Core Ultra 7\/9 or AMD Ryzen 9 \/ Ryzen AI 9<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Memory:<\/strong> 32 GB DDR5 RAM minimum<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recommended Memory:<\/strong> 64 GB for intensive rendering<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Graphics:<\/strong> Dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 or better with at least 8 GB VRAM<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Storage:<\/strong> 1 TB NVMe SSD minimum<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Protection:<\/strong> 3-year manufacturer protection plan strongly recommended<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Required Software<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Adobe Creative Cloud:<\/strong> Provided through CCS for all currently registered students<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Google Workspace:<\/strong> Provided through CCS for all currently registered students<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Rhino 3D:<\/strong> Student purchase may be required<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>KeyShot:<\/strong> Student purchase may be required<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Additional software may be required for individual courses.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Interdisciplinary Design Studies (IDS)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Graduate students enrolling in Interdisciplinary Design Studies are required to own or purchase a laptop computer for their studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because IDS is a customizable degree program, individual students may have different computing requirements depending on their area of study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Apple MacBook Pro<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Processor:<\/strong> Apple M5 Pro or better<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Memory:<\/strong> 32 GB unified memory recommended<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Storage:<\/strong> 1 TB SSD recommended<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Protection:<\/strong> AppleCare+ strongly recommended<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Students planning to work extensively with 3D modelling, rendering, animation, or video should consider 48 GB or more unified memory and an M5 Pro or M5 Max processor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Windows PC<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Operating System:<\/strong> Windows 11, 64-bit<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Processor:<\/strong> Intel Core Ultra 7 or better, or AMD Ryzen 7 \/ Ryzen AI 7 or better<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Memory:<\/strong> 32 GB DDR5 RAM recommended<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Graphics:<\/strong> Dedicated NVIDIA RTX graphics with at least 8 GB VRAM recommended for 3D, rendering, and other GPU-intensive workflows<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Storage:<\/strong> 1 TB NVMe SSD recommended<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Protection:<\/strong> 3-year manufacturer protection plan strongly recommended<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Required Software<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because Interdisciplinary Design Studies is a customizable degree, additional software may be required depending on the student&#8217;s individual program of study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Adobe Creative Cloud:<\/strong> Provided through CCS for all currently registered students<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Google Workspace:<\/strong> Provided through CCS for all currently registered students<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Transportation Design<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Graduate students enrolling in Transportation Design are required to own or purchase a Windows laptop computer capable of supporting professional 3D modelling, visualization, and rendering applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because Transportation Design uses demanding 3D applications, a high-performance Windows mobile workstation is strongly recommended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Windows PC<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Operating System:<\/strong> Windows 11, 64-bit<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Processor:<\/strong> Intel Core Ultra 9 or AMD Ryzen 9 \/ Ryzen AI 9<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Memory:<\/strong> 32 GB DDR5 RAM minimum<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recommended Memory:<\/strong> 64 GB<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Graphics:<\/strong> NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 or better with at least 8 GB VRAM<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Storage:<\/strong> 1 TB NVMe SSD minimum<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Display:<\/strong> 16-inch display recommended<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Protection:<\/strong> 3-year manufacturer protection plan strongly recommended<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Students performing extensive rendering, real-time visualization, or complex 3D modelling should consider higher-performance NVIDIA RTX graphics and 64 GB or more system memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Recommended Technology<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Wacom Intuos Pro Tablet:<\/strong> Small or medium<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Xencelabs Pen Tablet:<\/strong> Comparable model<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Required Software<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Adobe Creative Cloud:<\/strong> Provided through CCS for all currently registered students<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Google Workspace:<\/strong> Provided through CCS for all currently registered students<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Autodesk Alias:<\/strong> Educational licensing available<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Blender:<\/strong> Available free of charge<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Recommended Software<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Unreal Engine<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Additional applications may be required for individual courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>User Experience Design (UXD)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Graduate students enrolling in User Experience Design are required to own or purchase a laptop computer for their studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">UXD students typically work across interface design, prototyping, Adobe Creative Cloud applications, web technologies, and other digital design tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Apple MacBook Pro<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Processor:<\/strong> Apple M5 or better<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recommended Processor:<\/strong> M5 Pro<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Memory:<\/strong> 24 GB unified memory minimum<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recommended Memory:<\/strong> 32 GB<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Storage:<\/strong> 1 TB SSD recommended<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Protection:<\/strong> AppleCare+ strongly recommended<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Windows PC<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Operating System:<\/strong> Windows 11, 64-bit<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Processor:<\/strong> Intel Core Ultra 7 or better, or AMD Ryzen 7 \/ Ryzen AI 7 or better<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Memory:<\/strong> 24 GB minimum<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recommended Memory:<\/strong> 32 GB<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Graphics:<\/strong> Modern integrated graphics are sufficient for most UX workflows. Dedicated NVIDIA RTX graphics are recommended for students working with 3D, motion graphics, AR\/VR, or other GPU-intensive applications.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Storage:<\/strong> 1 TB NVMe SSD recommended<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Protection:<\/strong> 3-year manufacturer protection plan strongly recommended<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Required Software<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Adobe Creative Cloud:<\/strong> Provided through CCS for all currently registered students<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Google Workspace:<\/strong> Provided through CCS for all currently registered students<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Additional UX, prototyping, and development applications may be required for individual courses.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Software Available to Students<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Adobe Creative Cloud and Google Workspace are available at no additional cost to all currently registered CCS students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Web-based Microsoft 365 applications are also available to students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Students may have access to additional software based on their academic program. Software availability and licensing are subject to change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Students should consult their department and the CCS Software System Requirements page before purchasing hardware specifically for a particular application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Additional Purchasing Recommendations<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When purchasing a laptop for use at CCS, students should consider the computer a long-term academic investment. Whenever possible, choose a configuration that provides additional performance beyond the minimum required specifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For a new computer purchased for the <strong>2026\u201327 academic year<\/strong>, CCS generally recommends:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Apple<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Apple M5 or better<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>M5 Pro recommended for demanding creative applications<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>24\u201332 GB unified memory<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 TB SSD<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Windows<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Windows 11, 64-bit<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Intel Core Ultra 7 or AMD Ryzen 7 \/ Ryzen AI 7 or better<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>32 GB DDR5 RAM<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 TB NVMe SSD<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dedicated NVIDIA RTX graphics for 3D, rendering, animation, and visualization<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Students should avoid purchasing a computer based solely on minimum software requirements. Applications and operating systems will continue to become more demanding during a student&#8217;s time at CCS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Before purchasing a computer, students should confirm any program-specific requirements with their academic department.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Updated 09.17.2026 Laptop requirements vary by academic program. The specifications below are intended to help students purchase a computer that will support their coursework throughout their time at the College for Creative Studies. These specifications represent the recommended configuration for students purchasing a new computer. A higher-performance configuration is acceptable and may provide a longer &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/campus.collegeforcreativestudies.edu\/its\/laptop-requirements\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;CCS Laptop Recommendations 2026-2027&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1202","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"coauthors":[],"author_meta":{"author_link":"https:\/\/campus.collegeforcreativestudies.edu\/its\/author\/sevans\/","display_name":"Sean Evans"},"relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 7 hours ago","modified":"Updated 6 hours ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on August 17, 2026","modified":"Updated on August 17, 2026"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on August 17, 2026 4:03 pm","modified":"Updated on August 17, 2026 4:33 pm"},"featured_img_caption":"","featured_img":false,"series_order":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/campus.collegeforcreativestudies.edu\/its\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1202","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/campus.collegeforcreativestudies.edu\/its\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/campus.collegeforcreativestudies.edu\/its\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/campus.collegeforcreativestudies.edu\/its\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/campus.collegeforcreativestudies.edu\/its\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1202"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/campus.collegeforcreativestudies.edu\/its\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1202\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1211,"href":"https:\/\/campus.collegeforcreativestudies.edu\/its\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1202\/revisions\/1211"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/campus.collegeforcreativestudies.edu\/its\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1202"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}