Computer Recommendations for Students
Computer Recommendations
For Students
This guide will help most students looking to buy a new computer to support your learning needs at Harvard, but it's also a good idea to ask if your academic program or School has specific system recommendations.
Find more
The basics
For your primary device, we recommend most students use a Windows or Apple laptop computer that meets the minimum or recommended specifications below. We don't recommend tablets or Chromebooks as your primary device.
- You can find a more detailed guide here, including optional device considerations.
- Be sure to review this guide to keep your personal devices secure.
For Windows computers
Operating system:
- Minimum: Windows 10 (Home)
- Recommended: Windows 10 (Pro, Education, Enterprise)
Processor:
- Minimum: Intel Core i5 dual-core processor (7th Generation) or AMD Ryzen 5 1000 series
- Recommended: Intel Core i5 quad-core processor (8th Generation) or AMD Ryzen 5 2000 series or later generations
Memory:
- Minimum: 8GB
- Recommended: 16GB or more
Hard Drive:
- Minimum: 256GB or larger hard drive or solid-state drive (SSD)
- Recommended: 500GB or larger SSD
For Apple Mac computers
Operating system:
- Minimum: MacOS Mojave 10.14
- Recommended: MacOS Catalina 10.15 or more recent
Processor:
- Minimum: Intel Core i5 dual-core processor (7th Generation)
- Recommended: Intel Core i5 quad-core processor (8th Generation) or Apple M1 processor
Memory:
- Minimum: 8GB
- Recommended: 16GB or more
Hard Drive:
- Minimum: 256GB or larger hard drive or solid-state drive (SSD)
- Recommended: 500GB or larger SSD