Pennsylvania State University: recommended laptop specification

No — this is a recommendation, not a requirement. Pennsylvania State University publishes computing guidance, but no specific configuration. You are not obliged to buy a machine that matches it.

💡 Recommended only. Pennsylvania State University publishes this as guidance. An existing laptop that does the job is usually fine — do not buy a new machine on the strength of this page alone.

The published specification

Operating system: Windows or macOS. The page specifies Windows laptop hardware and Apple Silicon (M2) MacBook Pro and MacBook Air configurations, but states no explicit minimum OS version.

Processor: Windows - Basic: Intel 11th-gen Core i5 with built-in Intel DirectX 12 GPU, or AMD Ryzen 3000 equivalent. Better: Intel 12th-gen or newer Core i5 (or Core i7/i9) with a DirectX 12.1+ GPU, or AMD Ryzen 5000 or newer. Mac - Apple M2 (8-core CPU on the 13-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air; 12-core CPU on the 14-inch MacBook Pro).

Memory (RAM): Windows - 16GB dual-channel DDR4 (basic); 32GB dual-channel DDR5 (better). Mac - 8GB unified memory (13-inch MacBook Pro, basic); 16GB unified memory (14-inch MacBook Pro, better); 16GB unified memory (13.6-inch MacBook Air).

Storage: Windows - 500GB NVMe (basic); 1TB NVMe (better). Mac - 512GB SSD (13-inch MacBook Pro); 1TB SSD (14-inch MacBook Pro); 256GB SSD (MacBook Air).

Graphics: Windows - Basic: built-in Intel DirectX 12 GPU. Better: discrete DirectX 12.1+ GPU. Mac - integrated Apple M2 graphics (10-core GPU on the 13-inch MacBook Pro; 19-core GPU on the 14-inch MacBook Pro; 8-core GPU on the MacBook Air).

Source

Taken from Pennsylvania State University's own published page: https://it.psu.edu/students/connect-to-tech. Verified 2026-08-25. Specifications change every intake, so confirm against that page before you buy.

Laptops for Pennsylvania State University students

Product links go to Amazon search — as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Links never change the checklist.

Search Amazon for laptop →

Pennsylvania State University publishes no capacities to build a search from, so this is a general search — check with Pennsylvania State University IT before ordering — listings change and this page does not track stock or price.

Packing for Pennsylvania State University

A laptop is one line on a longer list. See the full Pennsylvania State University dorm packing list for bedding, storage and the rest of move-in.

Laptop requirements at other schools: Kennesaw State University · Florida International University · California State University-Fullerton · University of South Florida · University of Wisconsin–Madison · University of California, San Diego