Architecture Computer Guidelines
It is strongly recommended students purchase a PC, as a Mac properly configured to run many design software programs is more costly and complicated.
Real Time Rendering Software needs the most computing power. For example, you can check on the Lumion site for hardware that operates this rendering software. If you have questions, please contact: 850-599-3244.
Hardware and Software Requirements
- Operating System: Windows 10 or Higher
- Processor: Intel Core i7 3.5 Ghz or higher; Intel Xeon-W 2.8Ghz or higher; or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X or better
- Memory: 16GB or higher
- Graphics Card: 6GB or 8GB discrete graphics card or higher
- Primary Storage: 500 GB solid state drive or higher
- I/O devices Physical: Keyboard and mouse (trackpad not sufficient)
- Networking: Dual-Band (2.4GHz/5GHz); Wireless 802.11n
- Backup: External hard drive or cloud service
- Recovery option: Highly recommended
Optional Features
- LCD 17.0” FHD+ (1920 x 1200) Anti-Glare 500-NIT Display
- Hard Drive: 1 TB
- Accessories: Ethernet cable, webcam and microphone, headphones
- Extended Warranty
Recommended Options:
Low Level
Mid-Level
Upper Level
- RTX 4070/4080 laptops:
- Razer Blade 18. 18", Intel Core i9-13950HX, 32GB RAM, NVIDIA RTX 4080 12GB, 1TB SSD.
- Alienware M16. 16", Intel Core i9-13900HX, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA RTX 4080 12GB, 2TB SSD.
- AORUS 17H. 17.3", Intel Core i7-13700H, 32GB RAM, NVIDIA RTX 4080 12GB, 1TB SSD.
- Samsung Galaxy Book3. 16", Intel Core i9-13900H, 32GB RAM, NVIDIA RTX 4070 8GB, 1TB SSD.
- GIGABYTE AERO 16. 16", Intel Core i9-13900H, 32GB RAM, NVIDIA RTX 4070 8GB, 1TB SSD.
- RTX A3000/A4000/4500/A5000 laptops:
- Dell New Precision 7760 Workstation (various configurations for RAM, memory).3", i5-11500H, 64GB RAM, NVIDIA RTX A5000 16GB, M.2 2280 2TB SSD.
- Ultimate Precision 7670 Workstation. 16", Intel Core i7-12850HX, 64GB RAM, NVIDIA RTX A4500 16GB, 1TB SSD.
- HP ZBook Fury 17 G8.3", Intel Core i7-11850H, 32GB RAM, NVIDIA RTX A4000 16GB, 1TB SSD.
- Dell New Precision 7760 Workstation.3", 64 GB RAM, i7-11850H, NVIDIA RTX A4000 8 GB, 512GB SSD.
- Laptop ASUS ProArt StudioBook. 16", Intel Core i7 11800H, 32GB RAM, NVIDIA RTX A3000 12GB, 1TB SSD.
- Radeon RX 6850M XT Laptops:
- Lenovo Legion 7 Gen 7. 16", Ryzen 9 6900HX, 32GB RAM, AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT 16GB, 2TB SSD.
- Alienware m17 R5 Gaming Laptop. 17.3", Ryzen 9 6900HX, 64GB RAM, AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT 16GB, 1-4TB SSD.
- RTX 3080 Laptops: Note: Check if the graphics card configuration is the 8GB or 16GB model. We recommend
the 16GB model where possible for Recommended (or possibly High-End) Projects.
- ASUS G533QS-HF009T.6", 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (assume 8GB).
- ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 (G733QS-HG026T). 3", 64GB RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 8GB.
- Dell Alienware X15 (configure).6", 32GB RAM, Intel Core i9 11900H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 8GB, 4TB (2x 2TB) M.2 SSD.
- MSI GE66 Raider 10UH-016NL.6", 32GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 8GB or 16GB option - 2TB SSD.
- MSI GE76 Raider 10UH-202NL. 17.3", 32GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (16GB) - 2TB m.2 SSD.
- Gigabyte AORUS 15G YC.6", 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 8GB.
- Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 GA503QS-HQ003T. 15.6", 32GB DDR4-3200, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 8 GB.
- ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 15 G533QS-HF009T.6", 32GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 16GB, 2TB SSD.
- MSI GS66 Stealth 10UH-056NL.6", 32GB RAM/64GB RAM, 2TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 8GB or 16GB.
- RTX 3070/3070Ti Laptops:
- ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 15 G533ZW-XS96.6", Intel Core i9-12900H, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070Ti 8GB.
- MSI - Vector Gaming Laptop. 6", Intel Core i7HX, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070Ti 8GB.
- Acer - Predator Helios 300.6", Intel Core i7HX, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070Ti 8GB.
- Razer Blade 15 Gaming Laptop.6", 12th Gen Intel 14-Core i7, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070Ti8GB.
- Dell Alienware X15 (configure).6", 32GB RAM, i7 11800H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB, 1TB M.2 SSD.
- Gigabyte AERO 15 OLED XC.6", 32GB RAM, Intel Core i7-10870H, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8 GB.
- Gigabyte AERO 17 HDR XC. 17.3", 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB.
- Medion Erazer Beast X25. 17.3", 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB.
- Radeon RX 6700S/6800S Laptops:
- Legion Slim 7 Gen 7. 16", 16GB RAM, AMD Ryzen™ 7 6800H, AMD RX 6800S 8GB, 1TB M.2 SSD.
- ASUS Zephyrus 14. 14", 16GB RAM, AMD Ryzen™ 7 6800H, AMD RX 6800S 8GB, 1TB M.2 SSD.
- ROG Zephyrus G14. 14", 16GB RAM, AMD Ryzen™ 7 6900HS, AMD RX 6800S 8GB, 1TB M.2 SSD.
- RTX 2080 series Laptops:
- Laptop Razer Blade 15.6”, Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080, 1TB SSD.
- Acer Predator Triton 500.6”, Intel Core i7, 32GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080, 1TB SSD.
- Laptop Lenovo ThinkPad P15 G1.6”, Intel Core i7 10750H, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080, 512TB SSD.
High Level Options
- ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16 (2023). 16", Intel Core i9, 32GB RAM, NVIDIA RTX 4090 16GB, 2TB SSD.
- MSI Stealth 17 Studio.3", Intel Core i9, 64GB RAM, NVIDIA RTX 4090 16GB, 2TB SSD.
- AORUS 17X.3", Intel Core i9-13900HX, 32GB RAM, NVIDIA RTX 4090 8GB, 2TB SSD.
- MSI - Raider GE77 HX.3", Intel Core i9, 32GB RAM, NVIDIA RTX 3080Ti 16GB, 1TB SSD.
- Razer Blade 14/15/17. 14/15.6/17.3", Ryzen 9 6900HX, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA RTX 3080Ti 16GB, 1TB SSD.
- MSI CreatorPro Z16P. 16", Intel Core i7-12700H, 64GB RAM, NVIDIA RTX A5500 16GB, M.2 2280 2TB SSD
.
It is strongly recommended students purchase a PC, as a Mac properly configured to run many design software programs is more costly and complicated.
