Hardware/Software Specifications for Interior Architecture & Design
These hardware and software specifications apply only to the 2022-2023 academic year. Updated specifications are posted during the summer for the next academic year.
Students MUST purchase a Windows laptop for Interior Architecture & Design
DO NOT purchase an Apple MacBook for Interior Architecture & Design
Apple MacBook’s cannot run the software required for Interior Architecture & Design
LRU Recommended Laptops
List of Laptops
View/purchase recommended Dell system
https://www.dell.com/LaRoche (Under “Interior Design Students”, click on the blue button labeled "View Recommended Solutions”)
- NOTE: If you do not see the Blue “View Recommended Solutions” button listed you may need to clear your cache.
- Alternatively, you may enter the direct hyperlink shown below
- Both the recommended 15-inch and 17-inch Alienware models have high end graphics and are customizable during purchase. For example, you can upgrade to 32 GB of memory when placing the order.
If you decide to purchase a non LRU recommended laptop you should follow the guidelines posted below.
Operating System
- Operating systems requirements:
- 64-bit Microsoft Windows® 10 or 11
CPU Type
High-end multi-Core recommended i7 or i9 intel processors
- 3.4 GHz minimum, the faster the better
- Examples of compatible CPUs:
- AMD Ryzen 9 6900H
- Intel Core i7-12700H 14-Core 12th generation CPU (this is installed on all of our recommended Alienware)
- Memory Requirements
- 16 GB RAM minimum (32 GB recommended)
- Note: The recommended Alienware laptop can be upgraded to 32 GB)
Video Requirement
- Screen resolution 1920x1080
- Minimum 12,000 PassMarks points with 6 GB memory
- Recommended 14,000 PassMarks points with 8 GB memory
- We strongly recommend a video card with PassMarks ratings of 14,000 or higher.
- Click here to see the PassMarks rating list for video Cards.
- Examples of laptop versions of cards with a 14,000 PassMarks rating:
- Nvidia GeForce 3070 Ti mobile (23548 PassMarks)
- This card is installed in our recommended Alienware PCs
- Nvidia GeForce 3080 Ti mobile (27160 PassMarks)
- Examples of cards with a rating of over 12,000 PassMarks
- GeForce RTX 3070 mobile 15245 PassMarks.
- GeForce RTX 3060 mobile 16576 PassMarks.
- Other Requirements/Recommendations
- 1TB SSD M2 MVMe hard drive
- Note: All of our recommended Alienware 1TB M2 MVMe SSD hard drives. The Alienware models can be ordered with larger drives if desired.
- Wireless Ethernet - 802.11 b/g/n, 801.11 ac, or 801.11 ax
- Ethernet connection
- 3-button Optical Wheeled Scroll Mouse. Must have!
- Microsoft Office 365 (Available to students at no charge. An email is sent to eligible students at their La Roche University email address with information for downloading the software.)
- Antivirus software as approved by La Roche (must be kept up-to-date)
- Complete list of approved anti-virus software.
- Carrying case (recommended)
- Extended Warranty add on (Highly recommended)
Software Acquisition
Your professor will instruct you in downloading necessary software.