Computer Policy

Mechanical Engineering students are required to have a Microsoft Windows personal laptop computer that is powerful enough to support the demanding video and computational requirements necessary for coursework. The laptop should be capable of running SolidWorks.

Minimum System Requirements:

  • Operating System: Windows 10 (64-bit)
  • Processor: 3.3 GHz or higher
  • Memory: 16 GB RAM
  • Hard Drive: 256 GB Capacity
  • Graphics: Must work reliably with SolidWorks models and assemblies (see below)
  • Mouse: 3-button mouse with scroll wheel
  • Communication: Wireless Ethernet (WLAN)

 Recommended System Requirements:

  • Operating System: Windows 11 (64-bit)
  • Processor: 10th Generation (or newer) Intel Core i7
  • Memory: minimum 16 GB
  • Hard Drive: minimum 500 GB capacity, solid state drive (SSD)
  • Graphics: 4GB or more NVIDIA Quadro / RTX or AMD Radeon Pro dedicated graphics card
  • Mouse: 3-button mouse with scroll wheel
  • Warranty: 3 Year onsite with accidental damage coverage
  • Communication: Wireless Ethernet (WLAN)

Notes for SolidWorks software

Most GeForce, Radeon (non-pro) and integrated graphics cards are not “Certified” for SolidWorks use, but have often been used without problems for part and assembly modeling.  If a non-certified graphics card is to be used, it is highly recommended that a newer computer with a newer high-end (i5 or i7) processor be used.

System Requirements for various software used in Mechanical Engineering

The above software is provided by the University, except for Mathcad Express, which is available for free from PTC.

The following Mobile Workstation meets the above recommendations and can be purchased through the Tech Center located inside the UMaine Bookstore. (Note: A mouse is not included with the computer)

Dell Precision 3581 (Available for Fall 2023, qualifies for a $150 mail in rebate)

  • Intel Core i7-13800H Processor
  • 16 GB Memory
  • 512 GB Solid State Drive
  • NVIDIA RTX A500, 4GB GDDR6 Graphics Card
  • 15.6” FHD 1920 x 1080, non-touch, RGB FHD Camera
  • Windows 11 Pro
  • 3 Year Warranty w/Accidental Damage Coverage

Questions? Please contact the Tech Center at 207-581-2580 for more information or guidance in choosing the right computer for your engineering studies.

Calculator

The Mechanical Engineering department requires students to own a calculator and recommends the TI-89 model from Texas Instruments.