Computer Requirements

In the School of Engineering Technology(SET), our undergraduates benefit from being part of a technology-enhanced learning community. All students entering the School of Engineering Technology will be required to have a PC notebook computer that meets our hardware and software requirements(Macs do not meet these requirements) .                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

System Requirements for SET student laptop computer

All SET students need a PC…Mac computers will not work

You may purchase your notebook computer from your preferred vendor or you may choose to take advantage of our negotiated packages through the University of Maine Bookstore.

*MET=Mechanical Engineering Technology, CET=Construction, Engineering Technology, SVT=Surveying Engineering Technology, EET=Electrical Engineering Technology

Operating System: Windows 11 Home, Pro, or Enterprise (64 bit)

Processor: Recent generation of x86 64 ADM or Intel CPU

Memory: 16 GB RAM (more is better)

Storage: 512 GB SSD with at least 50 GB free

Graphics: Discrete GPU with 4GB or more*

Display Resolution: 1920 x 1080 or higher

Pointer: Windows IntelliMouse Optical Mouse with wheel

Wireless Internet Connectivity

*Graphics card compatibility is very important.  Thus, integrated graphics cards are NOT recommended. 

Additional notes for MET students (Siemens NX and SolidWorks software)

MET students will use the parametric solid modeling computer-aided design software SolidWorks and the computer numerical control computer-aided machining software Siemens NX.  SolidWorks and Siemens NX are not supported on anything but a Windows system.

While some CPUs with integrated graphics maybe adequate in combination with enough system memory, they are not recommended for either SURFCAM or SolidWorks.

Siemens system requirements (external site) 

SolidWorks system requirements (external site)

UMaine Bookstore offering

Operating System: Windows 11 Home, Pro, or Enterprise (64 bit)

Processor: Intel Core i7

Memory: 16 GB RAM (more is better)

Hard Drive Space: 512 GB Solid State Drive (SSD)

Video: Integrated graphics card*

Display Resolution: 1920 x 1080

DirectX: DirectX® 12 capable graphics card with Shader Model 6

Pointer: Optical Mouse with wheel

Integrated camera or webcam (SVT, EET)

Headset with microphone (SVT, EET)

*Separate graphics card like a NVIDIA can be helpful but not required

Additional notes for SVT students (Autodesk software)

Many software products used in the AEC industry were designed and built for exclusive use in the MS Windows operating systems and NOT for MacOS (Apple).  Though in theory dual-booting Mac’s may work, and Autodesk, for example does design some software for use on Mac’s, the performance is often unstable.  It is for this reason that all CET and SVT students are required to have a PC (NOT a Mac) laptop that meets the minimum configurations for the software utilized in their programs. 

It’s best to check compatibility with the Autodesk Certified Hardware tool.  (you can type in the link or search the bold text)

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/syscert?siteID=123112&id=18844534

You can check complete systems and graphics cards.  The most important part is the graphics card.

Search based on the above Autodesk software for your program.

Additional notes for EET students (Multisim)

Multisim will be required during the program.  This has a student version that may be purchased online.  They will operate on systems meeting the bare minimum system Requirements. Some software used in EET is not compatible with Mac systems.

This is NOT the recommended configuration as it will be very slow and frustrating for some core classes.  

Operating System: Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise (64 Bit)

Processor: Quad Core, Intel 4th Gen (Haswell) Core i5

Memory: 16 GB RAM 

Hard Drive Space: 256 GB with at least 8 GB Free

Video: Integrated graphics card

Display Resolution: 1920 x 1080 or higher

DirectX: DirectX® 12 capable graphics card with Shader Model 6

Pointer: Windows IntelliMouse Optical Mouse with wheel

Communications Ports: USB 2.0 or 3.0

Wireless 802.11 a/g/n dual band (802.11ac if available)

Integrated camera or webcam

Headset with microphone