Based on ongoing research and testing, the college is updating the minimum Desktop and Laptop Standards that are recommended by the IT Department for future support of Windows Vista.

	EPCC IT  Minimum Recommendations (New PCs Designed for Windows Vista)	EPCC IT  Minimum Recommendations (Existing PCs Designed for Windows XP)	Microsoft Minimum Requirements(Windows Vista Capable) Will boot to OS only, not sufficient to run applications *	Previous Recommended Minimal Hardware Specifications
	Administrative, Academic and Instructional	Administrative, Academic and Instructional	Administrative, Academic and Instructional	Administrative, Academic and Instructional
	Desktop	Desktop	Desktop	Desktop
Processor (CPU)	Intel 2 Core Duo 2.4 GHz or AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual-Core 2.4 or Intel Single Core 3.2 GHz processor	Minimum 3.2 GHz Processor	Modern Processor at least 800Mhz.	Intel 3.2 GHz processor (or faster)
System Memory	Minimum 2 GB RAM	Minimum 1 GB RAM	512MB RAM	1 Gigabyte RAM
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)	Windows Aero Capable DirectX 9-class GPU that supports: • A WDDM Driver • Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware • 32 bits per pixel	DirectX 9 Capable (WDDM Driver Support recommended)	DirectX 9 Capable (WDDM Driver Support recommended)
Graphics Memory	256 MB	128 MB
Hard Drive	160 GB Hard Drive with 15 GB free space	120 GB Hard Drive with 15 GB free space	20 GB Hard Drive with 15 GB free space	120 GB SATA Hard Drive
Optical Drive	DVD-RW/CD Combo Drive	DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive	DVD ROM Drive	DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive
Floppy Drive	None	3.5" 1.44 MB Floppy Drive		3.5" 1.44 MB Floppy Drive
Sound Card	Direct X compatible sound card with front panel connections	SoundBlaster Audigy II compatible sound card with front panel connections		SoundBlaster Audigy II compatible sound card with front panel connections
Network Card	10/100/1000 NIC Card	10/100/1000 NIC Card		10/100/1000 NIC Card
PCI Slots	3 PCI Slots and 1 PCI Express Slot	3 PCI Slots and 1 PCI Express Slot		3 PCI Slots and 1 PCI Express Slot
Miscellaneous Ports	PS2/Serial Parallel/USB Ports (2/2/1/6) (At least 2 USB ports must be accessible on the front of the cabinet)	PS2/Serial Parallel/USB Ports (2/2/1/2) (USB ports must be accessible on the front of the cabinet)		PS2/Serial Parallel/USB Ports (2/2/1/2) (USB ports must be accessible on the front of the cabinet)
Keyboard and Mouse	104+ Keyboard and Optical Mouse	104+ Keyboard and Mouse		104+ Keyboard and Mouse
Monitor	17" LCD	17" LCD		17" LCD
Warranty	3 year on site support parts & labor			3 year on site support parts & labor
Software	Windows XP Professional with SP2 installed	Windows XP Professional with SP2 installed		Windows XP Professional with SP2 installed
	Laptop	Laptop	Laptop	Laptop
Processor (CPU)	Intel® Core™ 2 Duo 2.0 GHz or AMD Turion™ 64 X2 Dual-Core 2.0 GHz	Pentium IV or Mobile Pentium IV Processor, 1.8 GHz		Pentium IV or Mobile Pentium IV Processor, 1.8 GHz
System Memory	Minimum 2 GB RAM	Minimum 1 GB RAM		512 MB
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)	Windows Aero Capable DirectX 9-class GPU that supports: • A WDDM Driver • Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware • 32 bits per pixel	DirectX 9 Capable (WDDM Driver Support recommended)
Graphics Memory	256 MB	128 MB
Hard Drive	80GB 7200RPM SATA with 15 GB free space	80GB with 15 GB free space
Optical Drive	DVD-RW/CD Combo Drive	CD-RW/DVD		CD-RW/DVD
Floppy Drive	None			3.5" 1.44 MB
Sound Card	Integrated Direct X compatible sound card with front panel connections
Network Card	10/100 NIC Card, Integrated Wireless Card and Modem	Integrated Wireless Card and Modem		Integrated Wireless Card and Modem
Expansion Slots	1 expansion slot open	1 expansion slot open		1 expansion slot open
Miscellaneous Ports	Four USB 2.0	USB 2.0		USB 2.0
Display	14" SXGA+ Display	14" SXGA+ Display		14" SXGA+ Display
Warranty	3 year on site support parts & labor	3 year on site support parts & labor		3 year on site support parts & labor
Software	Windows XP Professional with SP2 installed	Windows XP Professional with SP2 installed		Windows XP Professional with SP2 installed

* Industry recommendations and the IT Department advise that new computer purchases should exceed the minimum Microsoft recommendations because experience shows that acceptable performance typically requires hardware that exceeds Microsoft’s minimum specifications.