Visuals communicate ideas to clients, engineers, the public and other designers. Students also have access to SAPL lab computers if you need more power than your laptop can handle. You should also research the software you'll be using in your program to make sure your laptop meets specific needs. Windows supports more required design software but can be vulnerable to more viruses than a Mac. If you choose to use a Mac, consider Bootcamp and ample disk space. Windows vs Mac: Both Macs and PCs are used by our students.Back-up storage: UCalgary provides 1TB of cloud storage through OneDrive for all students, external hard drive is another option.HDMI capability/connectivity for presentations.Graphics/Video Card: A You may be using hardcore graphic software such as ArcGIS, Rhino, 3DS Max, ArchiCAD, Revit, Vectorworks or other 3D modelling platforms, all of which require a formidable graphics card, and you'll want your programs to run smoothly. We've found NVIDIA GeForce RTX or GTX, 6GB VRAM, or equivalent, to be suitable.Display: minimum Full HD (1920 x 1080). FHD (full high definition) resolution should be sufficient, but higher resolutions such as UHD (ultra high definition), 4K or 5K prepare you for the future.Second screen/external monitor: While not mandatory, incoming students should highly consider a second monitor, especially for virtual classes.Storage: 500 GB or higher capacity solid state drive (SSD).This is ideal because a DIY upgrade is relatively inexpensive. Buying a laptop that comes with 32GB will be significantly more expensive, but some models have accessible slots that you can upgrade yourself. Memory: minimum 32 GB DDR4 RAM, upgradable is good if possible (and 64GB is ideal).Memory Express is a good local resource for gaming laptops. They are also likely to out-perform any ultra-book (thin/light-weight laptops), which can overheat and run slowly even if they have good hardware. So, when shopping for a laptop, gaming laptops are usually the best value. To facilitate your development of digital skills, and to ensure you receive the best possible design education, SAPL requires all students enrolled in professional master’s programs to have a laptop. This can make the different between waiting 20 minutes and hours to do a simple render. You'll need to power drafting software, large renders, GIS map files, and if you have more than one program open at a time along with a multi-tab browser (this is very typical), investing in the right computer is essential. Most of your work will require drawing, rendering and creative software, and not just any computer will do. For design students, a good quality, powerful laptop is a must.

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