Computers

Computers

The College of ACES operates on a 5 year device lifecycle. While they may be slightly over-spec’d for current usage, we build these devices to be usable 5 years from now without any noticeable degradation in functionality.

Our standard recommendation is Dell machines and monitors. We have found their build quality to be very good, and their service and support times to be exceptional. We currently recommend Intel i7 processors, 32 GB of memory, and 1 TB of storage for most users. Our computers are purchased with a 5 year extended warranty coverage (and 5 years of accidental damage for laptops) to ensure that we can get the most out of these devices over the course of their lifespan.

Lenovo and Apple devices are also available upon request. Due to the broad number of options for Macs, we recommend visiting the store on Apple’s website, building a machine and sending us the specs you would like (final purchases will be made through CDW-G or Tech Zone). Our general starting points are the MacBook Pro for laptops and the iMac or Mac Studio for desktops. If you are not sure what would make the most sense for the type of work you are doing, we are happy to offer our suggestions, as well.

The Dell Latitude in either the 5400 or 7400 series (a list of benefits for each device can be found below) can best handle the work of most university employees. These laptops have a 14″ screen (also available in 13″ and 15-16”) in either touch or non-touch.

Other Dell models, like the XPS and Precision are available upon request. They are not included on this list because we have found the XPS to be more fragile than the Latitude, and the price point, power consumption and size of the Precision leads us to recommend a desktop in their place.

Dell Latitude 5450

Recommended for statistical computing and general office use. Dimensions: D: 8.35″; W: 12.65″; H: 0.75″ (Front), 0.83″ (Rear); Starting weight: 3.09 lb.

Recommended specs | Current price*: $1,833

  • Intel Core Ultra 7 165H, vPro (24 MB cache, 16 cores, 22 threads, up to 5.0 GHz Turbo)
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050 (4 GB GDDR6) graphics (optional)
  • 32 GB: 2 x 16 GB, DDR5, 5600 MT/s
  • 1 TB, M.2 2230
  • 14.0″, FHD 1920×1080, 60Hz, IPS, Touch, AG, 300 nit, 72% NTSC, FHD+IR/IP Cam

Benefits

  • Upgradable memory and storage, so it can be ordered with lower specs and improved later.
  • Can be purchased with a discrete graphics card.

Drawbacks

  • Lower resolution screen compared to the 7400 series.
  • Slightly thicker and heavier than the 7400 series.

Dell Latitude 7450

Recommended for instruction and general office use.

Ultralight dimensions: D: 8.67″; W: 12.32″; H: 0.68″ (Front), 0.71″ (Rear); Starting weight: 2.33 lb.

Aluminum dimensions: D: 8.77″; W: 12.32″; H: 0.67″ (Front), 0.72″ (Rear); Starting weight: 2.93 lb.

Aluminum 2-in-1 dimensions: D: 8.77″; W: 12.32″; H: 0.67″ (Front), 0.72″ (Rear); Starting weight: 3.37 lb.

Recommended specs | Current price*: $2,423

  • Intel Core Ultra 7 165U, vPro (12 MB cache, 12 cores, 14 threads, up to 4.9 GHz Turbo)
  • 64 GB: LPDDR5x, 6400 MT/s (soldered)
  • 1 TB, M.2 2230
  • 14.0″ QHD+ (2560×1600) monitor, IPS, AG Touch, ComfView+, 400 nit, 5MP IR Cam

Benefits

  • Thinner and lighter profile compared to the 5400.
  • Available in several variations: aluminum shell, ultralight, and 2-in-1 convertible.

Drawbacks

  • RAM is soldered, so what you order is what you have for the life of the device.

For general use cases, we recommend the Dell Optiplex Small Form Factor Plus. This provides the best middle-ground of price and upgradability. For higher end individual use, we recommend the Precision 3460: it provides the same small form factor as the Optiplex with added drive expandability, ECC RAM options and higher end graphics card options. Larger cases are available with further expandability.

Dell OptiPlex Small Form Factor Plus

Recommended for statistical computing and general office use.

Recommended specs | Current price*: $1,763

  • Intel Core i7 14700 vPro (33 MB cache, 20 cores, 28 threads, up to 5.4 GHz Turbo)
  • AMD Radeon RX 6500 4GB GDDR6,Half Height,2xDP (optional)
  • 32 GB: 2 x 16 GB, DDR5
  • 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe Class 40

Component options

  • i7 or i9 processors.
  • Three storage slots available.
  • Upgradable to 128 GB or memory.
  • AMD Radeon RX graphics card available with 2GB or 4GB of memory.
Dell Precision 3460 Small Form Factor Plus

Recommended for statistical computing, digital design and other graphics intensive applications.

Recommended specs | Current price*: $2,562

  • Intel Core i7 14700 vPro (33 MB cache, 20 cores, 28 threads, up to 5.4 GHz Turbo, 65 W)
  • NVIDIA® RTX™ A2000, 12 GB GDDR6, 4 mDP (optional)
  • 32 GB: 2 x 16 GB, DDR5, 5600MT/s, non-ECC
  • 1 TB, M.2, Gen 4

Similar options to the Optiplex with these added benefits:

  • Error correcting memory available as an option.
  • Four storage slots available.
  • A deeper list of graphics card options.

Hardware

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* Prices as of December 2024. May vary based on date of purchase.