We would always recommend that you speak with someone (for example, one of the IT staff) before making any decisions about buying a computer, but just to give you a general idea of what you might need and what price you might expect to pay, we've put together some sample computers for you.
The low-end machine will be suitable for the majority of student work.
Low-end computers generally cost under $400.
Medium-range generally cost $400-$1000.
High-end laptops can cost up to $3500, depending on your requirements.
Remember that Barnes and Noble at UAB has substantial student discounts on software. Always check there first! There are also excellent free programs for anti-virus software, word-processing, spreadsheets, graphics and many others.
Never install a program for which you do not have a licence.
Low end: a machine that is going to be used primarily for
internet access, email, and writing papers
| CPU (processor) |
Dual core processor |
| RAM (memory) |
2GB to 4GB |
| Hard disk |
160GB to 320 GB |
| Optical (CD/DVD) drive |
Most laptops come with a DVD Super Multi drive |
| Screen |
14" or above |
| Graphics card |
Will be built-in to motherboard; fine for the above purposes and some light gaming, will not run high intensity games |
| Operating system (OS) |
Windows 7 Home edition 32-bit; no Office products |
| Internet access |
Wi-fi card included |
Example:
HP 625
AMD Athlon II Dual-Core P340 CPU, wireless network card; 15.3" screen;
3GB RAM; 320GB hard disk; DVD Super Multi; Windows 7 Home.
$399 from Newegg
Medium: use as above, along with some light gaming and
maybe some graphic design
| CPU (processor) |
Likely to be multi-core |
| RAM (memory) |
2GB to 6GB |
| Hard disk |
320GB to 750GB |
| Optical (CD/DVD) drive |
Most laptops come with a DVD Super Multi drive |
| Screen |
14" or more but with higher resolution |
| Graphics card |
May be separate instead of built-in to motherboard, giving superior performance for more demanding applications (CAD) or gaming |
| Operating system (OS) |
Windows 7 Home premium 64-bit; no Office products |
| Internet access |
Wi-fi card included |
Example:
ASUS K42 Series
Intel HM55 processor, wireless network card;
AMD Radeon HD 6470M graphics card; 14" screen;
4GB RAM; 500GB hard disk, DVD Super Multi
$760 from Newegg
High end: desktop replacement laptop
used for demanding purposes like CAD/CAM,
heavy graphics rendering, playing serious games
The sky's the limit on these. Lightweight, slim desktop replacements, you can do anything with a high-end laptop.
| CPU (processor) |
Intel Core i5 or i7 |
| RAM (memory) |
More than 6GB |
| Hard disk |
320GB+ traditional hard drive, or smaller solid state drive |
| Optical (CD/DVD) drive |
DVD Super Multi |
| Screen |
15.4" wide-screen, or smaller with very high resolution |
| Graphics |
Separate from motherboard with dedicated RAM |
| Operating system (OS) |
Windows 7 Professional edition; no Office products |
| Internet access |
Wi-fi card included |
Example:
Toshiba Tecra A9-S9017
Intel Core i7-620M 2.66GHz processor, wireless network card;
Intel HD Graphics graphics card; 13.3" widescreen;
4GB RAM, 128GB solid state hard disk, Super Multi DVD drive
$1500 from Tiger Direct
Example:
HP EliteBook 8740w
Intel Core i7-620M 2.66GHz processor, wireless network card;
Intel HD Graphics graphics card; 17" widescreen;
4GB RAM, 320GB hard disk, Super Multi DVD drive
$3340 from Newegg
Both the sites referenced above have a factory outlet/overstock area where you can often find reconditioned high-end machines at up to 50% off the retail price - these often still have the full warranty, so it's always worth checking. You can also try the Dell factory outlet.
Prices from April 2011. These are given as an indication only and, as internet sales, do not include sales tax.