Hardware & Software Requirements
Hardware Requirements
Laptop Requirements
A big question that always comes up is what kind of hardware is required in the Computer Animation and Game Development Department. The ECC has their own set of requirements that you can see on the ECC Required Student Laptop page(opens in new window), but for CAGD majors, we recommend a little bit higher specifications for the programs that we teach our students. We hope that find some information here to gauge what kind of system that you are looking for.
Component | Recommendation |
| CPU (no Celeron) | Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 |
| RAM | 32Gb |
| Hard Disk | 2Tb or higher SSD |
| Display | 15.6" - 17" |
| Video RAM | NVIDIA GeForce RTX |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Accessories | 3-button Mouse (Left, Right, and Scroll) |
One of the big programs that our students utilize is Autodesk Maya. Autodesk has also put together laptop specifications for running Maya(opens in new window) on a computer system. Additionally, Unreal Engine work files will quickly take up disk space.
We recommend Acer, ASUS, and MSi laptops to meet these requirements and do not recommend Alienware laptops at this time.
*When purchasing a laptop, ensure that is does not run on a Snapdragon processor.
**Another thing to note is that we recommend purchasing a laptop, as a lot of the projects in CAGD classes are group projects. With a laptop, our students can easily meet up with groupmates and work on projects together in a collaborative space.
Drawing Tablet Requirements
A drawing tablet is required for all CAGD students in the Animation and CGI pathways. If you are working specifically from your own workstation or laptop, any kind of drawing tablet that you would like to use will work for the curriculum. However, only the Wacom Intuos and Intuos Pro will work in lab computers.
We recommend buying a Wacom Intuos or Intuos Pro Tablet as those will work not only with your personal workstation but also with the workstations that we have available in the CAGD Labs. Wacom Intuos Tablets can be purchased through Amazon(opens in new window) or through the Wacom Website(opens in new window). Our recommended model is the Wacom Intuos Pro Medium.
Software Requirements
Not all of the following are required for download/purchase, but the following are the majority of the programs that we use for CAGD classes. Most software is free and if it is not, it is also available in the CAGD Labs for students to use. Also keep in mind that not all of the software is used for all CAGD courses.
**Talk to your professors to see what software you will need for your classes.
