Desktop Recommendations: 2008-2012 Four Year Specification Overview
2008-2009 Desktop Recommendations
| Recommended Minimum Configurations for New Desktop Systems |
|---|
| |
Windows |
Mac OS |
| Hardware |
Processor |
Core 2 Duo E8200 (2.66 GHz)
or Athlon 64 X2 5200+ (2.6 GHz) |
Core 2 Duo (2.66 GHz) |
|---|
| Memory (RAM) |
2.0 GB |
2.0 GB |
|---|
| Hard Disk |
160 GB |
160 GB |
|---|
| Display & Graphics |
19-inch LCD
256 MB discrete video card |
20-inch LCD
256 MB discrete video card |
|---|
| Sound |
Built-in audio & speaker |
Built-in audio & speaker |
|---|
| Miscellaneous |
DVD±R/CD-RW drive |
DVD±R/CD-RW drive |
|---|
Network
Connection |
10/100/1000BaseT Ethernet |
10/100/1000BaseT Ethernet |
|---|
| Operating System |
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 |
Mac OS 10.5.x |
|---|
| Support Period |
Until July, 2012 |
Until July, 2012 |
|---|
| Estimated Price (7/2008) |
$1,050 to $1,150 |
$1,400 |
|---|
2009-2010 Desktop Recommendations
| Recommended Minimum Configurations for New Desktop Systems |
|---|
| |
Windows |
Mac OS |
| Hardware |
Processor |
Core 2 Duo E7400 (2.8 GHz)
(Core 2 Quad optional)
or Athlon 64 X2 5600+ (2.9 GHz) |
Core 2 Duo (2.66 GHz) |
|---|
| Memory (RAM) |
3.0 or 4.0 GB |
3.0 or 4.0 GB |
|---|
| Hard Disk |
250 GB |
250 GB |
|---|
| Display & Graphics |
19-inch LCD
256 MB discrete video card |
20-inch LCD
NVIDIA integrated graphics
or discrete video card |
|---|
| Sound |
Built-in audio & speaker |
Built-in audio & speaker |
|---|
| Miscellaneous |
DVD±R/CD-RW drive
80% efficient power supply |
DVD±R/CD-RW drive
80% efficient power supply |
|---|
Network
Connection |
10/100/1000BaseT Ethernet |
10/100/1000BaseT Ethernet |
|---|
| Operating System |
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 |
Mac OS 10.5.x |
|---|
| Support Period |
Until July, 2013 |
Until July, 2013 |
|---|
| Estimated Price (7/2009) |
$900 to $1,300 |
$1,250 to $1,700 |
|---|
2010-2011 Desktop Recommendations
| Recommended Minimum Configurations for New Desktop Systems |
|---|
| |
Windows |
Mac OS |
| Hardware |
Processor |
Core 2 Duo (any)
or Core i5 (any)
or Core i7 (any)
or Athlon X2 (any) |
Core 2 Duo (any)
or Core i5 (any)
or Core i7 (any) |
|---|
| Memory (RAM) |
4.0 GB |
4.0 GB |
|---|
| Hard Disk |
250 GB |
250 GB |
|---|
| Display & Graphics |
19-inch LCD
discrete video card |
21-inch LCD
NVIDIA integrated graphics
or discrete video card |
|---|
| Sound |
Built-in audio & speaker |
Built-in audio & speakers |
|---|
| Miscellaneous |
DVD±R/CD-RW drive
80% efficient power supply
iAMT |
DVD±R/CD-RW drive
80% efficient power supply |
|---|
Network
Connection |
10/100/1000BaseT Ethernet |
10/100/1000BaseT Ethernet |
|---|
| Recommended Operating System |
Windows 7 |
Mac OS 10.6.x |
|---|
| Support Period |
Until July, 2014 |
Until July, 2014 |
|---|
| Estimated Price (7/2010) |
$1,100 to $1,350 |
$1,150 to $2,100 |
|---|
2011-2012 Desktop Recommendations
| Recommended Minimum Configurations for New Desktop Systems |
|---|
| |
Windows |
Mac OS |
| Hardware |
Processor |
Intel Core i5 (any)
or Intel Core i7 (any)
or AMD Phenom II (any) |
Intel Core i5 (any)
or Intel Core i7 (any) |
|---|
| Memory (RAM) |
4.0 GB |
4.0 GB |
|---|
| Hard Disk |
320 GB |
320 GB |
|---|
| Display & Graphics |
19-inch or 20-inch LCD
discrete video card |
21.5-inch LCD
discrete video card |
|---|
| Sound |
Built-in audio & speaker |
Built-in audio & speakers |
|---|
| Miscellaneous |
DVD±R/CD-RW drive
80% efficient power supply
hardware-based systems management technology |
DVD±R/CD-RW drive
80% efficient power supply |
|---|
Network
Connection |
10/100/1000BaseT Ethernet |
10/100/1000BaseT Ethernet |
|---|
| Recommended Operating System |
Windows 7 SP1 |
Mac OS 10.6.x |
|---|
| Support Period |
Until July, 2015 |
Until July, 2015 |
|---|
| Estimated Price (7/2011) |
$1,150 to $1,550 |
$1,600 to $2,100 |
|---|
|
