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Standard Specifications

Standard Hardware Specifications

Minimum requirements for devices connecting to the NUI Galway campus network

Only Enterprise, Professional or Business versions of the Windows Operating System can be connected to the NUI Galway Campus Network. If you have a device running Home Basic or Home Premium you can connect to the Wireless Network.

The specifications listed below are for PC and Apple Macintosh systems. The specifications are separated into recommended specification for a new computer and the acceptable minimum that can be supported by Information Solutions and Services.

Support for Windows XP and Office 2003 ends on the 8th of April, 2014. Before this date, ISS requires PCs and Laptops running Windows XP to be upgraded to the Windows 7 standard build. These computers must meet the minumum hardware specifications listed below.

To reimage your PC/Laptop to the standard build, you can log a ticket using the Service Desk ticketing system. A facility is available for staff to reimage their own machine via DVD. These DVDs and instructions are available at the Library and ISS helpdesk. N.B. The process of reimaging involves deleting all data on the hard drive. Ensure all personal data is full backed before reimaging your computer.

 Windows 10 Support

Windows 10 was released by Microsoft on July 29th 2015

A number of academic and administrative software programmes in use in the University and device drivers are not compatible with Windows 10, and therefore Windows 10 is not currently supported by ISS for use on managed University owned PCs and laptops on the NUI Galway network.

ISS will continue to test all core applications with regards to their compatibility with Windows 10 before we can recommend its use and provide support.

Windows 7 will remain the default Operating System for University PCs for the foreseeable future.

With respect to personally-owned computers, Microsoft are heavily encouraging and promoting upgrade to Windows 10. However, our recommendation is not to upgrade to Windows 10 at this time.

Please see ISS Statement of Support for Computers Purchased Outside of the NUI Galway Central Procurement Contract

 

Note: Information about buying new computer equipment is available online.

 

PC Desktop Specifications 
 Item   Recommended Specification for New Computer  Minimum Acceptable Specification
 Processor  3 GHz Intel Dual Core  Intel Dual Core 
 Memory  8 GB  4 GB
 Hard Drive  320 GB  160 GB
 Media Drive  16x DVD+ /- RW Drive  DVD ROM CD RW
 Monitor  19" Flat LCD  17" Flat LCD
 Operating System  Windows 7 Enterprise  Windows 7 (Not Home Edition)
 Network Interface  10/100/1000 MB Ethernet Card  10/100 MB Ethernet Card
 Warranty  5 year next business day on site warranty  -

 

 

PC Laptop Specifications
 Item  Recommended Specification for New Computer  Minimum Acceptable Specification
 Processor  2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo   1.62 GHz Intel Core
 Memory  8 GB  4 GB
 Hard Drive  320 GB  160 GB
 Monitor  19" Flat LCD  15" Flat LCD
 Media Drive

DVD+/- RW

  CD RW
 Operating System  Windows 7 Enterprise  Windows 7 (Not Home Edition)
 Network Interface  10/100 MB Ethernet Card  10/100 MB Ethernet Card
 Wireless Network Interface

802.11 a/g/n Wireless Card

  802.11 b/g Wireless Card
 Warranty  5 year next business day on site warranty  -

 

Apple Desktop Specifications  

Item

  Recommended Specification for New Computer Minimum Acceptable Specification 
 Processor  2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo  2 GHz Intel Core Duo
 Memory  4 GB  2 GB
 Hard Drive  320GB  160 GB
 Monitor  19" Flat LCD Panel   17" LCD Panel
 Media Drive  8x Double-Layer  SuperDrive DVD /- RW
CD RW
 Operating System  Mac OS 10.9  Mac OS X v10.6
 Network Interface  10/100 MB Ethernet Card  10/100 MB Ethernet Card
 Warranty  3 year warranty  -

 

Apple Laptop Specifications

Item Recommended Specification for New Computer Minimum Acceptable Specification
Processor 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo
Memory 4 GB  2 GB
Hard Drive 250 GB 160 GB
Media Drive 8x double-layer SuperDrive Super Drive
Operating System Mac OS 10.6 Mac OS X v10.5.8
Network Interface 10/100 MB Ethernet Card 10/100 MB Ethernet Card
Wireless Network Interface 802.11 b/g/n Wireless Card 802.11 b/g Wireless Card
Warranty 3 year warranty -