Recommended PCs

The PC configurations listed below are recommended by SCS Facilities. There are four main categories:

Laptops
Desktops
Servers
Macintosh

Unless otherwise noted, they have been tested and are known to work as dual-boot Windows XP/Linux machines. If you decide to purchase a PC not on the recommended list and need to run Linux, please check with purchasing (purchase@cs.cmu.edu ) to make sure that your computer hardware is compatible with a version of Linux that is supported by SCS Facilities (Fedora Core 3 is the most recent supported version). Purchasing a non-recommended PC has several disadvantages over purchasing a recommended PC:

Non-recommended PC's will take longer to install and may have significantly longer turnaround on repairs than recommended PC's.
Non-recommended PC's will have higher support charges because of the additional cost of supporting non-standard hardware and drivers.

Facilities will support recommended PC's for at least 3 years after the date at which they are recommended (note: this is not the purchase date). This support includes software installs, hardware repairs, and upgrades to the latest versions of Facilities-supported operating systems available for that hardware.

Some flexibility is possible with respect to memory and disk configurations. To order a machine, please send mail to purchase@cs.cmu.edu. All Prices are subject to change.

For a complete list of Dell Equipment, please go to our personal Dell Web Page (off-site link, will open in a new window).

Variations on the basic configuration are available, and Facilities will accommodate special needs. Send questions to purchase@cs.cmu.edu.

Recommended laptops

Latitude D430

Intel Core 2 Duo ULV U7600 (1.20GHz 533Mhz)
Operating Systems: Genuine Windows XP Professional, SP2, with media
LCDs: 12.1 inch Wide Screen WXGA+ LCD Panel
24x CD-RW/DVD combo drive
Memory: 2.0GB, DDR2-667 SDRAM, 2 DIMM
Internal Keyboard: Internal English Keyboard
Graphics: Intel Integrated Graphic Media Accelerator
Hard Drive: 100GB Hard Drive, 8MM, 4200RPM
D-Bay w/8X DVD+/-RW w/Roxio and Cyberlink PowerDVD
Touchpad Options: Standard Touchpad
AC Adapter: 90W A/C Adapter
Wireless LAN (802.11): Intel 4965 802.11a/g/n Dual-Band Mini Card
Resource CD: No Resource CD
Batteries: 6 Cell Primary Battery
Dell Classic Nylon carrying Case
Updated February 6, 2008
Price: $1,580.00

Note: Linux and dual-boot support is available for the D620 with the following restrictions:

There is sufficient disk space for the Linux partition (20 GB for FC3 and 30 GB for FC5). Those figures include only a minimal amount of User space (1 GB).
Certain features available under Windows will not be available under Linux (e.g. sleep mode, power save mode).

Latitude D630

Intel Core 2 Duo T7700 (2.40GHz)4M L2 Cache, 800Mhz Dual Core
Operating Systems: Genuine Windows XP Professional, SP2, with media
LCDs: 14.1 inch Wide Screen WXGA+ LCD Panel
24x CD-RW/DVD combo drive
Memory: 2.0GB, DDR2-667 SDRAM, 2 DIMM
Internal Keyboard: Internal English Keyboard
Graphics: Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
Hard Drive: 160GB Hard Drive, 9.5MM, 7200RPM
24X CD-RW/DVD w/Cyberlink PowerDVDTouchpad Options: Standard Touchpad
AC Adapter: 90W A/C Adapter
Wireless LAN (802.11): Intel 4965 802.11a/g/n Dual-Band Mini Card
Resource CD: No Resource CD
Batteries: 6 Cell Primary Battery
4 Year Warranty
Updated April 15, 2008
Price: $1,399.00
Note: Linux and dual-boot support is available for the D630 with the following restrictions:

The machine is equipped with an Intel wireless card.
There is sufficient disk space for the Linux partition (20 GB for FC3 and 30 GB for FC5). Those figures include only a minimal amount of User space (1 GB).
Certain features available under Windows will not be available under Linux (e.g. sleep mode, power save mode).

Lenovo ThinkPad T61

Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2 GHz
2.0 GB PC2-5300 RAM
100 GB HD (7200 rpm)
Multi-Burner DL CD-RW/DVD+RW
14.1" WXGA TFT Display 1440x900 resolution
Nvidia Quadro NVS Graphics
128 MB Video RAM
Integrated Intel 802.11 a/b/g/n Wireless Mini PC Card
Bluetooth
Fingerprint Reader Security
Gigabit Ethernet
56K Modem
7-cell Li-Ion Battery (up to 7 hours)
3 USB 2.0, DB-15, Type II, PCMCIA, Infrared
3-yr. Limited Warranty
3-yr. Accidental Damage Warranty
Weight: 5.5 lbs.
Updated March 19, 2008
Price: $1,616.00 from the CMU Computer Store

Note: Linux wireless support for this laptop on Fedora 7 only.

For more information about the IBM ThinkPad T61 please refer to the CMU Computer Store website at http://www.cmu.edu/computing/store

Lenovo ThinkPad T61 (101099)

Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2 GHz
2.0 GB PC2-5300 RAM
100 GB HD (7200 rpm)
Multi-Burner DL, CD-RW/DVD+RW
15.4" WSXGA TFT Display 1680x1050 resolution
Nvidia Quadro NVS Graphics
128 MB Video RAM
Integrated Intel 802.11 a/b/g/n Wireless Mini PC Card
Bluetooth
Fingerprint Reader Security
Gigabit Ethernet
56K Modem
9-cell Li-Ion Battery (up to 7 hours)
3 USB 2.0, DB-15, Type II, PCMCIA, Infrared
3-yr. Limited Warranty
3-yr. Accidental Damage Warranty
Weight: 6 lbs.
Updated March 19, 2008
Price: $1,753.00 from the CMU Computer Store

Note: Linux wireless support for this laptop on Fedora 7 only.

For more information about the IBM ThinkPad T61 please refer to the CMU Computer Store website at http://www.cmu.edu/computing/store

Thinkpad X60s (Ultra Portable)1702-68U

L2400(1.66GHz)
1GB RAM
100GB 5400rpm HD
12.1in 1024x768 LCD
Intel 950
Intel 802.11abg wireless
Bluetooth/Modem
1Gb Ethernet
Secure chip
IEEE 1394
Fingerprint reader
X6 UltraBase + CDRW/DVDRW
4c Li-Ion battery
WinXP Pro
Updated May 25th, 2006
Price: $2,129.00

X4 Dock

X4 Dock $219*
MultiBurner Drive $278
USB 2.0 Combo Drive $270
X41 Tablet Sleeve $49
AC Adapter $48
Digitizer Pen $39
4-cell Battery $129
8-cell Battery $159

Note: Currently we offer only Windows support for this machine.

Recommended desktops

Dell Optiplex 755

Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q6600 2.40GHz, 8M, 1066MHz FSB Minitower
Memory: 4GB DDR2 Non-ECC SDRAM,667MHz, (4 DIMM))
Boot Hard Drives: 250GB SATA 3.0Gb/s and 8MB DataBurst Cache
Monitors: Dell 19 inch UltraSharp Flat Panel, Adjustable stand, VGA/DVI
No Floppy Drive
16X DVD+/-RW SATA, Roxio Creator Cyberlink Power DVD
Video Card: 256MB ATI Radeon 2400 XT, Dual Monitor DVI or VGA (TV-out), full height
Integrated Gigabit NIC, 10/100/1000
Small Minitower Base
Keyboard: Dell USB Keyboard, No Hot Keys, English, Black
Mouse: Dell USB 5-Button Premium Optical Mouse, Black
Dell AS501 Sound Bar for all UltraSharp Flat Panel Displays, black
4 Year Basic Limited Warranty and 4 Year NBD Onsite Service
Genuine Windows Vista Business Downgrade, XP Pro Installed, English
Updated: June 4, 2008
Unit Price: $1,366.90

Send questions to purchase@cs.cmu.edu.

Recommended servers

Dell PowerEdge 1950 (1U rack mount chassis)

NOTE: Maximum 2 SATA disks or 4 SAS disks

Dell PowerEdge 2950 (2U rack mount chassis)

NOTE: Maximum 6 SATA disks or 8 SAS disks

Dell PowerEdge 2900 (High performance tower)

NOTE: Maximum 8 SATA or 8 SAS disks plus 2 Media Bays

Send questions to purchase@cs.cmu.edu.
For a complete list of Dell Equipment, please go to our personal Dell Web Page (off-site link, will open in a new window).

Recommended Macintosh Models

For the latest in pricing and recommended Macintosh configurations, please visit the CMU Computer Store.