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Recommended Computer Requirements

The BYU Computer Science department encourages students to purchase a laptop to complete course assignments and to be actively engaged in their profession. Students should write code frequently for side projects that interest them and maintain an active portfolio on a site such as GitHub. The department recommends the following for a laptop:

Recommended:

  • MacBook Air or Pro or equivalent Windows laptop
  • 16 GB RAM minimum, 24—32 GB if affordable
  • 512 GB SSD minimum, 1 TB preferred
  • Current generation mid-range CPU
  • Thin, light, and good battery life

If you have a reasonable laptop, you can always upgrade later. If you are planning to go on a mission, and you have a laptop, wait until you get back before you upgrade.

If you can’t afford a laptop, please email Daniel Zappala (zappala@cs.byu.edu) -- we have some loaners available.

RENTAL

Sometimes the purchase of a laptop is less desirable, e.g., when a student plans to leave for a mission. In these cases, another option is to rent. BYU's Office of Information Technology has a limited stock of laptops available for rent. The laptops might not meet the minimum specs for purchase, but will typically be sufficient for short-term use.
Free Laptop Rentals

**Last updated September 2026**