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2022-2023 Engineering Computer
Specifications
March 2022 v1
The PLTW curriculum utilizes powerful, industry-based software. To prepare for a successful
school year, please work closely with your IT department to ensure your computer hardware
meets or exceeds the specifications below.
Distance Learning: To accommodate distance learning environments, students may use a
Chromebook in place of the recommended desktop or laptop. A Chromebook is not
recommended for the teacher’s computing platform.
Please note, we do not support the following software solutions for use with the PLTW
curriculum:
• Open Office
• Some Virtual Desktop Environments
• Internet Explorer
PLTW Engineering Specifications
Engineering Course
PC/Windows
Mac*
Chromebook
Android Tablet
iPad/IOS
Aerospace Engineering
✔
✔
DL
Civil Engineering and Architecture
✔
✔
DL
Computer Integrated Manufacturing
✔
✔
DL
Digital Electronics
✔
✔
DL
Engineering Design and Development
✔
✔
DL
Engineering Essentials (EES)
✔
✔
✔
Environmental Sustainability
✔
✔
DL
Introduction to Engineering Design (IED)
✔
✔
✔
Principles of Engineering
✔
✔
DL
*Mac devices must have Windows partition installed except for IED and EES. Mac devices with
the new M1 chip are not compatible with Bootcamp or a parallel OS.
• Each teacher must have a PC or Mac laptop.
• Each student must have a PC or Mac laptop or desktop computer (or Chromebook for
EES and IED only).
• The PLTW Engineering curriculum does not support Chromebooks (except EES and
IED), Android tablets, Kindle Fire tablets, or iPads.
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PC/Windows and Mac Specifications (all courses except EES and IED)
Minimum for Existing Devices
Recommended for New Purchase
Intel® or AMD processor 2.5 Ghz +
Intel® or AMD processor 3 Ghz +
8 GB +
32 GB +
500 GB +
1 TB +
1 GB + dedicated RAM, with 29
GB/S Bandwidth and DirectX 11
compliant
4 GB + dedicated RAM, 4 GB GPU
with 106 GB/S Bandwidth and DirectX
11 compliant
Windows 7, Windows 8, or
Windows 10, 64 bit operating
system or MAC device with OSX
10.9 +. Bootcamp required with
one of the above Windows
operating systems.
NOTE: MAC devices made with
the new M1 chip cannot run
Bootcamp or a parallel OS.
Take this into consideration
when purchasing new
machines.
Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows
10, 64 bit operating system or MAC
device with OSX 10.11 +. Bootcamp
required with one of the above
Windows operating systems.
NOTE: MAC devices made with
the new M1 chip cannot run
Bootcamp or a parallel OS. Take
this into consideration when
purchasing new machines.
Must have network connectivity
(wireless and/or wired)
Must have network connectivity
(wireless and/or wired)
• We recommend the most
current version of Firefox or
Chrome for optimal utilization
of myPLTW.
• Microsoft Office, 2016 or later
for iComponents, thread
customization, and
spreadsheet-driven designs in
Inventor
• We recommend the most current
version of Firefox or Chrome for
optimal utilization of myPLTW.
• Microsoft Office, 2016 or later for
iComponents, thread
customization, and spreadsheet-
driven designs in Inventor
* You should NOT use Basic Intel graphic chipset or other chipsets with shared memory for
video display. See the Autodesk certified graphics hardware page here as reference tool in
selecting graphics hardware
PC/Windows and Mac Specifications (EES only)
Specification
Minimum
Recommended (not required)
Processor
Intel® or AMD processor 1.7 Ghz +
Intel® or AMD processor 2 Ghz +
RAM
4 GB +
8 GB +
Hard Drive
256 GB +
256 GB +
Video Card *
256 MB + Graphics card
500 MB + Graphics card
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Operating System
Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows
10, 64 bit operating system or Apple
device with OSX 10.60 +.
Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows
10, 64 bit operating system or
Apple device with OSX 10.90 +.
Network
Must have network connectivity
(wireless and/or wired)
Must have network connectivity
(wireless and/or wired)
Other Basic Software
(complete software
lists here)
• We recommend the most current
version of Firefox or Chrome
with WebGL for optimal
utilization of Tinkercad and
myPLTW.
• We recommend the most
current version of Firefox or
Chrome with WebGL for optimal
utilization of Tinkercad and
myPLTW.
PC/Windows and Mac Specifications (IED only)
Specification
Minimum for Existing Devices
Recommended for New
Purchases
Processor
Intel® or AMD processor 1.7 Ghz +
Intel® or AMD processor 2 Ghz +
RAM
8 GB +
12 GB +
Hard Drive
256 GB +
256 GB +
Video Card*
1 GB + dedicated RAM, Microsoft®
Direct3D 10® capable graphics
card or higher supporting 1280 x
1024 screen resolution*
2 GB + dedicated RAM, Microsoft®
Direct3D 12® capable graphics card
or higher supporting 1280 x 1024
screen resolution*
Operating System
Windows 7, Windows 8, or
Windows 10, 64 bit operating
system or Apple device with OSX
10.15 +.
Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows
10, 64 bit operating system or Apple
device with OSX 10.15 +.
Network
Must have network connectivity
(wireless and/or wired)
Must have network connectivity
(wireless and/or wired)
Other Basic Software
(complete software
lists here)
• We recommend the most
current version of Firefox or
Chrome for optimal utilization of
myPLTW.
• We recommend the most current
version of Firefox or Chrome for
optimal utilization of myPLTW.
* These specs are based on the Autodesk Fusion 360 hardware specifications for basic
modeling.
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PLTW Chromebook Specifications (EES, IED and Distance Learning Only)
Screen Size
11 inch +
Processor
1.0 Ghz+
RAM
4 GB +
On Board Storage
16 GB +
Graphics
Integrated
USB Connectivity
Must have a USB port and drivers
Operating System
Chrome OS Current version (updated continuously)
Network
WIFI enabled (cellular/LTE not required); Must have wireless network connectivity
Network Allow list: Please see our Allow list for ports and websites here. Following the
Allow list ensures that teachers and students can access and use the software, websites, and
applications required to offer PLTW coursework.
Other PLTW Engineering Hardware
Projector: Each classroom needs a digital projector with screen (or equivalent classroom display hardware)
with appropriate cables, adapters, or software to connect to the teacher device.
Printer: Each classroom will need access to a single medium duty printer for coursework:
Print speed: Up to 35ppm
Resolution: 600 x 600 dpi minimum, Color not required
Memory: 128 MB min
Paper size: Letter, Legal 11X17 (required)
Network ready
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