Sweet Briar College : Help Desk

Minimum Computer Configuration to Connect to the SBC Network

Your computer must meet the following standards to be connected to the Sweet Briar Network:

1 GHz Intel Pentium IV or Power PC G4 CPU (laptops and desktops) or later
2 GB RAM
80 GB hard drive
CD-RW-DVD drive
Windows XP Professional or Mac OS 10.3 (Windows Vista is also supported)
PCI Bus architecture or greater Sound Card
10/100-Base T Ethernet Card

The minimum configuration is unlikely to meet your needs throughout your time at Sweet Briar.

If you are purchasing a new computer, we recommend:

2 GHz (or faster) Core 2 Duo processor

4 GB (or more) RAM
100 GB (or larger) hard drive
DVD+/-RW drive
Windows XP Professional or Mac OS 10.5 (Windows Vista is also supported)
256 MB (or more) video card
10/100/1000-Base T Ethernet adaptor
802.11 a/g/n wireless Ethernet adaptor (if you are buying a laptop)

Buy your computer considering not only your current needs but also what your needs may be over the next four years. With software and hardware evolving rapidly, it is probably wise to buy a faster machine with more RAM and a larger hard drive.

All residence hall rooms have a direct Ethernet connection to the Sweet Briar Network. To take advantage of that interface, your computer will need to have an Ethernet interface. With more than 1,000 computers connected to the Sweet Briar Network, it is important to have up-to-date antivirus software. Faculty and Staff machines run Symantec Norton Antivirus.

You may choose to have a modem included in your system for home use. Using a modem in the Sweet Briar residence halls is discouraged. The College’s digital telephone and voice-mail systems are not compatible with modems and could cause severe damage to your computer.