Project Lead The Way®, working with its vendors, will specify computers each year that we estimate will run our course software for the next three years.

Many schools have developed policies under which new, more powerful computers are placed in PLTW labs, and the existing computers are moved to areas with less demanding applications. In doing this, they insure the longest useful performance of their computers.

Computers should meet or exceed the specifications stated here:

Laptop:

Each teacher participating in training and teaching Project Lead The Way® courses is required to have a laptop computer for his/her use. Teachers should have Administrator rights on their computer. Specifications for new laptops are as follows:

• Intel Core2 Duo T7400 or better
• USB Memory Key (Memory Stick, Thumb Drive, etc.)
• 2 GIG DDR2 SDRAM Memory (option for additional)
• Integrated 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet connection
• 60 GB + 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
• External VGA Port
• DVD-CDRW Drive
• 14.1 XGA TFT Color LCD Display or larger
• Anti Virus software
• Li-Ion Battery
• Win XP Pro or later
• 3 Year Warranty
• 256 MB PCI-express x16 Graphics card (Must be 3D CAD Compatible Support OpenGL and DirectX 9) - See: http://www.autodesk.com/us/inventor/graphic_cards/
• 802.11 a/g wireless

For further details about graphics cards, see Autodesk’s website http://www.autodesk.com/us/inventor/graphic_cards/

PLEASE NOTE: Basic Intel graphic chipset or other chipsets with shared memory are not recommended for video display. All graphic chipsets must be 3D capable and support OpenGL and DirectX. A third party Graphic card is usually necessary.

Bare minimum specs to run inventor for 2007-2008

Minimum hardware required to run (Not recommended for production use).

• Intel Pentium® or AMD Athlon Processor 2.0GH or better
• 5.0GB Free (minimum install) Hard Drive Space
• 3 GB Scratch "Temp" space
• 512 MB RAM
• 2-4 Gigs Virtual Memory Space
• 64+ MB OpenGL Capable Graphics Card
• Windows 2000 Pro with Service Pack 4 operating system
• Internet Explorer 6 with latest service packs