For applicant's to the AR & VR Add-On program: Students applying for this program also needs to acquire a VR headset, preferably Meta Quest 2 og 3 in addition to a portable personal computer (laptop), following the specifications below.
For applicants to the Bachelor in Game Technology and Simulations program: You may manage your studies with computers which are slightly less powerful than the minimum requirements listed below, but because of the study program’s increasing focus on VR and AR development, it is also recommended that all students acquire VR-ready computers.
Note! This computer is your most important tool during your studies. If you save a few bucks now, it could cost you a lot of frustration later, when your computer is lagging behind and things don't work the way you had liked & your time is limited -please keep that in mind.
Specifications (LAPTOPS):
- CPU: Intel i7 –minimum 4 core, 2.7GHz w/Turbo Boost to 3,4GHz or more
- RAM: 32GB –minimum 16 GB -32GB is preferred, especiallyfor those students planning to choosethe Digital Arts track.
- GPU:
- Nvidia GeForce RTX-card with minimum 8GB VRAM
- If Mac–go for a Macbook Pro
Please Note:
Graphic cards (GPU) from ATI/AMD has a history of artifacts and display errors in Autodesk Maya (3D application). The Game School primarily use Autodesk Maya for 3D. We therefore do not recommend buying systems with ATI/AMD graphic cards installed. VR-Ready Graphic cards: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060-4090+Ti are recommended.
Laptops with integrated graphics, like Intel HD Graphics, will not work and should not be considered!
- Disk:
- Preferred: M. 2 SSD system disk 1TB (minimum 512 GB) + internal regular SSD @ minimum 1 TB
- Ok: SSD system disk w/ minimum 512 GB + internal extra HDD 7200 RPM @ minimum 1TB, USB 3.1 / USB-C / Thunderbolt
- Minimum: Traditional HDDs at 7200 RPM are NOT fast enough and not recommended
Please note:
The reason for why we recommend this much storage space, is because the software used in these study programs, can easily use as much as 120 GB alone. With additional private software choices and specially usage/project work files, the used amount could easily surpass 250 GB. Minimum recommended free disk space on system disk, at all times, is 30 GB for optimal performance of the operating system (OS).
- Screen: We recommend 17” with Full HD-resolution or more –1920 x 1080+ (MacBook Pro, minimum 15”)
- Network card: Gigabit Ethernet and WiFi
- Connections: 1 or more of the following: USB 3.0/USB-CThunderbolt.
- OS: Windows 11, 64-bit. Mac OS X 13
- Digital Drawing Tablet (Wacom recommended) -size M or larger
Use of Macs in the program:
Most of the software used in the program is available for Mac. Only MacBook Pro is powerful enough to handle the workload given with 3D and Motion Graphics.
NOTE! No MacBooks are VR-Ready
VR-Ready -if you would like to have a VR-Ready machine, you will have to get a PC or a Thunderbolt expansion chassis and a GPU-card for an eGPU solution f or your MacBook (only for new MacBooks with Thunderbolt 3 & 4).
Even though MacBook Pro is able to handle the workload, there are some things that should be considered before buying a Mac to use in this program:
- The new M1 chip in Macbooks could have performance issues in Maya
- MacBook Pro generates a great deal if heat when on 100% workload. This decreases the performance of the machine to a lot less than what you would think, compared to the system specifications. This is caused by the MacBook Pro’s slim design, which causes poor air flow (cooling).
- For the same price, the graphic cards on the Macbook Pros are not as good as what you get in a PC.
- There are few options to upgrade the hardware of a Mac and it is very expensive if you want to keep your warranty.
** All system requirements listed above are only a recommendation, based on previous year’s experiences. These are not requirements that have to be filled to attend the Game School’s programs, but please be noted that all students are responsible for checking that their hardware and software is up to date, and able to handle the workload given in the program at the given time. Computer problems related to too low specifications is not a valid excuse for extension on assignments.