Why is the computer specified for the College of Architecture and Design more expensive than a typical student or consumer-level machine?
Students at the College of Architecture and Design use their computers as professional tools during the course of their studies. The study and practice of architecture in the twenty-first century requires extensive use of the computer. As graphics-intensive machines, the demands placed on them are high. A typical CAD/graphics workstation has to be much more powerful than a computer that is primarily used for business applications – or even for many computer programming tasks. The creation and manipulation of graphics (including animation) on a computer are among the most demanding applications that can be run. As such, it is important for the computers used in the College of Architecture and Design to be able to accommodate the tasks students are assigned. An underpowered computer will run required software slowly (if at all) and will be unable to handle the large files created by students when producing three-dimensional models of original architectural work. The speed and capabilitie
