Category: News

We have set up recommended specifications for a PC for 2021.

The Yellow lab provides computers with all the necessary software required to complete the degree. However, due to the COVID-19 lockdown regulations, the computer labs cannot be guaranteed to be available to students throughout the year. Therefore, it is highly recommended that each student has a computer at their place of residence that can run demanding software used in the Multimedia degree.

The estimated cost for a desktop PC that matches these specifications is R 18,500 and will last you for 3 years of your studies. Laptop prices that match these specifications will be higher.

Some recommended stores at which you can purchase these components are:

• Evetech.co.za (based in Centurion and online)
• Takealot.com (online store)
• Titan-ice.co.za (based in Pretoria East and online)

The following is a list of items/software that is required to do multimedia related assessments, but the above-mentioned estimated price excludes these:

• Windows operating system,
• any software (used in the Multimedia degree)
• Standard mouse and keyboard
• Monitor (full HD 1080p display)
  • Make sure the monitor’s connection matches the ports on the Graphics card
• Standard audio devices (earphones/headphones/speakers)

The following list of components is purely for guidance and any desktop or laptop with similar performance/specifications should also last for the 3 years of your studies. It is not necessary to have a new PC that matches the specifications. A PC with slightly older components (within 3 years old) that has similar specifications will do just fine.

You can download the list here: PC specs 2021.pdf

Specific components list:

• Intel Core i5-10400F CPU 10^th gen (LGA 1200 slot)
  • the stock cooler is sufficient, but a closed loop liquid cooler is recommended (extra ±R900)
• MSI MAG B460 TORPEDO Intel ATX Motherboard (LGA 1200 slot)
  • Supports 10^th generation Intel CPUs
• Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3200 Mhz 16GB RAM
• Nvidia Geforce MSI RTX 2060 Windforce OC 6GB Graphics card
• Seagate FireCuda SSHD 1TB HDD/8GB SSD 3.5″ SATA6G
  • Alternatively: NVMe 250GB SSD + 1TB HDD – good for future proofing (extra ±R1200)
• Antec NX120 Mid Tower Gaming Case
  • Supports graphics card size (3500mm)
  • Support ATX motherboard size (not micro-ATX)
• Antec Neo Eco 650W V2 ATX Modular Power Supply
• 120mm fan x5 (x2 Top, x2 Side, x1 Rear)

The more technical specifications for each component are as follows:

• CPU:
  • 6 physical cores
  • 12 threads
  • Base frequency: 2.90GHz clock speed
  • Max Turbo frequency: 4.30GHz
• Motherboard:
  • CPU socket must match the purchased CPU.
  • SATA slots x2 (for the HDD)
  • 4 x DDR4 DIMM sockets supporting up to 64 GB of system memory
  • Supports DDR4 Memory 3200/3600 MHz
  • 1 x PCI Express 3.0 x16 Slot (PCIE2: x16 3.0) (for the graphics card)
  • Network: 1Gb Ethernet (or more)
    • Wireless LAN for Wi-Fi will make setup easier (recommended but not required) (extra ±R500)
• Memory:
  • 3200 MHz 16GB DDR4 RAM (make sure it is compatible with the motherboard memory slots)
• Storage: 1TB HDD/8GB SSD SATA6G Hybrid Hard drive
  • Alternatively: NVMe 250GB SSD + 1TB HDD – good for future proofing (extra ±R1200)
• Graphics card:
  • Cores: 1‎920 Units
  • Boost Core Clocks: 1620 MHz
  • Memory speed: 14 Gbps
  • Memory: 6GB GDDR6
  • Card Bus: PCI-E 3.0 x 16
  • PCB Form: ATX
  • Power Connectors 8-pin x1
• Power supply:
  • 600w+
  • Connectors + (6+2 pin for the graphics card)
  • CPU 4+4 Pin x 1
  • PCI-e 6+2 Pin x 2 (for the graphics card)
  • SATA x4 (for HDD)
  • Peripheral 4 Pin x 3
• Case:
  • length: 230mm+ (to fit graphics card)
  • 120mm fan placements x5 (2 for front, 2 for top, 1 for rear)
  • Must fit accompanying power supply
  • Must fit accompanying motherboard
• Cooling: 120mm fan x5
  • Breakdown for usage:
    • Front fan x2
    • Top fan x2
    • Rear fan x1

We have set up recommended specifications for a PC for 2020.

It should be noted that Multimedia students are not expected to have their own desktop or laptop. The Yellow lab provides computers with all the necessary software required to complete the degree. It is however, convenient to be able to work at home since the computer lab closes at 8pm on week nights and it is not open on weekends.

The estimated cost for a desktop PC that matches these specifications is R 19,000 and it will last you for 3 years of your studies. Laptop prices that match these specifications will be higher.

Some recommended stores at which you can purchase these parts are:

• Evetech.co.za (based in Centurion and online)
• Rebeltech.co.za (based in Midrand and online)
• Takealot.co.za (online store)
• Titan-ice.co.za (based in Pretoria East and online)

Please note that this estimated price excludes the costs of the Windows operating system, any other software, mouse, keyboard and audio devices (earphones or speakers), but these items are still required.

The following list of components is purely for guidance and any desktop or laptop with a similar performance/specification should also last for the 3 years of your studies.

Intel+Nvidia build:

• Intel Core i5-9400F CPU 9^th gen (1151 slot)
  • the stock cooler are sufficient but a closed loop liquid cooler is recommended (extra ±R900)
• MSI MAG B365M Mortar Intel Motherboard (1151 slot)
  • Supports 8^th and 9^th generation CPUs
• Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 2666 Mhz 8GB x2 RAM
• Nvidia Geforce MSI RTX 2060 Ventus 6GB OC Graphics card
• Seagate FireCuda SSHD 1TB HDD/8GB SSD 3.5″ SATA6G
  • NVMe 250GB SSD + 1TB HDD – good for future proofing (extra ±R1200)
• Antec DP301M Dark Phantom Tempered Glass Gaming Case
• Antec VP650 Plus Power Supply
• 120mm fan x5 (x3 Top, x2 Side)

AMD+Radeon build:

• AMD RYZEN 5 3600X Processor
  • Stock cooler is sufficient but closed loop liquid cooler is recommended (extra ±R900)
• ASUS ROG STRIX B450-F GAMING AMD Ryzen Motherboard
  • Supports 5^th generation CPUs
• Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO 16GB (2x 8GB) 3200MHz
• MSI Radeon RX 5700 XT MECH OC 8GB GDDR6
• Seagate FireCuda SSHD 1TB HDD/8GB SSD 3.5″ SATA6G
  • NVMe 250GB SSD + 1TB HDD – good for future proofing (extra ±R1200)
• Antec DP301M Dark Phantom Tempered Glass Gaming Case
• Antec HCG750 750W Gamer Power Supply
• 120mm fan x5 (x3 Top, x2 Side)

The more technical specifications for each component are as follows:

• CPU:
  • Socket: 1151
  • 6 physical cores
  • 6 threads
  • Base frequency: 2.90GHz clock speed
  • Max Turbo frequency: 4.10GHz
• Motherboard:
  • 1151 CPU slot
  • SATA slots x4 (for the HDD)
  • 4 x DDR4 DIMM sockets supporting up to 64 GB of system memory
  • Supports DDR4 Memory 2666/2400/2133 MHz
  • 1 x PCI Express 3.0 x16 Slot (PCIE2: x16 3.0) (for the graphics card)
• Memory: 2666 MHz 16GB DDR4 RAM
• Storage: 1TB HDD/8GB SSD SATA6G Hard drive
  • NVMe 250GB SSD + 1TB HDD – good for future proofing (extra ±R1200)
• Graphics card:
  • Cores: 2176 Units
  • Boost Core Clocks: 1695 MHz
  • Memory speed: 14 Gbps
  • Memory: 8GB GDDR6
  • Power Consumption 175W
  • Power Connectors 8-pin x1
• Power supply:
  • 600w+
  • Connectors + (6+2 pin for the graphics card)
  • CPU 4+4 Pin x 1
  • PCI-e 6+2 Pin x 2 (for the graphics card)
  • SATA x4 (for HDD)
  • Peripheral 4 Pin x 3
• Case:
  • length: 230mm+ (to fit graphics card)
  • 120mm fan placements x2 (1 for front, 1 for rear)
  • Must fit accompanying power supply
  • Must fit accompanying motherboard
• Cooling: 120mm fan x5