The Yellow lab in the Informatorium provides computers with all the necessary software required to complete the degree. However, the lab facilities are only available during their operating hours (only weekdays and specific times). Having a personal computer at home to work from is more convenient and less restricted. 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 21,000 and will last you for 3 years of your studies. Laptop prices that match these specifications will be higher. Please note that the estimated cost stated above is based on component pricing as of January 2024 but may fluctuate as time progresses.
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)
- Wootware.co.za (based in Somerset West 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
- Wireless network connection
- 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.
Specific components list:
- Intel 13th Gen Core i5 14400F Processor (LGA 1700 slot)
- DeepCool LS520 Premium Liquid CPU Cooler
- Gigabyte GA-B760-GAMING-X-DDR4 B760 Motherboard
- Supports 12th and 13th (LGA 1700 slot) generation Intel CPUs
- DDR4 3200 Mhz 16GB RAM (recommended DDR4 3200 Mhz 8GB RAM x 2)
- GeForce RTX 4060 8GB Graphics Card
- 1TB Ultra-Fast NVMe M.2 SSD Up to 3100MB/s+ speed
- Antec AX20 Elite Mid Tower Gaming Case
- Supports graphics card size (up to 270mm)
- Support ATX motherboard size (not micro-ATX)
- Built-in front 120mm fans x3
- 650W 80 PLUS Gold Power Supply
- 140mm rear fan x1
The more technical specifications for each component are as follows:
- CPU:
- 10 processor cores
- 16 processor threads
- Base frequency: 2.50GHz clock speed
- Max Turbo frequency: 4.70GHz
- CPU must match motherboard slot (e.g., LGA1700)
- Motherboard:
- CPU slot must match the purchased CPU (e.g., LGA1700)
- At least SATA slot x1 (for the SSD)
- At least M.2 slot x1 (for the NVMe SSD)
- At least 2 x DDR4 DIMM sockets supporting up to 64 GB of system memory
- Supports DDR4 Memory up to 5000+(OC) MHz
- 1 x PCI Express 5.0 x16 Slot (for the graphics card)
- Network: 1Gb Ethernet (or more)
- Wireless LAN for Wi-Fi will make setup easier (recommended but not required, extra ±R500)
- Form factor must match the case (e.g., Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX, E-ATX)
- CPU cooling
- Vertical air cooling or liquid cooling
- Memory:
- 3200 MHz 16GB DDR4 RAM (make sure it is compatible with the motherboard memory slots)
- Storage:
- NVMe 500GB SSD
- 1TB SSD
- Graphics card:
- Cores: 3072 Units
- Boost Core Clocks: 2460 MHz
- Memory speed: 17 Gbps
- Memory: 8GB GDDR6X
- Card Bus: PCI-E 4.0 x 8
- Power Connectors 8-pin x1
- Power supply:
- 650w+
- 80 Plus Bronze standard
- (Gold standard recommended but not required, extra ±R1000)
- 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 SSD)
- Peripheral 4 Pin x 3
- Case:
- 140mm fan placements x3 (front x3, rear x1)
- Must fit accompanying power supply
- Must fit accompanying motherboard (e.g., Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX, E-ATX)
- Cooling: 120mm/140mm fan x4
- Breakdown for usage:
- Front fan x3 (intake)
- Rear fan x1 (exhaust)
- Breakdown for usage: