Technology Recommendations

The following are the recommended minimum specifications for students seeking to purchase a laptop or desktop for use in online courses at CNC.
  • technology

Note: Students in Accounting & Finance, Civil Engineering Technology, and Web & Graphic Design should check with their program concerning any specialized hardware or software which may be required.

Please note that students can borrow laptops from the Learning Commons, and computer labs are open at all campuses. Students are also welcome to come on campus to access Wi-Fi networks.

ProcessorIntel Core i5 or i7, or AMD Ryzen 5
Operating SystemMicrosoft Windows 10+*
MemoryMinimum 8 GB RAM
StorageRecommended minimum 500 GB internal storage drive
Display14" LCD monitor, resolution of 1600 x 900 or better (a smaller monitor will work, but will be harder to read)
Network802.11ac 2.4/5 GHz wireless
Peripherals

Webcam
Speakers
Microphone
All of the above can be built into your computer or used as external devices.

SoftwareMicrosoft Office 365 is available free of charge to all students. Office 365 includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, and OneNote. Office 365 is available to students at cnc.bc.ca/office365.

*For non-Windows operating systems (like Mac OS), check with your computer vendor for comparable specifications.

Chromebooks are not recommended. You will not be able to install Office 365, and they may lack other required functionality for your program.