Need a laptop for fall? These University resources can help you spend less.

Whether you're heading to Pitt for your first semester or need an upgrade for a new academic year, a reliable computer is one of the bigger expenses of the school year. The good news is it doesn't have to break the bank.

You might not need to buy anything new at all, and when you do, resources at the University and beyond offer plenty of ways to spend less - a little legwork now can save you a lot before the first day of class.

Check what you already have

Before you spend anything, figure out what your machine has to do. Pitt doesn't hold students to a required specs, so the real test is whether your laptop runs your class software and a video call on a current operating system.

Pitt's purchasing guide breaks down each component and what it's for. Its general rule of thumb is that the computer should have 8 gigabytes of memory for most majors; 16GB for heavier tools like AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Cloud or programming; and an SSD for speed and a dedicated graphics card for design or engineering work. Some programs set their own requirements, so check with your department, too.

Use the campus computer labs

The Student Computing Labs across campus stock the paid software you'd otherwise have to buy for yourself, and an online map shows which stations are open right now. You can also stream those programs to your own laptop or tablet any hour of the day through Pitt's Virtual Computing Lab.

Borrow a device

Hillman Library's Donald S. Wood Service Desk lends laptops for up to eight hours at a time. You can also rent charging kits, adapters, battery packs, headphones and a graphing calculator with a valid Pitt ID - and there's no need to qualify. It's an easy fallback for a machine to get you through a day on campus, or for the small stuff when you're in a pinch. Just make sure you return everything on time to avoid the late fees. You can check the full list of what Hillman lends before you head over.

If you're in need of a longer-term stopgap solution, Pitt lends Chromebooks to students caught without a working computer for their coursework on a need-based basis. You can request a device online; supply is limited.

Repair before replacing

The repair center at the University Store on Fifth will look at a struggling machine for free, and upgrades like extra memory or storage tend to cost a fraction of a new computer. As an Apple-authorized shop, it works on Apple gear as well as older, out-of-warranty Dell laptops, and the team can move your files to a new device.

You'll find the Technical Support Desk inside the store at 4000 Fifth Ave., open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for walk-ins or drop-offs, or reachable at 412-648-1588. If the trouble is software rather than hardware, Pitt Digital's Drop-In Support can help at the store and in Hillman.

Buy at a student discount

When you do have to buy, students qualify for education pricing on Dell and Apple machines. Pitt's discount page routes you to both, along with on-campus pickup at Tech on Fifth. Weigh those prices against retail before you commit to anything.

And if your current machine can get you through the first few months, consider waiting for Black Friday -the University Store's usually offers competitive deals in late-November deals.

Shop used

Pitt Surplus resells the University's retired computers - plus office supplies, furniture and more -cheaply. Before you buy, note that it's a drive out to 7500 Thomas Blvd. in Point Breeze, and sales are final with no warranty. You can pay with cash, check or card, with a $20 minimum on cards; it's worth calling 412-624-6500 to confirm hours before you go.

Photography by Aimee Obidzinski