Difference between a "Work station & a Gaming PC"

Hey guys,
I was wondering if any of you guys would be helping me on this.There are some doubts i got and there fore came here for enlightenment.
what is the difference between a "workstation computer" and a normal PC or may be a gaming pc?
Does everything depend on the RAM only or do they differ in like over all, like different MoBo, Grafic Card( this is the only thing i think i know for sure is the difference ).
basically would need a simple lecture on this. i kinda did loads of google-ing and stuff but still i couldnt find a simple answer.

would br really thankful.
cheers.

 

Everyone loves speed now-a-days, so you can't really go by CPU (unless you are running a few i7's lol), and RAM (everyone loves RAM, even in an older laptop I have it even has a few Gig's in it).

So I can only assume it would be the GPU. You don't normally purchase a computer with a good GPU or even SLI or Crossfire unless you plan to do some gaming.

There are of course the lesser GPU's that some use for "light gaming", but I don't really consider those gaming machines.

Usually it works like this:

Workstation: Sometimes bare minimum, with little to no applications on the computer itself, with maybe 2 GB's RAM, and a low end CPU and GPU.

Home PC: Has a lot of applications (vary depending on the user), with about 2-3 GB's RAM, mid range CPU (something like an AMD or Intel Core Duo), and usually a low end GPU.

Gaming: Has a lot of application (vary depending on the user), 2-4+ GB's RAM (depending on the OS), higher end CPU (maybe a i3, i5, or i7), and a mid-high range GPU (sometimes with SLI or crossfire).

 

Graphics is the main difference. For example, if you look at Dell, the Precision models use Quadro FX or ATI FirePro GPUs that are optimized to work with certain applications, mostly OpenGL and heavy rendering. The Alienware line uses Radeon and Geforce GPUs that look very similar in specs, but use different firmware and drivers to get better performance in gaming. What Tank is referring to as workstation specs would be productivity laptops in Dell's business lineup...the Vostro and Latitude models made mostly for Office and similar programs.

There are usually a few other differences in options. It took longer for Blu-Ray to show up as an option in workstation models, as it is usually seen as an entertainment option instead of a high capacity data storage device. New hardware in general tends to appear first in gaming computers (DDR3, i-series CPUs, Blu-Ray, HD screens) before it becomes available as options on business models. Workstations also tend to keep legacy ports that are dropped from gaming models...you can still get an add-on for Precision models with serial, parallel, and PS2 ports. Both workstation and productivity models are also more likely to have docking options since they are assumed to spend most of their time at a desk attached to a corporate network.

Both workstations and gaming computers are usually high-performance machines, but the difference is similar to race cars and long-haul trucks. Gaming machines use new tech and are about getting the best performance out of parts, often using new technology to get a slight edge on competitors. They are made to run fast, but are assumed to be obsolete (or at least superseded by something better) very quickly. Workstations are made to use stable technology to do consistent workloads for longer periods. They don't start out with cutting edge tech, but they are assumed to be capable of doing their intended function and remain competitive for longer time frames (usually 3-5 years for organizational replacement policies).

 

helped a lot KimoT .. thanks bro..
I had been chatting to this dell guy the other day,asking him the same question.. by the end of it, all he could tell me that the difference lie in the graphic card, and if i buy a normal XPS desktop..i could replace the video card with a graphic card and the system s upgraded to a workstation

 

In a sense, that can be true, but workstations are often more than just that as well. For example, if you buy a Dell workstation as opposed to a normal Dell XPS, you get shunted over to the business side of their business, as opposed to the consumer side. On the business side, things tend to be more expensive, however, you also tend to get a lot more value for your money, especially in terms of build quality and warranty service.

It's like taking a regular car and putting a sports car engine, transmission, and suspension in it. Sure, that regular car can now perform (mostly) like a sports car, but the sports car still has some advantages.

 

No they're not typically innovators, but they are a heck of lot more stable.

A virtual necessity with any true workstation.

I would have worded that a bit differently. The workstation tend to use less gimmickry in their parts. But they can and do use state-of-the-art technology.

Workstations also have a significant advantage on build quality. Since they are designed for rough and rugged environments they are the most sturdy of all laptops, save the toughbooks of course.

This indeed is true. The support in the business is significantly superior to the consumer side.

 

A lot of the time it is actually more than just the GPU. A lot of the higher end workstation desktops will have larger motherboards than your standard gaming rig, gaming rigs having Standard ATX< and workstations having WTX, which is a little bit below twice the size of standard ATX. The higher end workstation rigs also have Intel Xeons instead of i7's (in a lot of ways they are the same, just branded for different markets, they even use the same socket), as well as having the typically much more expensive GPU optimized for CAD and other 3D applications. You'll generally find a fair bit more RAM on average in your typical workstation than a gaming PC.

 

All true. There is a lot of new tech in workstations, but it has to be justified as a business expense, so reliability and advantages in rendering for business apps are what pushes technology. And there are a lot of differences that don't easily show up in tech specs...like sturdier components, more heavily tested parts, and better quality control in general. And I would rather deal with Dell's server or business support over their consumer support any day of the week...they tend to be better trained and more responsive.