What Are Workstations? What Are Their Features And Uses?

Maintaining a strong presence in the consumer market, Workstations seem to be giving a tough time to high-end computers and laptops. Surviving in a market full of competitive computing machines is a victory for the underrated Workstations.

The highly-powered computer machines are quickly invading the corporate sector with the Workstations leading the invasion. A lot of people don’t know but the power-mongering Workstations have been around us for decades.

Contrary to the misconception that Workstations are a new thing, they were first introduced in the 1970s only to quickly rise to popularity in a few years.

Workstations have managed to grow their influence throughout the last couple of decades. They have become an integral part of the computing workforce utilized in various sectors and industries. In this post, my writing will revolve around discussing the definition, features, and cost of Workstations.

What Are Workstations?

Designed for an individual user, a Workstation is a type of computer powered by advanced configuration that includes a combo of powerful Graphics Processing Unit and Central Processing Unit supported by high storage capacity. Generally, a Workstation is more powerful than a PC with an above-average configuration.

As the finest computer breed deployed at the workplaces for productivity enhancement, Workstations can easily manage complex multitasking. Their advanced configuration allows them to generate high-end graphics and solve complex mathematical problems without compromising operational power.

Features Of Workstations

The features of Workstations greatly distinguish them from the rest of conventional computers. Below are some of the features of Workstations that make them the preferred choice of many professionals.

Integrated GPU

A Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) is probably the best thing about a Workstation. Why? It is because every Workstation comes with an integrated Graphics Processing Unit that better takes care of all the graphics-related operations than the Central Processing Unit (CPU). Since the GPU takes charge of the graphics department of the Workstation, the CPU can save its energy and combine its operational strength to speed up the data processing.

Fast Error Detection

Workstations require an advanced tool to prevent costly crashes or downtime. And therefore, they come equipped with a fast error detecting system called Error Correcting Code (ECC). The ECC constantly launches operations with a keen focus to detect minor errors and eliminate them at the same time. As a result, ECC aids the Workstations to remain error-free which proves to be quite beneficial for the overall health of the system.

RAID

Workstations come with an integrated RAID system to convert multiple storage sources into a single unit. A RAID system provides a Workstation with the operational capability to turn the attached HDDs and SSDs into a large storage source for improved performance.

High Number Of Processor Cores

Processor Cores are the lifeline of Workstations. Lower the Processor Cores and slower the Workstations. Comparatively, Workstations rely on more Processor Cores than Personal Computers. The high number of Processor Cores provides the Workstations with additional power to perform complex operations.

Thunderbolt Interfaces

Workstations have to keep themselves updated with the latest technology. They can’t afford to be dependent on outdated hardware If they have to perform fast. The Workstations have already replaced the USBs in favor of super-fast Thumberolt Interfaces which means faster data transfer rates.

Uses Of Workstations

There are many uses for Workstations with the following being the major ones.

3D Rendering

As a massive source of computational power, Workstations are often utilized in the creation of 3D content. They provide extreme support to 3D creators to create high-level content. Additionally, Workstations are also used by engineering professionals to create 3D designs. Workstations are good to go with the heavy 3D software and all the related applications.

Animation

Considering the power-based configuration, Workstations are purely fine to be used for animation. From directors to editors and animators, Workstations are extensively used by the media industry in animation projects. Workstations come with a range of unique options for animators to create advanced animations.

Video Production

Thanks to the dedicated Graphics Processing Unit, Workstations are a primary asset for professional video producers. One of the major uses of Workstations is in advanced video production. They are high in demand in production units that can’t afford to compromise on the video quality.

CAD

Workstations are a must-have machine to run the CAD program. Short for Computer-aided design, CAD enables a computer to make major changes to a design. Since CAD requires massive data processing, a Workstation is used to run it.

The Average Cost Of A Workstation

Investing in a Workstation means spending a good amount of money. They are too expensive to be invested in without any particular reason. Unless you are someone who is heavily dependent on advanced computing machines for professional purposes, you shouldn’t invest in a Workstation.

The national average cost of a Workstation starts from $1500. That’s for a Workstation with the minimum configuration. As the configuration goes up, the cost increases as well. You can find tons of Workstations with higher configurations and extra computational power at the cost of $4 and $5k.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrap Up

Workstations are the best possible option for video production, 3D creation, and animation. They are driving a number of industries based on their exceptional processing capability. Competing with tons of types of computing devices, Workstations have really kept their status up.