If you have been to PC shopping, you would have heard terminologies such as workstation and gaming PC. The marketing around these phrases made it difficult to understand the difference between them.
It is important to know that there are plenty of differences between the two. In this guide, we will take a look at them and determine how they differ from one another.
What is a Workstation?
Workstations are computers mostly used by professionals, especially for computer-intensive tasks. Professionals such as animators, engineers, accountants, and researchers use these workstations for better performance and speed.
These professionals need a workstation for better performance. Workstations usually have more RAM for speed along with a powerful processor to perform tasks swiftly. They are manufactured keeping in mind the performance and durability over time.
What is a Gaming PC?
Similar to a workstation, a gaming PC also offers better performance and durability compared to an ordinary computer. A powerful gaming PC has powerful parts and components that ensure lightning-fast speed and reliability.
As the name suggests, a gaming PC is mostly used for gaming. Aside from gaming, they are also used for live streaming, animations, and video editing.
WorkStation vs. Gaming PC: What is the Difference?
For better distinction between the two, let’s take a look at each component and determine how they differ from one another.
WorkStation vs. Gaming PC: Hardware
First, let’s take a look at the hardware. You can identify whether a computer is designed as a workstation or a gaming PC by identifying the hardware.
Workstations rely on enterprise-grade hardware that helps deliver an optimum and stable performance. On the other hand, a gaming PC is designed to ensure entertainment in terms of gaming and graphic output.
Let’s take a closer look at each hardware component:
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Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Workstation PC benefits immensely from parallel computing as it makes tasks much faster. A workstation PC has more cores that ensure more productive work sessions. Some of the popular options include AMD and Intel CPUs.
When it comes to gaming PCs, they require efficient CPUs that provide a good balance of gaming performance and parallel compatibility. In the gaming space, brands such as Intel and AMD’s Ryzen are much more popular due to their high raw performance.
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Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
When it comes to Workstations, they rely on specialized GPUs such as NVIDIA and AMD Radeon. These GPUs are designed for better precision, stability, and rendering which is vital for professionals.
Gaming PCs use consumer-grade GPUs which include NVIDIA GeForce and AMD Radeon that prioritize raw performance. They allow for a higher raw performance at a lower cost compared to workstation GPUs.
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RAM and Storage
Workstation PCs usually rely on high hard drive memory and RAM compared to typical gaming PCs. This is due to the memory-intensive applications used for tasks such as 3D rendering and data analysis.
Therefore, the RAM can range from 32GB to 128 GB. For storage, workstations usually go for hard drives for better data management.
When it comes to gaming PCs, they usually require anywhere from 8GB to 16GB RAM. Gamers usually go for DDR4 RAMs for a better gaming output. However, some gamers like to have a higher RAM which can go up to 64GB.
They also go for a combination of both; Hard Disk Drives (HDD) and Solid State Drives (SSD).
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Sound and Motherboard
Since workstations use specialized CPUs and RAM, they need a dedicated motherboard. These dedicated motherboards can support high RAM and generally have a better build quality.
Workstations do not rely on sound quality as much as gaming PCs. Many gaming PCs use decent sound chipsets that ensure premium sound quality.
Workstation vs. Gaming PC: Aesthetic Differences
If we look at workstations, they are made with a business-centric approach. They have sleek, slim, and minimal design which ensures a professional appearance. In contrast, a gaming PC uses window cases, RGB lights, and customizable aesthetics.
If you are looking to buy gaming PC in UAE, make sure to browse through our list of best options.
Final Thoughts
Workstations cater to the needs of different sections of people who are from the working class. They are designed for professionals who are looking for a reliable machine that can perform tasks such as video editing, 3D animation, and data accounting.
On the other hand, gaming PCs are designed to deliver the best gaming and graphic experience to the user. They both differ in terms of hardware, appearance, and software.
