Graphics Workstation Vs. Gaming Computer

Though a gaming computer might have a cool-looking case, it's what's inside that makes it good for playing video games.

Graphics workstation computers are similar to gaming computers in a lot of ways. Both are high-end computers that cost more than the average computer and have better than average specs. They are most likely to be desktop computers instead of laptops, though it's possible to find gaming computers that are laptops. They share similar purposes, since they both need quality graphics capability and powerful processors to perform the tasks their users require of them.

Graphics and Video

There are two elements of the video aspect of a computer. One is the monitor, or computer screen, and the other is the graphics card. The graphics card is the internal part of the computer that sends the signal to the screen. These cards are made by several different manufacturers, but the two that make the high-end models are ATI and nVidia. A gaming computer usually has a graphics card that's part of the ATI Radeon series or the nVidia GeForce series. Newer high-end machines of either type might have special 3D video cards, either nVideo CUDA or ATI Stream. These cards are essential for any 3D rendering. The other aspect of the video is the monitor. Both gaming PCs and workstations benefit from larger monitors, and workstations also sometimes have more than one monitor so the user can have multiple programs open at the same time and be able to view them at the same time.

Internal Specs

The internal specs for both types of computers need to be at the higher end of what is generally available. A generous amount of memory, at least eight GB, and a powerful processor, an Intel Core i5 or i7, for example, are essential for both kinds, though the larger amount of memory, or RAM, is more important for gaming computers. A large hard drive, at least 1 TB, is important for both kinds of computers as well.

Software

Graphics workstations need to run industry standard graphics software such as Adobe Creative Suite and AutoCAD. These can run on the latest version of Microsoft Windows, but can also run on a Macintosh. Gaming computers are generally Windows computers and don't need any special software other than the games themselves.

Accessories and External Appearance

Though it's not necessary, high-end gaming computers often have a unique look that appeals to the gamer, such as LED lights on the front and a see-through panel on the side of the computer that allows you to see the components inside. Gaming PCs also often have accessories such as game controllers that can be purchased and added on to most high-end computers. A workstation may have a case that is shaped more like a cube than a tower, and it may have accessories such as a flash memory card reader and dual computer screens.

References

• Tom's Hardware: Workstation or Gaming PC?
• Dave Britzius' Computer Hardware: Graphics Cards -- Workstation vs. Gaming