What is a worksatation

[gxsaurav]

I hear nVidia , ATI shouting out workstation class graphics capability, intel or AMD shouting hihg performance in Workstation application, Linux as a great workstation app, so what exectly is a workstation


My PC specs, can this also be called a workstation


Pentium 4 3.06 GHz with 533 FSB & HT
2X256 MB Kingston DDR400 RAM running in dual channel DDR333
Intel 865GBF motherboard with Gigabit LAN
Soundblaster Audigy with Logitech Z-340 Speakers
Antec True power 430 W PSU
Samsung 80 GB HDD with 2 MB Buffer
Microsoft Multimedia Keyboard with Logitech MX300 Mouse
Gigabyte Radeon 9600 Pro with 128 MB RAM

Everything is running at stock speed

 

[Duvie]

Workstations can be just about anyway as that system is good enough to run CAD applications which could be considered a workstation app.....

It is more about intended use and does not have to be dual cpus....It can be single processors and often can look very similar to desktop pcs.....


Looking at your systems I would think that most apps I run the ram would be a bit low as most workstations are 1gb. The Radeon 9600pro from many reports I hear are very good in many CAD apps just they don't have the optimised drivers but still may perform near cards that are being marketed as workstation cards but cost double.....

Where cad workstation cards by nvidia and ATI stand out are often the standardization od dual head dvi output....Most gaming card do not have his....The optimised drivers which help in large file projects and multiple windows opened (cad type).....Other then that the gpu is usually the same....The 700 dollar X2-256t Firegl by ATI is based on the 9800vpu which can be picked up for aorund 200-250 dollars and trust me the X2 does not beat it by 3 times.....

Think of it this way....

1) Intended use
2) applicaions used

 

[Duvie]

Workstations can be just about anyway as that system is good enough to run CAD applications which could be considered a workstation app.....

It is more about intended use and does not have to be dual cpus....It can be single processors and often can look very similar to desktop pcs.....


Looking at your systems I would think that most apps I run the ram would be a bit low as most workstations are 1gb. The Radeon 9600pro from many reports I hear are very good in many CAD apps just they don't have the optimised drivers but still may perform near cards that are being marketed as workstation cards but cost double.....

Where cad workstation cards by nvidia and ATI stand out are often the standardization od dual head dvi output....Most gaming card do not have his....The optimised drivers which help in large file projects and multiple windows opened (cad type).....Other then that the gpu is usually the same....The 700 dollar X2-256t Firegl by ATI is based on the 9800vpu which can be picked up for aorund 200-250 dollars and trust me the X2 does not beat it by 3 times.....

Think of it this way....

1) Intended use
2) applicaions used

 

[ElFenix]

workstation gfx cards usually have drivers that are coded more for stability and accurate rendering than FPS like you get out of 'gaming' cards. same processors though.

 

[gxsaurav]

Well, I do some video editing, a little mod making for Unreal Tournament 2004, like making maps & editing a bot I already made with Unreal ED 2.0 in UT2003, then image making & editing stuff, but no CAD, even these comprise of just 30% of my work when I m on my PC, other then that I usuall simply do web browsing, or game playback or Movie viewing etc. It is rock solid in stability

So, my PC can not be termed exctly as a Workstation, but as a normal desktop which does good gaming