I was in a meeting in New York this week with a major PC vendor, and one of the things the company's sales data shows is that people who should be buying workstations, or even gaming machines, are buying PCs with standard windows. (The focus was not on gaming, but on productivity and performance.)
Since I've covered PCs and workstations since the early 1990s, I want to explain the difference between the two and when you should consider one over the other.
the big difference
The main difference between workstations and Windows PCs is that PCs are generally designed for businesses (where IT makes the final decision) and workstations are for individual users. Originally, workstations were primarily used by engineers who needed higher performance and had less tolerance for even small errors. Configurations typically required two things: error checking (ECC) memory and certifications from the software vendors who built the applications designed to run on it.
Workstations are designed to maximize the productivity of a user who is constrained by that productivity—someone for whom wasting time costs more than the difference in price between a workstation and a computer.
Desktops don't always have to meet all company standards, leaving IT and purchasing managers (the latter often excluded entirely) in a subservient position behind the user.
How workstations have evolved
Workstations started out as very expensive machines used primarily for computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing. It took two people to move them, so there was no real mobile workstation for a long time. Also, they preferred powerful processors because discrete graphics weren't really a thing.
Now you can get thin and light workstation laptops, though the best performance still comes from desktop configurations. Mobile workstations typically cost much more, are heavier, and have less battery life than PCs. But in terms of the performance of specific applications, they are more accurate and efficient.
Workstations vs Gaming PCs
Game companies often admit that 10-20% of their sales go to high performing users. This is because gaming machines offer the same (or better) performance than a given workstation at a lower price. However, they are generally not certified by application providers, do not use ECC memory, and rely on gaming GPU solutions.
Animators, video/photo editors, and those who run simulations (the kind of people who use game machines) don't necessarily need these features. And if you want to play, workstations tend to lag behind gaming machines. The hard part is getting IT to approve one; this will usually be flagged as overspending (which can be resolved, but may have a negative impact on service).
Gaming machines also tend to be less sturdy than a workstation and have flashy visual cues that can make you look less professional to others. I have transported gaming machines from time to time in my career and have received some derogatory comments along the way. Frankly, I liked the attention and desire. My favorite was a Ferrari brand laptop that had a V-12 cranking sound; You knew when I was in the room.
In summary, a gaming machine may be a better value for given performance than a workstation, but should be avoided for high tolerance jobs or where outright performance is paramount.
GPU versus CPU
While most workstations are equipped with heavy discrete GPUs, some mobile workstations use integrated graphics. It works well for applications like spreadsheets that are CPU intensive rather than GPU intensive. CPUs are great with numbers, discrete GPUs are better for anything image based or analytics, AI and most tech. Most users prefer a workstation with a good GPU, but some do well with a powerful CPU and integrated graphics. The latter has a lower price and potentially longer battery life.
Choose between the two
The vast majority of Windows PC users are fine with business computers and many can get their work done with consumer PCs. However, if your productivity is tied to your PC, it's time to consider a workstation. It's also a good idea to look at other power users doing similar tasks and at the software vendor that provides the application you're using to find the perfect setup.
One other consideration: If you use the cloud a lot, another way to gain performance is to run your apps in the cloud instead of on the device. This could reduce the need for a workstation.
Finally, I have met people who wanted a gaming workstation, but were generally disappointed with the result. If you're a game developer, it might be different. But to play, they're just not as good as a slot machine.
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