Comparing a workstation to a PC is a bit like comparing a Formula One race car to a family sedan on a racetrack. Both vehicles will move around the track and get you to the finish line, but the purpose-built race car will be faster and smoother on the turns, and will more quickly deliver the win. Just as with the two vehicles in this analogy, purpose-built design and more robust components are key factors that differentiate workstations from business PCs.
Does this mean workstations require a lot of tending by the IT team? Absolutely not. Here are some reasons why:
- Workstations are built for extreme reliability and intense workloads
- Error-Correcting Code (ECC) Memory can automatically detect and correct memory errors to improve data integrity and system uptime
- Adding multiple monitors is a simple plug-and-play task
- Workstations have long lifecycles so there’s none of the hassle and cost experienced with replacing PCs every couple of years
- Workstations can include robust warranty and protection plan offerings that make maintenance quick and easy
- Workstations can be built with all metal cabinets that ground out electrostatic discharge, extending life
- Workstations can be energy-conscious, resulting in significant power supply efficiencies—a financial benefit that can reduce operating costs for organizations
- Some manufacturers certify that their workstations will run—at the optimal performance level—the high-end applications that so many designers and analysts require
- Featuring Intel® Xeon® processors and professional-grade graphics, workstations are designed for compute-intense projects and work environments so both IT and end-users will have less down time waiting for rendering or computing to take place
In fact, 73% of surveyed IT professionals say they would transition to workstations to save time and money.
Results
Spiceworks asked IT professionals about the top factors their organizations consider when evaluating new workstation solutions for professional staffers. It makes sense that their considerations align with the challenges they’ve experienced with PCs—processor speed, reliability and graphics capabilities.
Tier 1 factors of consideration:
67%
Speed
65%
Reliability
58%
Graphics
Tier 2 factors of consideration:
Top five benefits of transitioning to workstations for IT professionals:
1. Less time diagnosing performance issues
2. Less frustration with technical issues
3. Less general support time
4. Less time troubleshooting software issues