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Workstations are powerful computers that enable heavy processing for one or more users. This article discusses what a workstation is, how a workstation computer works, and how a workstation system can reduce costs.

What you will read in the rest of this post:

• What is the definition of a Workstation?
• What is a workstation system?
• The advantage of using these computers
• Disadvantages of using these computers
• Frequently Asked Questions

What is the definition workstation?

A workstation, abbreviated as WS, is a dedicated computer for one or a group of users who want to engage in professional or commercial work and perform an activity as a group. Or consist of multiple resolution displays and processors with more processing power than personal computers (PC). A workstation can do several tasks at the same time. This ability is more than the ability of personal computers. This ability is obtained due to the addition of more RAM, as well as the increase of various drives. At the same time, this category of computers can use high-speed adapters or other peripherals with a higher power.

The workstation may refer to a mainframe terminal used on a local area network (LAN). This computer may share network resources with one or more mainframe computers or servers located on the network.

What is a workstation system?

Workstations usually use optimized designs for working with complex data and visualizing it. For example, rendering images, editing photos, computer-aided drafting (CAD), animation, and rendering complex mathematical diagrams can take a lot of processing power.

The workstation system was first developed in the industrial sector to provide the market with tools and equipment to enable collaboration between teams or perform heavy tasks. These activities included creating 3D images, using multiple displays, performing calculations at a higher speed, as well as performing storage on a mass scale.

Finally, with the advent of personal computers that offer good teamwork capabilities, these computers have declined, and more attention has been directed towards more powerful personal computers and virtualization technologies. Additionally, the costs between a good quality workstation and a PC with the latest technologies have come down a lot. These low-power computers use low-power processors from Intel or AMD, while personal computers may use super-powerful processors from these companies, thus giving you more processing power.

Sometimes personal computers with very high hardware power are referred to as workstations, but these computers may not be able to communicate between users.

The equipment we need to create a workstation is:

• A RAM with Error Correction (EEC) can prevent serious processing errors.
• Additional sockets to add more RAM slots allow for better processing.
• Using multiple processor sockets that can support up to four processors depending on the type of motherboard.
• having several graphic outputs to display the image on several screens or special screens;
• A reliable operating system with structures that can meet the needs of users.
• Graphics cards with high speed and performance to get better quality images

The advantage of using these computers

The system of these computers can be easily shared between multiple users as a powerful hardware resource. Workstations can easily meet this need if a project involves the use of software or a database.

One of the most important advantages of workstations is the possibility of several users using the same software. In industrial or specialized software that has very high prices, users can access a subscription version; as a result, the cost of using the software license is reduced.

The next advantage of using these computers is to have complete and comprehensive monitoring of users’ activities. With this, the cost of using firewall systems, antiviruses and other security equipment is reduced and users can be easily monitored.

Disadvantages of using these computers

One of the most important disadvantages of workstations is their hardware costs. Strong hardware must be used in a workstation, which means increasing their setup costs.

At the same time, these computers do not provide users with many possibilities for resource sharing and ultimately remain at an average level of user presentation and sharing. Even as the number of users increases, their speed decreases.

Due to the developments that have happened in the field of data centers, servers and virtualization, the costs of these technologies have decreased a lot, and therefore they are considered as serious competitors for workstations.

Workstation oWorkstationon, abbreviated as WS, is actually a high-powered computer that enables the participation of several users to perform a professional or commercial task. These computers may be located in a local area network (LAN) as a mainframe. These computers use powerful hardware to perform their activities.

To have a good workstation system, we need to use strong hardware. Currently, powerful processors are designed for servers and these computers that benefit from high processing power.

There have also been good developments in the field of motherboards, RAMs and graphics cards. However, the price of a good workstation is not much different from using a good and powerful computer. The only difference here is the ability to share a PC between multiple users.

These computers can accelerate sharing activities by providing shareable hardware. Also, due to subscription in the use of software, they reduce the cost of operating license of specialized software. At the same time, they provide more security to computer users and administrators.

arious types of these computers from companies like HPE, Samsung, IBM, Apple and Microsoft in the market. Although all these workstations are different in their software and hardware configurations, they are all designed to provide high processing power to a group of users.

To have a good workstation system, we need to use strong hardware. Currently, powerful processors are designed for servers and these computers that benefit from high processing power. There have also been good developments in the field of motherboards, RAMs and graphics cards.

However, the price of a good workstation is not much different from using a good and powerful computer. The only difference here is the ability to share a PC between multiple users.

These computers can accelerate sharing activities by providing shareable hardware. Also, due to subscription in the use of software, they reduce the cost of operating license of specialized software. At the same time, they provide more security to computer users and administrators.

In addition to their advantages, these computers also have disadvantages. First is the high cost of having a workstation. The second is the limitation in resource allocation, which may limit the number of users, and finally, the removal of costs in alternative technologies, which can make the use of workstations seem less reasonable.

In this text, we learned about the importance of these computers and examined its disadvantages. In the future episodes, we will learn more about the technologies related to servers and other computers. And we will provide you with better solutions for sharing hardware resources and increasing hardware powers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a workstation?

Workstation oWorkstationon, abbreviated as “WS”, is a dedicated computer designed for one or a group of users who can use it to perform a professional or business activity. These computers have high processing power.

What is the difference between personal computers and workstations?

Workstations are powerful computers that can share their hardware and software resources between multiple users. They can also use other hardware resources in the network. However, personal computers or PCs may also benefit from good hardware power but have more limited possibilities in terms of sharing their resources. In terms of price, depending on the hardware and software used in these two, the prices may be different.

In what activities is thWorkstationon used?

Workstations are usually designed to work with complex and heavy data. These computers are used in image rendering, photo editing, computer aided drawing, animation and presentation of complex mathematical diagrams. These activities take a lot of processing time. We can also use workstations when we need to receive special outputs such as using multiple monitors.

What hardware is needed to have a workstation?

Having RAM with error correction (EEC), additional sockets for installing more RAM, more sockets for installing a processor that can reach four processors, a quality motherboard, a graphics card with efficient and multiple graphics output, a suitable network card And finally, a strong operating system that has software structures is required for this category of computers.

What are the advantages and disadvantages oWorkstationon?

The most important advantages of workstations are the sharing of hardware and software resources, the possibility of sharing specialized software and databases, and reducing security costs. And one of its most important disadvantages is the relatively expensive setup cost, reducing the level and speed of the resources being used when users are added, as well as unreasonable costs compared to alternative technologies such as virtualization and servers.