Gaming computers and workstations, though similar in function, are two very different beasts.
While gaming PCs offer great graphics, they’re also more limited when it comes to processing power. Workstations, on the other hand, are designed to focus on graphics, so they’re well suited for tasks such as machine learning, creating 3D models, and similar tasks. But gaming PCs also offer advantages, like more storage space and hardware upgrades.
So, what’s the difference between gaming pc and workstation; how to buy the best gaming PC for beginners and what kind of processing tasks can I use a workstation for? We answer that question and more in this guide to building both gaming PCs and workstations.
What is a Workstation?
A workstation is a computer made for scientific and technical purposes and calculations. It includes ISV-certified, high-end hardware components and professional-grade software.
Various professions use workstations, and workstations are inevitably different in terms of specifications. But, all workstations have in common a fast CPU and a more than average quantity of memory.
Workstations are designed to handle more challenging tasks and deliver high performance. They also last longer, despite having to perform at a high level during lengthy sessions.
In the past, workstations were offered in tower chassis. Today, workstations can be found in various forms such as Tower and Small Form Factor Desktop, Mini, and mobile workstations.
What is a Gaming PC?
So, we have a fundamental definition of workstations. What do you think of gaming PCs?
When people imagine gaming computers, they think of a flashing, brightly colored, rainbow-colored box paired with flashy peripherals.
A gaming PC needs to be more powerful than the average computer. Modern games demand more technical specifications increasingly. That’s why a high-performance gaming PC needs components much superior to what gamers will ever require.
Playing games is a specific kind of activity. That’s why gaming computers are built to meet the specific requirements of gaming. Therefore, the difference between a gaming PC will vary from one part to another.
Despite the stigma of gaming PCs, they are also professional PCs. This pc also can perform tasks like video editing and 3D modeling as well as their counterparts in the field.
Difference between Gaming PC and Workstation (In a comparison Table)
| Gaming PC | Workstation |
| A Gaming PC is the consumer alter-ego of the workstation PC and is used mostly for gaming. | A workstation PC is a subset of the desktop PC family. |
| These PCs are mostly preferred by gamers. | Engineers, analysts, designers, content production specialists, developers, and anyone who requires data manipulation with a strong visual bent are the primary users. |
| The Gaming PCs are built for extraordinary performance for a smooth gaming experience. | The workstations are built with reliability, first and foremost, in mind. |
| The target audience of Gaming PCs is the entertainer who loves to experience video games. | They address a very different audience: one that earns a living working on a computer. |
Key Difference between Gaming PC and workstation (In paragraph)
CPU: Gaming PC vs Workstation
The most significant difference is the CPU utilized by every type of machine. The majority of computers classified as “workstations” will have powerful processors.
Workstations usually have processors designed specifically to handle parallel processing but not specifically for gaming. They typically go above anything a player could ever need or want, such as the Intel Xeon or AMD Thread ripper.
If you’re building a high gaming computer, it could cost you about $300 on a premium CPU. However, processors for workstations may be priced at more than $2,000.
How can you tell the differences? A consumer CPU can have around 4 to 6 cores, with the size of the cache being proportional to the number of cores. Contrast this with the workstation CPU could have 32 cores and huge cache sizes to match.
You may have heard that Intel Core i7 and Ryzen 7 processors are the most efficient processors utilized in gaming PCs. Anything higher is a bit over the top.
However, as you see, workstations can go farther, using processors that can’t be utilized for gaming unless they are used as a workstation or gaming PC.
GPU: Gaming PC vs Workstation
GPU is the most important element in a gaming computer. It can also form an integral part of a computer if used for graphics-intensive tasks like editing videos, photo editing, and 3D modeling.
As you would imagine, graphic processing units (GPU) are often the primary part of a gaming system. However, it could be equally crucial in the workstation, especially if it is designed to handle 3D modeling, editing video, or similar tasks.
For GPUs, the two main gamers include NVidia GeForce and AMD Radeon. Of course, many companies make cards designed specifically for designers. But almost every card sold is derived from one of these two.
These two brands offer a range of GPUs designed specifically for workstations, such as the Quadro and the RadeonPro. They differ from normal GPUs in that they provide more video memory.
They are designed for games that use GPUs, not games, and generally have faster speeds of clocks. Although they can be converted into gaming, they’re not designed for gaming and sometimes face minor issues with support.
RAM: Workstation vs Gaming PC
Regarding RAM, you won’t require anything to run a top-quality gaming pc. The 8GB RAM that you have is a common need these days. And it is enough to run smoothly every game on PC.
In contrast, workstations usually require massive amounts of RAM for processing data-intensive tasks. Typical workstations have up to 64GB of RAM, and high-end models reach 128GB or more.
Workstations may also utilize another kind of RAM, called error-correcting codes (ECC) memory. It’s a form of RAM that helps improve programs’ stability and prevents data loss. It accomplishes this by being able to detect corruption in data within. There is no risk of corruption, such as scientific research and banking ECC. RAM can be a significant element of your system.
However, gamers aren’t keen on using RAM. It’s not just that it costs significantly more than regular RAM. But it also performs less well under a wide range of different circumstances. If you don’t need near protection from data corruption, it’s probably not something you’ll need to deal with. It’s extremely commonplace in workstations.
Storage: Workstation vs Gaming PC
Modern workstations use SSDs as the primary method for storing data because of their incredible speed, which is greater than the capacity of HDDs. But, a workstation user could also have to store huge amounts of information. Therefore, HDDs with several terabytes of storage space are typically used when setting up the system.
Gaming PCs and workstations aren’t too different aside from one thing: a computer will likely use larger capacity storage drives.
Motherboard: Gaming PC vs Workstation
Since workstations are often equipped with special RAM and CPUs that are compatible, there are different motherboards for them.
In addition to having the correct socket for workstation CPUs, these motherboards have been unlocked to accommodate larger quantities of RAM. They are also likely to be good quality of construction. As a result, the chipsets found on different motherboards for workstations are typically not exceptional.
A motherboard for workstations isn’t all that different, aside from the fact that it could use a particular socket and chipset. Specifically, that is designed to work with the more powerful CPUs described above.
However, some users purchase motherboards with additional memory and PCIe slots to meet their needs. In addition, there are dual-CPU motherboards; however, they are less frequent among servers.
Sound: Gaming PC vs Workstation
The most significant difference comes in the sound capabilities when moving to game PCs. Workstations might or might not be concerned about the sound quality, but it’s essential for gaming PCs. The sound chip you choose is crucial if you’re a casual gamer who wants to be immersed or an athlete looking for an edge.
Many gaming motherboards feature an audiophile-type design that includes gold-plated I/O contacts and filters for power to an audio converter.
A gaming PC usually includes more advanced and expensive sound technology. This guarantees clear sound, allowing gamers to be transported into the realm of adventures.
When you use a typical desktop computer, you’ll get a basic sound system, while some might not even have one. So adding additional speakers that connect via Bluetooth or a USB cable is necessary, based on the model and capabilities.
Performance: Workstation vs Gaming PC
Based on the type of workstation or Gaming PC used, differences in performance could favor one side.
In general, the gaming PC will always have the best price-to-performance ratio contrasted with a workstation.
For instance, the performance ratio of the five-dollar Nvidia Quadro RTX8000 versus that of the $700 GeForce RTX 3080. Or the single-core Cinebench R20 results from the AMD 5,500 Ryzen TR 3990X and that of the Ryzen 7 3700X, which costs $329.
However, this could be false because there is a difference between the Quadro RTX 8000, which has more than four times more VRAM than an RTX 3080. In addition, the TR 3990X is eight times the cores of the 3700X.
The cost will be more for common parts since they do not come with better-quality premium components, extended warranties, or extra R&D to ensure professional software compatibility or ISV certifications.
Our Verdict
The main Difference Between Gaming Pc and Workstation is that gaming computers are designed for playing video games, whereas workstations are used for doing various professional tasks, such as working on a project or writing. This makes gaming computers great for people who want to play games for hours on end, while workstations are more versatile and can be used for tasks such as editing videos or writing.
The gaming PC has come a long way in recent years, with more and more people choosing to buy one specifically for gaming. While there are plenty of different options available, we have chosen the best gaming pc for 2022. This will ensure that you have the best possible experience when playing your favorite games.
Best Prebuilt Gaming PC for Beginners
CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC
The CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC is one of the best-prebuilt gaming PCs that delivers great performance and features a beautiful design.
This computer is ideal for gamers who want to live on the edge. It’s packed with components that you will find in many high-end systems, but it’s a fraction of the price of those systems. The Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC is a great gaming machine if you have a limited budget, but want to experience PC gaming at its best.
We tested this PC by running through a series of benchmark tests. We ran tests that simulate different game environments, including first-person shooters, real-time strategy, and sports games.
The Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC ships with Windows 10 Home pre-installed, but if you prefer a different OS, it can easily be upgraded. CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC is powerful enough for any title currently available, including the latest AAA titles like Overwatch, Battlefield 1, and Fallout 4. Games like Overwatch, Battlefield 1, etc.
Best Gaming PC Setup 2022
iBUYPOWER Pro Gaming PC Computer Desktop
Every gamer knows: A Good Gaming PC Setup is the heart of your gaming world. By choosing a gaming PC, you are choosing a gaming machine that will withstand and surpass all your expectations. The machines available today are so advanced that almost anyone can build one.
iBUYPOWER Gaming PC Computer Desktop is a beast; if you’ve never owned a proper gaming computer or haven’t owned one in a few years (like me), you will be immediately astounded by its chassis and internal configuration/lighting. It is a masterpiece, composed almost entirely of glass.
The mouse and keyboard are sort of, sort of, sort of, yeah, sort of, not the best. The mouse is hefty, and the buttons are still positioned on the mouse’s side, neither of which is particularly convenient for a gamer.
The keyboard also offers limited customization options (if it matters to you). The keyboard is a little strange, everything feels so separated, including the keys, which is again not the most comfortable thing for a gamer to have.
If you want to choose a different gaming keyboard, read out our article “difference between Gaming Keyboard and Regular Keyboard” here.
Best Affordable Gaming PC 2022
HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop
Computer games have become more sophisticated in recent years, and today it’s rare to see someone playing a casual game on a smartphone or tablet. Today, almost every new PC game requires a high-end graphics processor and a fast, powerful computer, and the best gaming PC isn’t cheap.
In the past, low-end gaming PCs didn’t offer good performance and were difficult to build and maintain, especially for novice PC builders. Now, the best gaming PCs are affordable and offer gamers plenty of horsepowers.
With the HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop, you can transform a lackluster gaming PC into a powerful one without breaking the bank. This PC can easily handle today’s most popular games, including The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Dying Light.
Gaming enthusiasts of this price point can rejoice as this PC comes with all the bells and whistles gamers need without a steep price. Well, yeah. But the PCs we tested for this roundup are more than just cheap and cheerful. We think they compete well against similar machines with much higher price tags, and that means they’re worth considering if you’re in the market for a new PC.
FAQs
Can I use a workstation as a gaming PC?
Yes, because of its capacity and memory available in most workstations.
A point to consider is the GPU. If you don’t own a top-quality system focused on resolution, and a steady frame rate, based on your monitor’s refresh rate, this might not be as reliable visually as you’d like.
If you enjoy creating gaming machines, you may not have the same ease of moving to an office computer.
The differences between PCs for gaming and workstations depend on the particular situation and personal preferences. Of course, it is possible to combine the two. But, you’ll need to compromise the quality of graphics as well as stability and storage to spend a significant amount of money on constructing a computer.
The best method is to think about the applications you’ll be using your computer for the majority. Then, look for ways to negotiate compromises and upgrade choices that offer the best experience in a different situation.
Is a workstation better than a PC?
Yes, a workstation is better than a normal PC.
A workstation is stronger than a typical PC, with more advanced specs, such as an improved CPU and GPU, greater memory, more storage capacity software, certification of software, and the capability to stand up to continuous use.
They often include a discrete GPU, which means the CPU doesn’t have to perform double duty on the visual aspects.
Why Are Workstations So Expensive?
Workstations are expensive because of their professional aspects, including ISV training and accreditation.
Add on the additional research and development costs to support software, optimized drivers, and custom hardware. You will discern that their prices are higher than the common hardware. Be aware that workstations built by a third party could cost more than making your own.
Are Workstations Worth It?
Absolutely, for the perfect professional.
Workstations are investments, and those who invest in them do so hoping to make profits, either in terms of money or not.
A workstation allows you to fully realize your potential or perform scientific or technical tasks that let you be productive and provide the best value to your clients or employers.
Can You Game on a Workstation?
Yes, but it varies according to the type of workstation.
It’s also a matter of debate whether it’s worth it to put such costly equipment through the stress and wear of long games, however, for some games in the background. But, again, there’s nothing to lose, nothing harm, no foul.
Which is Better – Gaming Desktop or Regular?
Both desktop and gaming computers come with their particular advantage and disadvantage. The one you choose will be based mainly on other fundamental factors like Your requirements, your choice, and of course, your budget.
If you have the idea that gaming computers do not let your child perform or you do other tasks on computers, you’re completely wrong.
In the ideal scenario, a gaming computer should function just like a normal desktop computer. The main advantage of a gaming desk is that it permits gamers to play the most advanced games. On the other hand, a standard computer can play the classic games that usually come pre-installed on it.
The final word is that gaming desktop computers will be able to serve two purposes, entertainment, and work, and this is the sole downside of a normal desktop computer.
