Graphic / CAD / CAM Design Workstation
CAD stands for Computer Aided Design and CAM stands for Computer Aided Manufacturing. These graphics workstations would need the following:
- SSD: for high speed storage
- High-end video: to work with complex graphics
- Maximum RAM: Graphics work requires significant memory usage
Audio/ Video Editing Workstation
An audio / video editing workstation would need the following:
- Specialized audio and video card: to get high quality audio and highest resolution video
- Large, fast hard drive: Audio/video editing workstations are constantly reading and writing information to storage so an SSD is common
- Dual monitors: To edit in one monitor and view the output on another screen.
Virtualization Workstation
With a virtualization workstation, you may have multiple operating systems operating at the same time.
- Maximum RAM and CPU cores: Every operating system needs its own memory. You need enough CPU to support the multiple operating systems. Most virtualization apps can use multiple cores.
Gaming PC
A PC primarily used for gaming purposes would need the following:
- SSD: To provide fast start and load times.
- High-end video/specialized GPU: Games are graphically complex
- High-definition sound card: Audio is a central component in gaming. There may be multiple layers of audio which add to gaming environment.
- High-end cooling: Games usually run for hours at a time while using much of the component’s resources and therefore need efficient cooling
Network Attached Storage Device
If you need centralized storage, a network attached storage (NAS) device is recommended. A NAS is a device you connect to your network and then can be accessed from anywhere on your network.
- Media streaming: You can put all your video content on the NAS and then stream the media to any of your devices.
- File sharing: You can centralize your file storage on a NAS to allow any device on your network to access the files.
- Gigabit NIC: You want the fastest possible throughput for high speed data transfer
- RAID array: All your data is in one central place so you want a redundant array of hard drives to prevent a single hard drive failure to cause your data to be unavailable.
- Hard drive
Standard thick client
A traditional desktop computer is referred to as a thick client
- Desktop applications: Executiable programs run in local memory using the local CPU.
- Meets recommended requirements for selected OS: The hardware of the computer must meet the requirements for running the operating system and intended applications to be run (CPU, total RAM, disk space, etc.)
Thin client
With a thin client the applications are not actually executing on the local device. The applications are run on a remote server and the local device is remoting into that server. This is referred to as VDI which stands for Virtual Desktop Infrastructure. The local device is just a keyboard, mouse, and screen.
The thin client on the user’s desk just needs to provide remote access to the application. So the actual hardware of the thin client must meet the minimum amount of video, RAM, and storage needed to provide the Remote Desktop functionality.
- Basic applications
- Meets minimum requirements for selected OS
- Network connectivity: You need a solid network connectivity since everything will be happening across the network.
Custom Configurations Summary
Custom Workstation | Processor | Video | RAM | Storage | Audio | Notes |
Graphics/CAD/CAM | * | * | * | SSD storage, max RAM | ||
Audio/Video Editing | * | * | Lots of fast storage, dual monitors | |||
Virtualization Workstation | * | * | Max CPU and RAM | |||
Gaming | * | * | * | SSD storage, high end cooling | ||
Network Attached Storage | * | High capacity hard drives | ||||
Thick Client | Meets operating system requirements | |||||
Thin Client | Meets requirements to support remot desktop functionality |