Business Productivity

All workstations are designed to give you more power and scalability than standard desktops. They have faster processors, more memory slots for RAM and plenty of input/output (I/O) ports for peripherals. In short, these machines are workhorses, capable of handling the most complex jobs associated with your profession.

So, how to choose which one is for you? Here are some things to think about: 

• 32-bit vs. 64-bit

Essentially, these terms refer to the way a computer's processor (or CPU) handles information. Some workstations allow you to choose a machine built with either type of architecture inside. 64-bit machines allow for much more RAM to be utilized than 32-bit machines. Also, while 64-bit machines can run applications designed for 32-bit systems, the reverse is not true.  

Here’s the thing: for the most part, you’re really only going to gain any performance power with a 64-bit machine if you’re running 64-bit applications or utilizing programs that are incredibly memory-intensive (video encoding, scientific research, searching massive databases, etc.). If you run such applications, or find that the ones you use most have 64-bit versions, then choosing a workstation with a 64-bit configuration option would be very advantageous.

• RAM

Simply put, the more RAM (random access memory) you have, the faster your programs will run, and the more programs you’ll be able to have open and use at any given time. You can really never have enough, but if you find yourself doing a lot of multi-tasking, or using large applications where load time and rendering time could be greatly reduced (design apps like AutoCAD®, 3-D animation apps like Lightwave 3-D®, video editing apps like Adobe® Premiere®), then look for workstations that have advanced scalability in terms of RAM upgrades. For instance, the Dell Precision™ T7500 can utilize up to 192 GB of RAM.

• Internal hard drive space

Bottom line: internal hard drives can be written to and read much faster than external drives connected by USB or other high-speed transfer cables. They tend to be more stable, as they are locked into the computer’s chassis and not jostled around as much as external ones, and they are less expensive. So, if you need to store lots of media or information — video, for instance — the workstation that can support the most internal hard drives may be the one for you.

Having a clear picture of your current and future workload will enable you to make smart choices when examining these workstation factors. Once you've made those choices, you’ll be well on your way to building the perfect workstation — at least the one that’s perfect for you — now.