Workstation Graphics Cards

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Workstation Video Card Differences

Introduction

What is a workstation video card? It is a specialized type of video card that is similar to a desktop graphics card but with several differences that make it better suited for professional workloads. While desktop graphics cards are often used for gaming and multimedia playback, workstation video cards are geared more towards tasks such as graphics and design editing, outputting video to multiple displays, three-dimensional rendering, and more. Below, NeweggBusiness outlines some of the major hardware and software differences between desktop and workstation video cards.

Memory

For desktop and workstation video cards, video card memory (VRAM) is used to store image data so it can be quickly accessed by the GPU. A larger VRAM capacity will allow a video card to store more texture data without having to stream it from the hard drive. For tasks such as rendering three dimensional models with textures, more VRAM allows the computer to render more quickly. Some workstation video cards can have up to 12 gigabytes of video memory while most desktop video cards usually have one to six gigabytes of video memory.

Driver Optimization

Drivers are programs that control hardware devices such as sound cards, network interface cards, and video cards. They have a direct impact on video card performance, stability, and program compatibility. Compared to drivers for desktop video cards, drivers for workstation graphics accelerators usually prioritize stability and performance for professional software applications instead of games.

Another benefit is that drivers for workstation video cards can sometimes be optimized for specific programs. For example, some manufacturers offer several different drivers for one workstation video card. One can be for AutoCAD®, another for 3ds Max®, and a third for Maya®. Meanwhile, desktop video cards typically just have a single driver for all applications.

Application Programming Interface (API) Support

An API is a standard used by software for the purpose of communicating with other software. In the case of video cards, an API allows programs and games to communicate with the software drivers. Compared to their desktop counterparts, workstation cards offer support for APIs that are geared more for professional software. Because desktop video graphics cards are not primarily used as workstation solutions, the APIs that they support are typically not ideal for professional software.

Conclusion

Though desktop and workstation video cards can sometimes be based on the same hardware, the hardware differences mentioned above allow them to handle more complex tasks. In addition, specialized software drivers and API support allow workstation video cards to be more suited for the needs of professionals.

By NeweggBusiness Staff