Workstations vs. PCs:
Why the ThinkStation Is the Right Choice
Don’t freeze up.
It happens like clockwork. An employee is
just about to complete his or her work on a
business-critical task when the PC suddenly
freezes up. Minutes — and sometimes even
hours — of productivity can be lost waiting
for the system to function again. Valuable
time can also be wasted waiting for files to
open or process.
Not only do these issues leave the
employee in a tense, frustrated state, but
they can also have negative implications
for the company.
While even the most economical desktop
computers can efficiently run common
business applications, some companies
need more from their hardware than a PC
can offer. Furnishing increased computing
power, workstations are designed to meet
the demands required by complex tasks
like medical imaging, financial modeling
and product design.
You may not be fully aware of your options,
but IT specialists can help you understand
the differences and benefits of selecting
a workstation versus a desktop PC. With
efficiency being the predominant concern
for key employees, workstations like the
Lenovo® ThinkStation® can help improve
productivity, reliability and usability.
Common issues
Professional software can tax desktop
PCs or basic, uncertified workstations:
The right tool
for the job
• Productivity suffers due to sluggish
and inefficient applications, as the
hardware isn’t appropriately set up for
the undertaking.
Using a generic workstation
• Minutes are wasted waiting for files
to open on a PC or for mouse inputs
to be processed when it’s working
ineffectively.
similar to using a standard
• Hours are lost as 3-D models or video
files slowly form due to the system’s
limited processing power.
car would likely be left
• Features are deactivated on
uncertified workstations and
desktop PCs.
• Blue screens put a halt to work due to
strained memory and hardware.
These problems arise because desktop
PCs and basic workstations are designed
for standard office use.
or a desktop PC to perform
complicated, robust tasks is
compact car in a major
automobile race. Your
overheating in the dust. A
standard economy car can
get you from point A to
point B, but in this instance,
a racecar is needed to
achieve ideal performance.
Don’t freeze up.
It happens like clockwork. An employee is
just about to complete his or her work on a
business-critical task when the PC suddenly
freezes up. Minutes — and sometimes even
hours — of productivity can be lost waiting
for the system to function again. Valuable
time can also be wasted waiting for files to
open or process.
Not only do these issues leave the
employee in a tense, frustrated state, but
they can also have negative implications
for the company.
While even the most economical desktop
computers can efficiently run common
business applications, some companies
need more from their hardware than a PC
can offer. Furnishing increased computing
power, workstations are designed to meet
the demands required by complex tasks
like medical imaging, financial modeling
and product design.
You may not be fully aware of your options,
but IT specialists can help you understand
the differences and benefits of selecting
a workstation versus a desktop PC. With
efficiency being the predominant concern
for key employees, workstations like the
Lenovo® ThinkStation® can help improve
productivity, reliability and usability.
Common issues
Professional software can tax desktop
PCs or basic, uncertified workstations:
The right tool
for the job
• Productivity suffers due to sluggish
and inefficient applications, as the
hardware isn’t appropriately set up for
the undertaking.
Using a generic workstation
• Minutes are wasted waiting for files
to open on a PC or for mouse inputs
to be processed when it’s working
ineffectively.
similar to using a standard
• Hours are lost as 3-D models or video
files slowly form due to the system’s
limited processing power.
car would likely be left
• Features are deactivated on
uncertified workstations and
desktop PCs.
• Blue screens put a halt to work due to
strained memory and hardware.
These problems arise because desktop
PCs and basic workstations are designed
for standard office use.
or a desktop PC to perform
complicated, robust tasks is
compact car in a major
automobile race. Your
overheating in the dust. A
standard economy car can
get you from point A to
point B, but in this instance,
a racecar is needed to
achieve ideal performance.
If the platform executing essential work isn’t reliable, it doesn’t matter if it offers a
large storage capacity, high-end graphics implementation or multicore processing.
That’s why it’s imperative that you select the right workstation.
Lenovo ThinkStation workstations offer performance, reliability and usability.
A reliable platform
Reliability is the most important consideration
when selecting a device to perform business-critical
assignments. Not only will workstations meet the
demands of applications leveraged to execute
complex tasks, but they will also reduce the total
cost of ownership.
Performance
Professional software is only as good as
the hardware that supports it. Therefore,
when you’re running business-critical
applications, the hardware needs to
exceed the demands of the software.
In looking to the future, applications
that drive business growth are likely to
require more from the hardware they
use. ThinkStation workstations offer vital
features of flexibility and scalability.
Reliability
To compete in the marketplace,
organizations need reliable workstations.
Repairs can cost both time and money,
as these systems are critical to daily
operations. ThinkStation workstations
are more dependable than PCs or basic
workstations, innately decreasing the
total cost of downtime.
Usability
Independent Software Vendors (ISVs)
create software for specific professions.
Many of these ISVs test their software
against hardware to ensure compatibility.
They also examine for stability and
reliability while operating, as well as
assessing for system performance and
a superior user experience.
With ISV certification, Lenovo ThinkStation
P Series workstations provide users with
performance, reliability and usability when
running applications that are vital to the
organization’s success.
If the platform executing essential work isn’t reliable, it doesn’t matter if it offers a
large storage capacity, high-end graphics implementation or multicore processing.
That’s why it’s imperative that you select the right workstation.
Lenovo ThinkStation workstations offer performance, reliability and usability.
A reliable platform
Reliability is the most important consideration
when selecting a device to perform business-critical
assignments. Not only will workstations meet the
demands of applications leveraged to execute
complex tasks, but they will also reduce the total
cost of ownership.
Performance
Professional software is only as good as
the hardware that supports it. Therefore,
when you’re running business-critical
applications, the hardware needs to
exceed the demands of the software.
In looking to the future, applications
that drive business growth are likely to
require more from the hardware they
use. ThinkStation workstations offer vital
features of flexibility and scalability.
Reliability
To compete in the marketplace,
organizations need reliable workstations.
Repairs can cost both time and money,
as these systems are critical to daily
operations. ThinkStation workstations
are more dependable than PCs or basic
workstations, innately decreasing the
total cost of downtime.
Usability
Independent Software Vendors (ISVs)
create software for specific professions.
Many of these ISVs test their software
against hardware to ensure compatibility.
They also examine for stability and
reliability while operating, as well as
assessing for system performance and
a superior user experience.
With ISV certification, Lenovo ThinkStation
P Series workstations provide users with
performance, reliability and usability when
running applications that are vital to the
organization’s success.
Key benefits
Paired with Lenovo ThinkStation workstations, Windows® 8 performs even more
optimally. Together, their benefits include:
The Lenovo ThinkStation P Series workstations
offer eight significant benefits:
• Faster boot times
• Less memory usage
• Better security with
Trusted Boot and
BitLocker®
• Ease of support
• Efficiency for power
users
• More powerful File
Explorer
• Storage Spaces
• File history
• Improved Task Manager
• Faster Wi-Fi
reconnection
• Auto-triggered VPN
• OneDrive® integration
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Improved
repair rates
A way to
sidestep setbacks
Comprehensive
checks
Effortless
enhancements
No more
blue screens
Less power
consumption
Resolute
reliability
Immediate
investigation
Lenovo
workstations fail
20% less than
the competition.1
ISV certification
eliminates a
wide range of
potential issues with
professional software.
In-depth testing
for myriad strenuous
tasks has been
conducted on
Lenovo ThinkStation
workstations.
Drive and card
changes are easy,
and upgrades and
deployments will
be quick with a
flexible, modular
design.
Users will
experience fewer
memory issues
and blue screens
with greater
Error-Correcting
Code (ECC) memory
capabilities.2
With Intel® Turbo
Boost technology,
P Series devices
enhance productivity
as they’re quieter
and cooler than
other workstations.2
With the most
reliable workstation
on the market,
you can remain
confident in the
promises your
organization makes.2
Users can
monitor and run
diagnostics on
their workstations
via mobile
applications.
“Lenovo ThinkStations: Supporting Enterprises’ Key Business Objectives as a Leader in Reliability.”
Technology Business Research Inc. July 2012.
1
2
“Workstation vs. Desktop PC: Make the Right Professional Choice.” Lenovo. 2014.
Key benefits
Paired with Lenovo ThinkStation workstations, Windows® 8 performs even more
optimally. Together, their benefits include:
The Lenovo ThinkStation P Series workstations
offer eight significant benefits:
• Faster boot times
• Less memory usage
• Better security with
Trusted Boot and
BitLocker®
• Ease of support
• Efficiency for power
users
• More powerful File
Explorer
• Storage Spaces
• File history
• Improved Task Manager
• Faster Wi-Fi
reconnection
• Auto-triggered VPN
• OneDrive® integration
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Improved
repair rates
A way to
sidestep setbacks
Comprehensive
checks
Effortless
enhancements
No more
blue screens
Less power
consumption
Resolute
reliability
Immediate
investigation
Lenovo
workstations fail
20% less than
the competition.1
ISV certification
eliminates a
wide range of
potential issues with
professional software.
In-depth testing
for myriad strenuous
tasks has been
conducted on
Lenovo ThinkStation
workstations.
Drive and card
changes are easy,
and upgrades and
deployments will
be quick with a
flexible, modular
design.
Users will
experience fewer
memory issues
and blue screens
with greater
Error-Correcting
Code (ECC) memory
capabilities.2
With Intel® Turbo
Boost technology,
P Series devices
enhance productivity
as they’re quieter
and cooler than
other workstations.2
With the most
reliable workstation
on the market,
you can remain
confident in the
promises your
organization makes.2
Users can
monitor and run
diagnostics on
their workstations
via mobile
applications.
“Lenovo ThinkStations: Supporting Enterprises’ Key Business Objectives as a Leader in Reliability.”
Technology Business Research Inc. July 2012.
1
2
“Workstation vs. Desktop PC: Make the Right Professional Choice.” Lenovo. 2014.
Understanding the many ways basic desktop PCs and ThinkStation
workstations differ can help you make the right choice for your organization.
PC
Users
Engineers, architects, video editors,
animators, financial analysts, product
designers and others.
Business or administrative
professionals and home or smallbusiness computer users.
Performance
Provides optimal performance when
searching through large databases,
rendering designs or running multiple
applications at the same time.
Performance is at its highest
when using a browser, emailing,
videoconferencing, chatting or
running office productivity software.
Features
Often has more cores per CPU
for increased parallel processing
capabilities. Also comes equipped
with added RAM and larger,
faster hard drives.
Provides multicore processors but
less RAM and smaller, slower
hard drives, only supporting less
demanding workloads.
Flexibility
What’s the difference?
Workstation
Often designed to ensure hard drives
can be added or changed, RAM can
be increased and extra graphics cards
can be added.
GPU, network interfaces and hard
drive controllers are integrated into
the motherboard, often not allowing
for an extra hard drive or an
enhanced graphics card.
A crucial consideration
Selecting the right partner is critical. Because many of the tasks performed on these
workstations are vital to the business and its customers, you’ll need to team up with an
organization whose products deliver performance, reliability and usability.
Understanding the many ways basic desktop PCs and ThinkStation
workstations differ can help you make the right choice for your organization.
PC
Users
Engineers, architects, video editors,
animators, financial analysts, product
designers and others.
Business or administrative
professionals and home or smallbusiness computer users.
Performance
Provides optimal performance when
searching through large databases,
rendering designs or running multiple
applications at the same time.
Performance is at its highest
when using a browser, emailing,
videoconferencing, chatting or
running office productivity software.
Features
Often has more cores per CPU
for increased parallel processing
capabilities. Also comes equipped
with added RAM and larger,
faster hard drives.
Provides multicore processors but
less RAM and smaller, slower
hard drives, only supporting less
demanding workloads.
Flexibility
What’s the difference?
Workstation
Often designed to ensure hard drives
can be added or changed, RAM can
be increased and extra graphics cards
can be added.
GPU, network interfaces and hard
drive controllers are integrated into
the motherboard, often not allowing
for an extra hard drive or an
enhanced graphics card.
A crucial consideration
Selecting the right partner is critical. Because many of the tasks performed on these
workstations are vital to the business and its customers, you’ll need to team up with an
organization whose products deliver performance, reliability and usability.
Improve efficiency with Insight.
As a Premier Lenovo Business Partner, Insight offers precise solutions that drive
workforce productivity.
Our dedicated team understands the particular needs of businesses that regularly perform
demanding tasks. We’ll help you uncover the right Lenovo ThinkStation solution for your
organization, to improve productivity and business growth.
We provide cost-effective solutions, along with the expertise to guide you through the
process — from strategy to implementation and beyond.
Call 1.800.INSIGHT or visit insight.com to learn more.