The HP Z Workstation series<\/i><\/p>\n
What sets workstations apart from standard PCs is a higher base point for the essentials an architect needs most, at the exclusion of unnecessary features. Standard-issue business PCs cast a wide net by trying to work well for any industry, resulting in inefficiencies in all but the simplest applications. Workstations, on the other hand, make gains by zeroing in on what\u2019s important for designers, such as processing power, graphics performance, large memory capacities and hard drive speed. Intel\u00ae\u2019s Xeon\u00ae and Core\u2122 chips, for example, are both available options in HP\u2019s Z Workstations, setting a high starting point for processing power.<\/p>\n
The most significant difference between PCs and Workstations is their purpose-driven approach to software applications. Shopping for a Z Workstation through HP allows the opportunity to match a specific model to specific software needs, a far cry from the guesswork typically involved in selecting a PC. HP even works with vendors of the most popular design programs to certify all Z workstations with their applications, ensuring they run smoothly and effectively on the Z Workstation portfolio of products in a host of demanding situations \u2014 a must for designers who often run multiple programs concurrently.<\/p>\n
HP\u2019s new Z Workstations allow architects to dispense with the old practice of making do with entry-level machines as a cost-saving measure. By calculating the hours lost waiting for a PC to process a rendering or crash when running simultaneous applications relative to the hourly rate of the designer who\u2019s using it, an architect can quickly determine how much money they\u2019re losing by settling for an entry-level PC. In the past, this may have been economical compared to the sky-high cost of premium desktops, but efficiently-priced Z Workstations now drive the cost of accepting subpar PC performance considerably higher than before. In essence, time is money, and the net savings many firms see when switching from PCs to Workstations outstrip the lost productivity costs inherent to entry-level PCs.<\/p>\n
Unlike business PCs, workstations are specifically designed to excel under the heavy use of powerful, top-notch graphics cards. Z Workstations work seamlessly with all of NVIDIA\u2019s Quadro graphics cards, enabling reliable performance when working in complex modeling, rendering and documentation programs, either separately or simultaneously. The graphics power of a workstation is easily customizable and scalable thanks to a tool-less hardware design that allows internal components to be switched out without expert knowledge. Contrary to typical PCs, workstations can even accommodate power needs in the form of multiple graphics cards or processors, as well as supporting the use of up to eight monitors for a single workstation.<\/p>\n
HP\u2019s professional graphics line-up is perfect for users who are running business critical applications based on OpenGL and DirectX\u00ae who require stability, reliability, great performance, additional support and optimization for things like complex design modeling, dataset manipulation, visual effects and visualization. HP works closely with its graphics vendors to ensure the highest level of quality on both hardware and software.<\/p>\n
In terms of meeting an architect\u2019s expectations for a workstation relative to a PC, HP\u2019s Remote Graphics Software (RGS), which comes standard on every Z Workstation, offers the finishing touch. RGS allows immediate access to powerful software on a Z Workstation from anywhere with an internet connection. Whether controlling the workstation from a tablet or desktop, RGS ensures programs like Revit, AutoCAD and Photoshop will run smoothly on a secondary device anywhere in the world.<\/p>\n