Take a Systems Approach to Workstations

When the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle said “The whole is more than the sum of its parts,” he wasn’t talking about workstations, but the adage still applies. All computing solutions are made up of basic components such as processors, memory, storage, cooling, power supplies and networking. But when you invest in a workstation, you’re not just buying a box of components. A workstation is a complicated system of hardware, drivers, operating systems and applications that either all work together to be greater than the sum of its parts, or crash separately and routinely.

Engineering is Not a Game

Take computers sold to hardcore gamers as an example. Gaming rigs may run 3D applications at high frame rates utilizing consumer graphics cards, so that when you frag your friends in Call of Duty or cast a spell in Skyrim, the animated action is smooth. That means a dedicated gaming machine and a professional engineering workstation may have similar specifications, but that doesn’t mean you should run your CAD, simulation and rendering software on what is basically a tricked out consumer PC, or beefed up gaming console.

Here are the top factors to consider when investing in a new workstation, according to the engineering workstation experts at BOXX Technologies.

1. Engineered for peak performance. Not all components are created equally. At BOXX, you can customize a solution to meet your needs with plenty of processor choices — including Intel® Xeon® processors, which are required to use error-correcting code (ECC) RAM — safe, professional overclocking with speeds that are guaranteed for the life of the warranty, liquid cooling that prolongs the life of system components, and high-speed storage options. BOXXlabs tests all of its configurations with the applications you use to ensure they’re reliable and built for speed. In addition, all of BOXX’s chassis are designed in-house, using SOLIDWORKS, and fabricated right here in the USA, not stamped out in metal and plastic overseas.

2. Optimized for creative workflows. Engineers have needs different from those of gamers and other computer users. In fact, different types of engineers require different solutions, so your workflow should determine your workstation needs. You might benefit most from a safely overclocked CPU that significantly speeds up single-threaded applications like CAD design and 3D modeling. But overclocking for professionals greatly differs from overclocking for gaming. You also may need multiple professional GPUs for applications that can take advantage of them like rendering and visualization. Whatever your needs, BOXX Technologies focuses on creative workflows and can help you configure the best system for your specific requirements with room for future expansion.

3. Supported for solving problems. We’ve all been through the tech support phone trees and scripted dialogs that seem like they’re intended to force you to give up, rather than to help you solve a problem. BOXX Technical Support is staffed by experienced professionals in the company’s Austin, TX, headquarters who understand your applications and can solve your issues. The company has partnerships and certifications with key hardware and software vendors — including Intel, NVIDIA, Autodesk and Dassault Systèmes — so that it can isolate the source of an issue and quickly resolve it.

BOXX TECHNOLOGIES has computing solutions designed specifically for design engineering work in a form factor to meet your needs.

Specs are important to note when comparing systems, but they only tell part of the story. How those components interact with the engineering applications and plugins you rely on is the difference between meeting and missing deadlines. How customer support interacts with you if there’s a problem can be the difference between a frustrating failure and a successful solution.

For more information, visit BOXX Technologies.