Many different varieties of laptops are used for various purposes, starting from the primary computing devices that will run the basic tasks to advanced workstation laptops used for animation and graphics work.
Another category is the gaming laptops that will run the latest AAA gaming without any lag. They come with the current hardware specs available in the market.
But, many times, consumers get confused when it comes to selecting the right for their needs. Should you opt for the gaming laptop for doing professional work than the professional device? In any case, they all come with the advanced and thus can handle any workload.
Whereas gaming laptops can take on intensive workloads, there’re several reasons why they are not appropriate for professional work. Let us know the difference between a workstation laptop vs gaming laptop in this post.
What’s a Workstation Laptop?
Mobile workstation laptops or professional laptops are used for doing heavy-duty tasks, which may need plenty of computing power such as Designing, 3D modeling, Cloud Computing, Animation, AI Design, Maintaining Huge Servers, and more.
These laptops are generally made from the best CPUs & GPUs that can perform demanding tasks without Thermal Throttling. The workstation laptop series has the proper hardware specifications possible on the laptop. These laptops have a robust processor, Graphics Card, higher capacity RAM, and plenty of storage space.
What’s a Gaming Laptop?
Gaming laptops are designed to support the latest game software competently. Powerful GPU isn’t featured by the gaming laptops that will execute graphics software. But, you can use workstation laptops for both work and gaming purposes.
A gaming laptop is an optimal choice for business travelers; because they are highly convenient and portable. Another primary benefit of a gaming laptop is these laptops are affordable. Hence, if you are searching for laptops that include good GPU and available at a decent process, then gaming laptops will be the best choice for you.
The Main Differences Between Workstation laptop vs Gaming laptop
The significant differences between the workstation and gaming laptop reside mainly in the critical components like CPU, GPU, Display, RAM, and storage space.
Central Processing Unit or CPU
The significant dissimilarity between both types of laptops is their power of processor or CPU. Workstations will need processors with 32 cores and higher memory to multitask and process heavy volumes of data.
The processors go beyond what the gamer may need if they build a machine that will perform similar tasks as a workstation. For the best gaming laptop, Intel® Core™ i7 is a recommended processor.
Graphics Processing Unit or GPU
Another way to differentiate between the Workstation and Gaming laptop is by looking at their Graphics Card. Mobile Workstations use professional and powerful Graphics cards such as NVIDIA Quadro, AMD FirePro, or Radeon Pro. These cards have better clock speeds with higher VRAM and can render plenty of images & graphics within seconds. The GPUs will process plenty of heavy tasks and have the better graphics processing power.
The gaming machines use GPUs made only for gaming & not for running any professional software or application. Gaming laptops generally use NVIDIA GeForce & AMD Radeon Cards.
The GPUs are made with Stream Processors, CUDA cores, and clock speeds to handle AAA games easily. But, some gaming laptops use Max-Q NVIDIA graphic cards to prevent Throttling.
Display
The gaming laptops have a high screen rate of over 120Hz, whereas workstation machines have a lower refresh rate of 60Hz. Gaming laptops have a high refresh rate that will avoid stumbling, splitting, and the appearance of double images on their screen.
The gaming laptops generally have matte screens, but the workstation laptops screen uses very glossy displays. The flat screen prevents its reflection when in sunlight.
RAM
Standard workstation laptops have between 32 GB -- 64 GB, whereas high-end laptops will reach 128 GB or more. Some rely on various features like error-correcting code that improves program stability & prevents data corruption.
In many cases, 8 GB RAM will be enough for a fast and smooth gaming laptop. ECC RAM is generally not worth purchasing as it takes more power, generates more heat, and costs a bit more without any performance improvement. Depending on the motherboard, a gaming laptop might refuse to boot.
Storage Capacity
Most gamers can do with a 1 TB mechanical hard drive and pair it with a 128 GB SSD. Even though some people might ignore this feature, we think it is an essential investment for laptops. The boot-drive SSD can do a lot of wonders for your machine, particularly when it comes to speed.
Video editors, engineers, and animators work with huge files. And let us not forget these projects need plenty of editing and making them larger.
Very much like gaming laptops, even workstations benefit from an SSD; hence 512 GB will be enough for the starters. And pair it with two 1 TB drives, and you are good to go.
Best Workstation laptop
1. HP 17.3 ZBook 17 G5 VR ready Workstation
With the ZBook G5, HP has renewed their 17” workstation with the sleeker design, improved internals, and proper security functions.
This Intel Xeon CPU machine offers blistering performance, and a vivid 4K display provides a theatre-like experience made especially for heavy workload performance.
Pros
- 4k display
- Higher storage capacity
- Amazing performance
- Soft & comfortable keyboard
- Great display
Cons
- Not very good battery life
2. Asus ProArt StudioBook Pro W700G3T
Asus ProArt StudioBook W700G3T workstation machine has stunning designs that you can find in any other laptops out there. In its most attractive, 0.7” slim design lies the robust Intel Xeon processor & Nvidia Quadro RTX GPU with the vivid, 17”, 16:10 display & comfortable keypad.
However, some users may find it a bit costly, particularly since it does not offer a 4K screen or 4K model. Overall, the Asus ProArt StudioBook Pro Workstation is a powerful workhorse dressed neatly, making it the best laptop.
Pros
- Great design
- Amazing performance & graphics
- 16:10 display
Cons
- No 4K display
- A bit costly
3. Dell Precision 7730
If you are looking for a powerful workstation laptop, Precision 7730 is a suitable machine for you, irrespective of size and price. This workstation machine has got blazing-fast performance & attractive 4K display, which bursts with color. Also, it includes a comfortable keyboard, great design, and robust build quality, and the beastly machine hits all right notes.
Dell Precision 7730 laptop is the best workstation machine to consider, with excellent performance and a vivid 4K display. The comfortable keyboard, vivid design, and strong GPU are a few notable features.
Pros
- Vibrant and sharp 4K display
- Fast performance
- Comfortable keyboard
Cons
- Not very good battery life
- Gets warm
Best Gaming Laptops
1. Asus TUF A15
Superficially, it is one best gaming laptops and ticks all boxes. With a reasonable price tag, you will get the powerful AMD Ryzen CPU, great mid-range GPU, ‘fast’ 144Hz display, a thermal design that will not roast your palms, excellent battery life, and a decent aesthetic.
Asus TUF A15 Gaming laptop comes with AMD’s Zen Ryzen 4000 CPUs with the Nvidia RTX graphic card for enough power, especially if you are looking for a gaming purpose.
Pros
- Great performance
- Supports multitasking
- Portable & lightweight
- Good storage
- RGB keyboard
- Reasonable rate
Cons
- Battery life not very good
2. Alienware m17 R4
Dell Alienware m17 R4 gaming laptop is a powerful device with a stylish chassis. It can easily power the AAA game times without any compromises, and it is the best gaming laptop that you can buy when looking for the best gaming option–that means the price probably will turn a few gamers off.
Dell Alienware m17 R4 machine comes with Windows 10 and 17.30” display that has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It’s powered by a Core i7 processor & comes with 16 GB RAM. Alienware m17 packs 256 GB of the SSD storage.
Pros
- Great performance
- Snappy keyboard
- Cool design
Cons
- Noisy fan
- A bit heavy
3. Acer Predator Helios 300
Acer Predator Helios 300 is the best machine to help you destroy all your enemies in perfect style. It is a powerhouse from the stylish design & robust Nvidia GPU to the 10th Gen Core i7 processor. However, battery life keeps the laptop from getting a full score.
Doesn’t matter the configuration you buy. The laptop packs potent hardware, with simple hookups for the more extensive displays, a screen with refresh rate, and a number pad on the keyboard. Helios 300 indeed runs the latest games very well and is the best option to consider.
Pros
- Amazing gaming performance
- Smooth 240Hz screen
- Room for three storage drives
- Cleaner design
CONS
- Sharp audio
Workstation Laptop Vs Gaming Laptop – Making the Right Choice
Both the types of machines have the market that they serve and are well-optimized to handle these tasks very well. So if you’re in the position where you have to do professional tasks more than gaming. A workstation laptop is a better choice for you.
Nothing beats the certified drivers and the fact of handling complex data and models. Providing you can afford it, you must get a workstation laptop.
If you are on the budget and a student, a gaming laptop would be a better choice. Because on average, workstation machines cost a bit more than the gaming laptops and the amount of engineering design, CAD, animation, etc., aren’t very complex, you must go with a workstation laptop.
