If any computing activities will take every processing cycle you can throw at them, they’re 3D animation, video production, CAD and engineering. That means workstations aimed at these tasks are just about the fastest desktops around. For a few years now, though, even a lower-priced system could perform both design and output rendering extremely well.
So, why worry about the exact specification? Because you must still ensure you have the best balance of components for your budget and the kinds of tasks you generally perform. Over these two pages, we explain what to look out for in every key area.
1 Processor
A high-end CPU is essential for a creative workstation. Since our last Labs test, AMD has improved the supply of the Ryzen Threadripper Pro, now that the non-Pro version has been discontinued. The consumer-grade Ryzen has jumped a generation on the desktop from 5000 to 7000 series, and Intel has moved up from 12th
