Workstation Specialists
Encyclopedia
Workstation Specialists is a hardware brand name of Acecad Software Ltd. Originally known as CAD2 it specializes in the manufacturing of high-performance computing
computer hardware systems for the visual effects (VFX), game
development, CGI animation
and broadcasting
markets. The company was founded in 1986 as Strucad Hardware and changed to CAD2 in early 2000, and changed again to Workstation Specialists in April 2009. Located in Derby
, Derbyshire
.
hardware. Configured using microprocessor
s from both Intel (Core i7 and 64-bit Xeon
) and AMD
(Opteron
). Systems are available with either Microsoft Windows
or Linux
preinstalled and feature workstation class graphics by both ATI
and NVIDIA
. As of August 2009, the Workstation Specialists product line up includes WS [Desktop Workstations], WSM [Laptop Workstations], RX [Rack Mounted rendering
)), HPC high-performance computing
, and WSX series. These configurations are tailored for a variety of users including lower-end 2D graphic design, 3D animation and architectural CAD
, and advanced 3D animation and modeling (multithreaded
applications as well as digital compositing
and image rendering
). As described by Industry Publication Develop3D Magazine
Workstation Specialists also has a range of specialist configurations, including the WSX (Workstation Enhanced for DI & VFX/compositing) and WS-Tesla; a version of the NVIDIA Tesla Personal Supercomputer
that utilizes NVIDIA Tesla C1060, C2050 & C2070 GPU
s.
, AMD, ATI
, Autodesk
, Blue Graphics, Intel, Microsoft
, NewTek
, NVIDIA
, PNY Technologies
, Solidworks
. Workstation Specialists are also a Solidworks Solution Partner
High-performance computing
High-performance computing uses supercomputers and computer clusters to solve advanced computation problems. Today, computer systems approaching the teraflops-region are counted as HPC-computers.-Overview:...
computer hardware systems for the visual effects (VFX), game
Personal computer game
A PC game, also known as a computer game, is a video game played on a personal computer, rather than on a video game console or arcade machine...
development, CGI animation
Computer animation
Computer animation is the process used for generating animated images by using computer graphics. The more general term computer generated imagery encompasses both static scenes and dynamic images, while computer animation only refers to moving images....
and broadcasting
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
markets. The company was founded in 1986 as Strucad Hardware and changed to CAD2 in early 2000, and changed again to Workstation Specialists in April 2009. Located in Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
.
Products
Workstation Specialists computer system range are all based on high-end commodity PCPersonal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
hardware. Configured using microprocessor
Microprocessor
A microprocessor incorporates the functions of a computer's central processing unit on a single integrated circuit, or at most a few integrated circuits. It is a multipurpose, programmable device that accepts digital data as input, processes it according to instructions stored in its memory, and...
s from both Intel (Core i7 and 64-bit Xeon
Xeon
The Xeon is a brand of multiprocessing- or multi-socket-capable x86 microprocessors from Intel Corporation targeted at the non-consumer server, workstation and embedded system markets.-Overview:...
) and AMD
Advanced Micro Devices
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. or AMD is an American multinational semiconductor company based in Sunnyvale, California, that develops computer processors and related technologies for commercial and consumer markets...
(Opteron
Opteron
Opteron is AMD's x86 server and workstation processor line, and was the first processor which supported the AMD64 instruction set architecture . It was released on April 22, 2003 with the SledgeHammer core and was intended to compete in the server and workstation markets, particularly in the same...
). Systems are available with either Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
or Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
preinstalled and feature workstation class graphics by both ATI
ATI Technologies
ATI Technologies Inc. was a semiconductor technology corporation based in Markham, Ontario, Canada, that specialized in the development of graphics processing units and chipsets. Founded in 1985 as Array Technologies Inc., the company was listed publicly in 1993 and was acquired by Advanced Micro...
and NVIDIA
NVIDIA
Nvidia is an American global technology company based in Santa Clara, California. Nvidia is best known for its graphics processors . Nvidia and chief rival AMD Graphics Techonologies have dominated the high performance GPU market, pushing other manufacturers to smaller, niche roles...
. As of August 2009, the Workstation Specialists product line up includes WS [Desktop Workstations], WSM [Laptop Workstations], RX [Rack Mounted rendering
Rendering (computer graphics)
Rendering is the process of generating an image from a model , by means of computer programs. A scene file contains objects in a strictly defined language or data structure; it would contain geometry, viewpoint, texture, lighting, and shading information as a description of the virtual scene...
)), HPC high-performance computing
High-performance computing
High-performance computing uses supercomputers and computer clusters to solve advanced computation problems. Today, computer systems approaching the teraflops-region are counted as HPC-computers.-Overview:...
, and WSX series. These configurations are tailored for a variety of users including lower-end 2D graphic design, 3D animation and architectural CAD
Computer-aided design
Computer-aided design , also known as computer-aided design and drafting , is the use of computer technology for the process of design and design-documentation. Computer Aided Drafting describes the process of drafting with a computer...
, and advanced 3D animation and modeling (multithreaded
Multithreading (computer hardware)
Multithreading computers have hardware support to efficiently execute multiple threads. These are distinguished from multiprocessing systems in that the threads have to share the resources of a single core: the computing units, the CPU caches and the translation lookaside buffer...
applications as well as digital compositing
Digital compositing
Digital compositing is the process of digitally assembling multiple images to make a final image, typically for print, motion pictures or screen display...
and image rendering
Rendering (computer graphics)
Rendering is the process of generating an image from a model , by means of computer programs. A scene file contains objects in a strictly defined language or data structure; it would contain geometry, viewpoint, texture, lighting, and shading information as a description of the virtual scene...
). As described by Industry Publication Develop3D Magazine
Workstation Specialists also has a range of specialist configurations, including the WSX (Workstation Enhanced for DI & VFX/compositing) and WS-Tesla; a version of the NVIDIA Tesla Personal Supercomputer
Nvidia Tesla Personal Supercomputer
The Tesla Personal Supercomputer is a desktop computer that is backed by Nvidia and built by Dell, Lenovo and other companies...
that utilizes NVIDIA Tesla C1060, C2050 & C2070 GPU
Graphics processing unit
A graphics processing unit or GPU is a specialized circuit designed to rapidly manipulate and alter memory in such a way so as to accelerate the building of images in a frame buffer intended for output to a display...
s.
Partners
Workstation Specialists partners with a number of computer software and hardware companies. These include Adobe SystemsAdobe Systems
Adobe Systems Incorporated is an American computer software company founded in 1982 and headquartered in San Jose, California, United States...
, AMD, ATI
Ati
As a word, Ati may refer to:* Ati, a town in Chad* Ati, a Negrito ethnic group in the Philippines* Ati-Atihan Festival, an annual celebration held in the Philippines* Ati, a queen of the fabled Land of Punt in Africa...
, Autodesk
Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc. is an American multinational corporation that focuses on 3D design software for use in the architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media and entertainment industries. The company was founded in 1982 by John Walker, a coauthor of the first versions of the company's...
, Blue Graphics, Intel, Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
, NewTek
NewTek
NewTek, Inc. is a San Antonio, Texas-based hardware and software company that produces live and post-production video tools and visual imaging software for personal computers...
, NVIDIA
NVIDIA
Nvidia is an American global technology company based in Santa Clara, California. Nvidia is best known for its graphics processors . Nvidia and chief rival AMD Graphics Techonologies have dominated the high performance GPU market, pushing other manufacturers to smaller, niche roles...
, PNY Technologies
PNY Technologies
PNY Technologies, Inc is a manufacturer of flash memory cards, USB flash drives, solid state drives, memory upgrade modules, as well as consumer and professional graphics cards...
, Solidworks
SolidWorks
SolidWorks is a 3D mechanical CAD program that runs on Microsoft Windows and is being developed by Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp., a subsidiary of Dassault Systèmes, S. A. . SolidWorks is currently used by over 1.3 million engineers and designers at more than 130,000 companies worldwide...
. Workstation Specialists are also a Solidworks Solution Partner