What is the difference between "workstation" graphics cards and "desktop" graphics cards?

Other than price? I'm going to be building a server that will have a monitor and keyboard attached to it like a workstation, but very rarely used. What kind of video card do I need in it? No 3d modeling programs or anything like that, just monitoring security cameras?

What is the difference between "workstation" graphics cards and "desktop" graphics cards?
Graphics cards for workstations are generally low power cards that are suitable for 2D applications like word processing. Cards for desktops will usually be more general purpose suitable for watching movies, playing games, as well as regular office apps. If you're only going to be monitoring security cameras and routine server use then you don't need a very expensive card and a workstation level card would suit you well. You should make sure it has the connections you require.
Reply:workstation cards are generally used in systems that do a large amound of 2D work, like 2D CAD and word processing that do not need the performance features of a full 3D card. Some are even better at 2D drawing than the desktop counterparts.





For a server machine id just get the cheapest card you can find, regardless of 'desktop' or 'workstation' moniker used.





Just go for a cheap card from one of the major two brands, you cant go wrong really for use in a server.
Reply:Workstation graphics cards, I assume, are for workstation PCs and are probably only there to connect the monitor to the PC and cope with medium resolutions





Desktop graphics cards are higher end because they are used to optimise games and cope with very high resolutions





If you are building a server then you will only need a very cheap graphics card to use with the monitor and they don;t cost nearly as much as their desktop brethren.