Is consuming proteins different vs. consuming amino-acids and how?
To put it shortly: 


Proteins have properties that individual amino acids that make up the protein does not have. 
Similarly the individual amino acids have properties that the protein does not have. 


This is analogous to elements vs compounds. 

The site referenced below quotes 3 experiments done to examine this phenomena. 

All experiments compared effectiveness of whey protein with that of essential amino acid (EAA) supplements. Experiments 1 and 2 involved old people while experiment 3 involved young people. 

Conclusion of experiments is as follows: 


Both EAA and whey protein (15 g of EAA and 15 g whey was taken by the respective groups) induced muscle growth, however EAA had better anabolic effect as compared to whey. 
In this 3 groups were compared. 15 g of whey vs 6.72 g of EAA vs. 7.57 g of non-essential amino acids. Whey had higher anabolic effect as compared to EAA while the third group showed no improvement. This additional anabolic effect is attributed to unknown mechanisms. The anabolic effect was measured using a different method add compared to the first experiment. So results may not be comparable. 
In this 3 groups of young men were compared. The first group was given carbohydrate (30 g) and EAA (15 g) drink, the second group liquid meal containing same quantity of EAA and total 850 calories while the third group was given both. The conclusion: 

The third group, as expected had the highest anabolic rate 
The first group (protein and carbohydrate drink) had better anabolic rate when compared with the liquid meal group though they both took the same amount of EAA. The difference was in carbohydrate content. The liquid meal had higher carbohydrates content when compared with the first group. 



Whey has insulinogenic effect invitro. Whey also has the same effect whether taken before or after exercise while the protein drink has better effect when taken before exercise. 

Among amino acids leucine, when taken alone has anabolic effect comparable to a mixture of EAA. 

In conclusion: 


  However, whey contains various bioactive peptides that act to enhance recovery and potentially in other ways that positively effect the adaptive process to exercise (12). These bioactive peptides are not found in EAA, BCAA, or Leucine, and appear to be a unique quality to dairy proteins. So what we can't say is that these aminos are the deciding factor in whey's effects...or that we can use one in place of the other (interchangeably) in all cases.




http://www.vpxsports.com/article-detail/supplements/whey-protein-versus-amino-acids-whats-the-difference

Please read the article which has more details and graphs and references for further study.