Which is better for an entry level server?

Question

Iron

Hello. What is better for a simple web server: some used HP DL380 G6 with a Xeon E5640, or just a home PC with an i5-7400 for example?

That is, how justified is it to take an old server when you can take a newer home PC? How justified is it to chase the conveniences of server hardware if the budget is limited?
I would also like to know which choice is better: an old server with Xeon E5640 and 64-128 old RAM, or a new PC with i5-7400, but 32 Gb Ram 2666?
And if it’s quite simple: with a budget of 25-30 tr. - what to take? I understand that the budget is very limited, but what can I advise here?

Answer 1

Server - server. The truth that the tool must be used for its intended purpose is simple, but reaching it is quite difficult.
As a person who has been operating a “server from a desktop” for many years, I can say that this is justified only when you are always at home (or there is someone at home with at least some brains to monkey with what they dictate to him on the phone).
The load of a small server drags calmly. But as a rule, they don’t put oops on it, and power loss depending on the axis on the server (and if there is hyper, then on the virtual machine axes) can lead to the fact that the machine does not start, but hangs in the console with a request. Good, if at this moment you are at home and the server has a monitor (or the ability to quickly switch it).
And if not?
As a rule, it is problematic to install a hyper-industrial level like VmWare on such a "server" - I had to rustle a lot on the vmware community forums in search of firewood for a 3COM card, which vmware did not see at close range. As a rule, such "servers" do not have any RAID controllers (or soft-trade, which allows a maximum of 0, 1, sometimes 5), that is, you can safely forget about fault tolerance. Good, if there are backups, if there are spare screws and the ability to restore.
And if not?
The server is resource-optimized specifically for the server role - powerful processors, a lot of memory, a lot of disks, the most primitive video card that gives 80x25 text mode and iKVM
The desktop is optimized for the role of a desktop by resources (suddenly, right? :) ) - one percent, the memory is noticeably less than in the server (seats, I mean), the case is far from always designed for more than two disks, but the space for one or even two video cards and the absence of iKVM
Yes, deploying a full-fledged server will be more expensive than a "server in a desktop" because the server needs a normal RAID controller (if it is not on the mother) and normal, unused RAID-execution disks. Such a server will work for years under not the best conditions (for example, mine worked for a year and a half in an apartment where ten thousand cockroaches lived, after which I had to spend eight hours cleaning it up :DDD )
But the choice is of course yours. Right
hereyou can buy a boo server at a reasonable price. Moreover, it is not sold by "purebred sold", whose task is to get drunk, but by specialists who do not need to translate into "sales" :)

Answer 2

Judging by the task, it is difficult to make a mistake here, so take any configuration.
PS. If you need to transfer a box of beer, then it can be transferred both on Kamaz and on Zhiguli. But nothing prevents him from transferring on a bicycle. ))

Answer 3

I can’t imagine what power is needed for “hosting for a couple of sites with a small load”, but office computers (i7, 32G, SSD) behave normally as 1C servers, DC, file servers. You can look after yourself used for cheap. If you are sure that it is better than buying hosting.

Answer 4

If for the server, then the same xeon is intended for this.
It also depends on the use of instructions, if more fancy ones are needed, then a new socket!

Answer 5

For home - take i7 You can make it almost silent
For server - server