Tower desktop or Server ???

Hi folks

One of my older NAS servers is giving up the Ghost so I need another computer to replace.

I'm not a gamer and as above stated I'm in the market for another computer -- seems by getting a decent Tower Server I can get a much better deal - especially as I can "cannabilize" parts from equipment I want to replace -- e.g HDD's, SSD's and DDR4 Memory.

Seems to me getting a server --even a refurbished one seems infinitely a better deal than going for a basic Tower type desktop machine -- OK the server comes without OS but I can install LINUX (FREE) or Windows 10 (have a few licenses left).

The only disadvantage I can see is that the server won't have the latest bleeding edge hardware - but I'm not really bothered about that.

The Desktop is far more expensive - especially as it's essentially "pre configured" so I'd be buying stuff I don't really need and the server I'm looking at comes configured with 2X CPU's and some internal graphics (which can be disabled if I want to install my own graphics card(s), 8X memory slots for DDR4/DDR4 - Max 128 GB with the 2 CPU's or 64GB with 1 CPU as only 1 bank of 4 and 2X LAN connectors.

I do need 4 - 6 HDD bays - both of the options I'm looking at have these -- I can also replace the DVD with SSD - have all the adapters to do that.

Any views on this --- Server (re-furbed) 175 EUR Tower desktop 780 EUR.

My days of assembling and building computers from scratch are over these days -- ("Been there --done that --Bought the T-shirt etc") !!!

Cheers
jimbo

Steve C said:

The used server price is cheap if it does the job. I prefer to build my own PCs so I can choose the components.

Hi there

Yes I used to do that and enjoy doing it but I'm afraid today I can't really be bothered any more !!! although I'm not adverse to the odd repair or hardware swaps.

Also as one gets older fingers aren't quite so nimble any more for using things like soldering Irons (still sometimes necessary) , fiddling around with "heat sink adhesives" , undoing really tiny screws etc.

It reminds me of old fashioned film photography -- actually doing wet developing compared with todays modern digital cameras !!! I prefer doing the photography rather than messing about in a wet darkroom. Besides if I leave any more "bits of computer" over the place -- someone gets quite annoyed !!!!!!!!!!

Decided to go for the server -- delivery on Tuesday -- what would we do without Amazon and the like these days !!!!!!!

Happy new year BTW.

Cheers
jimbo