Will a "server" work as a PC?

[broken1]

I can get one of these at a very competitive price from a friend: HP Proliant ML110 G4 Server

Basically, I have no idea what the difference is between this and a pc? My friend claims he's loaded XP onto it but the computer is meant to run Server 2003.

What I want to know is can I use it just like a normal PC. I want to load office, Internet, and Pastel Accounting on it - hook it up to a wireless network and a printer!

Will this work fine or is it going to give me unexpected hassles I cant deal with?

 

[supersunbird]

Should be fine as a PC

 

[ld13]

Will work fine yes, It runs XP so there should be no problem. All that differs from a PC and a Server is the Chip. afaik

 

[bwana]

You'll probably need a sound card and a decent graphics card.

 

[The_Techie]

Should work

 

[SYNERGY]

Yep. Server 2003 will also work fine. Using it myself

 

[The_Techie]

I think I've got a 64-bit version of Server 2003 lying around here somewhere? But I'm using FreeNAS in the meantime

 

[Claymore]

Something to watch out for: it may be noisy. Most servers have plenty of loud and fast-running cooling fans.

 

[James]

Another thing is if you run any free software they normally give you grief about loading onto a server OS.

 

[The_Unbeliever]

Something to watch out for: it may be noisy. Most servers have plenty of loud and fast-running cooling fans.

Yeah, same here - a server is noisy because of the fans.

Also, the older servers tend to consume a lot of power...

 

[The_Unbeliever]

Another thing is if you run any free software they normally give you grief about loading onto a server OS.

YMMV with this - try it and if it doesn't work, try another

 

[Juggy]

Another thing is if you run any free software they normally give you grief about loading onto a server OS.

Doesn't that normally apply if it's a DC or a domain member?

 

[SYNERGY]

Nope. anyway, there are ways to fool software to installing. Got CS3 installed on Server

 

[nivek]

the ML110 isnt noisy at all...

 

[dotnerd]

Wel if youre considering to get rid of it send me a PM

Technically it should all work, i mean its not like u got a quad itanium there with some exotic chips, i do think that it may be a bit noisy compared to the average PC though.

 

[ld13]

Nope. anyway, there are ways to fool software to installing. Got CS3 installed on Server

I was ordered by my brother to install XP SP2 on one PC here to be able to install CS3. Do you think I was going to be bothered with that? Also used some trickery, and now CS3 is running on a XP SP1 PC
Go Regedit & Google!

i do think that it may be a bit noisy compared to the average PC though.

More noisy than my PC's? No way. My PC's needs a proper de-dusting and I need to get some new hard drives before they will ever run more silent than that Server PC.

 

[Browser]

Haven't read all this but there's a chance it won't be good for a PC (if you play games).

Make sure it uses PCI-e (not PCI-x [or PCI]).

Make sure it doesn't have a server CPU socket (a CPU upgrade will cost you a fortune if it does).

Make sure it can use un-buffered/registered RAM, ECC RAM costs alot more.

The OS will be a least of your worries, provided there are drivers for the motherboard for the OS you want. A good idea would be to get information on all the components (especially the motherboard) and check it's website for drivers for the OS you want.

 

[esvl]

Why would you use that?

Just get a normal pc.

 

[ld13]

Why would you use that?
Just get a normal pc.

Did you read Post#1?