What is the difference between a server and a regular PC?

I need to buy a new server for my company. I went to the dell page to piece one together, but was dismayed to see the cost of one. Why is a server so much more money than a regular PC when the specs look about the same? - and sometimes the specs look even better on the PC!! Is there something more to it?



Is it safe to get a good PC for $2000 instead of spending $5000 on a server?What is the difference between a server and a regular PC?
It's true that you can buy a PC and install the server operating system on it and it will run fine. The big difference between hardware that is sold as a server and hardware that is sold as a PC is the level of quality of the components and the level of support that Dell will give you.



In my role as Network Admin at several companies we have used PCs and Servers to run server software, but only use a PC as a server if it's going to be used for testing or as a redundant server for the "real" server. If you are going to be using the equipment as the only server your company has, I definately recommend you get the real server hardware - it will pay off in the long run.



The hardware components in a server have gone through much more testing for reliability. One other big benefit of purchasing true server hardware from Dell is that they will give you LIFETIME phone support for any questions you have, even if your warranty has expired. For example, if you are having problems upgrading the operating system and getting drivers, the Dell server team will talk to you and help you out, regardless of whether or not your warranty has expired. I have confirmed this with Dell several times when calling them about servers that were out of warranty.



Bottom line: If you need a primary, business-critical server, get a real server. If it's a redundant or for-testing system, get a PC and use it as the server, installing the Windows Server operating system on it.
Hi

Yes there is a difference between a commercial server and a small business or home server. A server can be made from an old computer such as an old 486 ect,. How ever I would recommend a much later computer. You can purchase a computer for around $500.00 that will serve you well if your using it as a server for a small business or home server. In fact if you have a computer that is set up good you can use that. If the computer you have has say at least a 2.0 gig CPU, and you have at least 512k of memory and as I said the server is not going to have high volume (Traffic) all at one time your all set. I am sending this message on a server that has a CPU running at 2.56 gig and it has 512k of memory. I host 26 web sites and it has never been taxed. I have built and run 5 server's in all.



I hope this helps but please feel free to ask me more questions, and should you decide to buy a server or run a serve as I have described above let me know and I will guide you through the entire set up. Should you reply on this message also let me know if you are running DSL, Cable, etc and if you IP is static or dynamic.

Good luck and I hope this helped.What is the difference between a server and a regular PC?
Any PC can act as a server, but a server for a company should have better quality components. And depending on your needs, often hot-swap drives and power supplies, etc. to reduce downtime.



You should talk to a Dell representative and see what you actually get for the extra money, then decide whether your business needs that enough to spend the extra money (The answer is probably yes, you don't want your business to suffer from the wrong decision).
A big difference between a server and a regular PC is the I/O capability. A server may have faster hard drives with more storage capacities. It may have redundant storage devices for high availability and reliability. The motherboard design is different with faster buses, so on. On the other hand, a server usually doesn't need a top-of-the-line video card or a big screen monitor.



You need to figure out what kind of server you need. According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Server, there are at least 6-7 different kinds. Unless it's really heavy duty, I guess a decent PC would do the job fairly well.What is the difference between a server and a regular PC?
-Hot-swappable CPU's and Hard Drive (this one is a biggy)

- Servers are more reliable : better hardware. "First choice" for processors, memory, chipset.

- Good quality /certified drivers.

- No "exotic" peripherals.

- Servers have large case, large fans ( 2 or 3) : good ventilation.

- Servers use generally ram with parity or ECC modules. Memory error are detected.

- SCSI controller / scsi disk : better performances, better quality (disk).

- hot plug / raid 1 or 5 possible

- better power supply : 350/400w ( 1-2 seconds without power (220v or 110v) possible

- you can buy service contract ( Compaq Carepaq for example - 4 hours intervention )

- diagnostics program

- thermal sonde.

- large memory support

- 8 PCI connectors.

- homogeneous and tested configuration
Server is a pc which can support muliples aplpication running at one time whithout any trouble server can handle multiple simultaneous connection whereas pc cant
Servers are designed to run 24/7. The components in a server can usually handle higher stress.



I think your company needs to hire a new person to choose their computer equipment.