#import "template.typ": conf
#show: doc => conf(
  title: [ Selecting hardware for a (home) server ],
  doc,
)

= Introduction
I see a lot of people worryingly mistaken about what a server needs
\(specifically, a home server). Some think that a bland and incredibly
ignorant '20% budget for CPU, 30% for GPU, and the rest for the rest'
plan for selecting hardware is good enough \(at least, before choosing
specific items) - you can’t exactly be #emph[wrong] when choosing
hardware, but this is very, #emph[very] far from right.

= Requirements
Server hardware needs to be low-power and resource-efficient - so as not
to waste any money unnessarily, obviously. Your budget will strongly
impact the specifications you can get your hands on, but I would think
that even \$200 is enough for a decent home server - depending on what
you want to do with it. Keep in mind that you could always repurpose an
old laptop or desktop lying around; it’s cheap, and you get what may be
a surprisingly decent machine.

== Power consumption
The difference between low #emph[peak] and low #emph[idle] power should
be noted in particular. Running costs can get very high if you don’t
work to moderate power consumption, and probably wouldn’t be something
you would ignore when it comes to home servers.

== Usage of the server
Naturally, how a server will be used will affect pretty much everything
about the hardware chosen for it. For example, if you’re looking to
stream games remotely, you’d go for a \(perhaps powerful) dedicated GPU
and would likely invest in some high-speed internet solution. As
indicated by the above example of the GPU, you need to be #emph[very]
specific with what you choose - do you #emph[need] a powerful GPU or do
you not? After all, one of the last things you would want, ever, is
money going to waste on something you don’t need, or failing to buy
something that meets your expectations.

= Conclusion
I only gave two points of interest when selecting a server - looking at
the numbers alone, this might seem like hardly anything to consider at
all. My reasons for this are:

- Power comumption is one factor that people often forego thinking
  about, and an extremely important one at that.
- Building on top of the previous point, you \(probably) aren’t stupid.
  Knowing \(albeit at a very basic level) what to look out for should be
  enough.
- It would be extremely difficult for me, or anyone else for that
  matter, to provide a #strong[truly] complete solution to everyone’s
  needs for a home server.

Well, that’s it. I wish you luck in selecting your hardware.
