Home Server/Old Desktop Machines

A Dell OptiPlex desktop computer

These things are plentiful and cheap

Tip: Rule of thumb: don't buy anything over 8-10 years old. Always research the hardware before making an offer.

Used desktop computers can be found anywhere for under $200. These things always come with a respectable CPU and a decent amount of RAM. The larger ones usually hold up to 4 disks, making them a huge step up from single board computers. Used hardware offers a tremendous amount of potential at a relatively cheap price.

Pros

• Excellent balance of cost vs. performance.
• Come pre-built and ready to work.
• Ubiquitous and easy to source.
• Upgrades are cheap.
• Quiet.

Cons

• No warranty.
• No support.
• You will probably encounter performance bottlenecks if your system has earlier SATA/PCIe/SAS/USB revisions.

Important Notes

• Make sure the system is 64bit. 32bit systems are very old, avoid at all costs.
• Some older legacy systems do not support UEFI and thus cannot boot UEFI OS's.
• Some very old (8-10 years) high-end CPUs actually perform worse than modern low-to-mid end CPUs.

Hardware Recommendations

Not an expansive list, just an introduction.

Dell OptiPlex

OptiPlex Model Chart

Dell's OptiPlex line is a "business-oriented desktop and all-in-one computers made for corporate enterprises, healthcare, the government, and education markets." These things are all over Ebay and Craigslist.

The OptiPlex line stretches back to the '90s, so make sure you double-check that yours was made in the last 10 years or so.

Thin Clients

See Home_Server/Single_Board_Computers#Intel_NUCs_and_Thin_clients