I am in the planning stages of upgrading my server hardware in anticipation of SBS 2008.  I've build quite a few desktop workstation, and I'm very comfortable with desktop components.  What is the advantage of using server-class components over desktop?  My current server is made up of desktop components and it seems to work fine.  I have a Raid 5 set up in case a drive fails, a dual-core Athlon X2, etc.  So what do I really get out of a Xeon processor, "enterprise" hard drives, server motherboards, etc.  Is it reliability, warranty, support?  I relize in the case of MBs, you get multi-CPU capabilities and more RAM, but are they inherently better in terms of quality and stability?

 

I'm looking forward to what people think about this.

Server grade hardware is generally certified to have full Windows Server support, main point being drivers, mature, stable drivers.

 

Server grade hardware usually comes with a longer warranty (except the el cheapo entry level models).  Generally most mid-range and on up models will have a 3 year warranty. 

 

Hardware on these models is designed to last longer, more robust, better quality and engineering.  For example...lets take a look at the hard drives.  Except for the el cheapo entry level models, you'll generally find servers have hard drives with at least 600,000 MTBF hours (there's that 3 year thing again)..many have enterprise grade drives which have over 1 million hours MTBF (that's a 5 year drive).  Desktop PCs, most of them, usually just have 1 year drives or 3 year drives on the better models.