Can I Install and Use Windows Server on a Normal Pc?
Do I Need to Buy a Server for This, or Can I Use a Desktop Pc? I Know That Obviously a Server Is Made to Be a Server, but They Are Very Expensive. 1 2 Answers...
Do I need to buy a server for this, or can I use a desktop PC?
I know that obviously a server is made to be a server, but they are very expensive.
2 Answers
Yes. You can use Windows Server on regular Hardware with the exception of old Editions that were made for Itanium.
Have a look at the regular system requriements and you'll find that it's just the regular listing.
A server is mostly defined by the kind of workload it has. Though there are cases where you might require special hardware that's just not able to be run on consumer grade hardware.
Windows Server is just an Operating System. It can run on a normal desktop PC. In fact, it can run in a Hyper-V simulated environment that runs on your pc too.
The reason why a server and a desktop are different, is because Server hardware is geared towards high performance because a server is not serving just one person, but many. And each person it serves needs a little bit of ram and cpu time.
Keep in mind that on Windows Server, hardware is not supported in the same manner as on Windows 10 out of the box. That said, Windows Server has the same architecture when it comes to Windows for desktops. Windows Server 2016 shares the same core as Windows 10, Windows Server 2012 shares the same core as Windows 8. Windows Server 2008 R2 shares the same core as Windows 7, etc.. If you have drivers for the desktop version, they can usually be used on the Windows Server side too.
In fact I run my virtual environment at home on an Intel NUC pc. It runs Windows Server 2016 Core, and ontop in Hyper-V, 2 servers are virtualized.
Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.
