When looking for a quality hosting provider, you can typically lump them into three groups. Providers hiding their server components are generally best avoided. Providers featuring equipment you’ve heard about like Intel Core or AMD Ryzen processors are feasible for smaller hobby sites. Finally, enterprise-grade server equipment such as Intel Xeon or AMD EPYC family of processors are used by premium hosting providers. So what is the difference between server vs desktop components and why should you care? Let’s go over everything you need to know.
Table of Contents
What is a Server?
Similar to a desktop, a server is essentially a computer with its processor, memory, and storage. A desktop exists for personal use. Servers are a well-built, professional piece of technology meant to withstand intense workloads reliably. Servers are generally not only physically larger and industrial but also utilize higher quality and far more reliable components. This is crucial for business hosting looking for servers that can handle continuous heavy workloads. They tend to be far more specialized and expensive compared to PC hardware, designed to be the most economical choice.
Enterprise Grade Components
When it comes to server vs desktop components, understanding the differences ensures you don’t fall prey to shady marketing practices. Firstly, understand that the performance of a specific feature can be cherry-picked to make a “cheaper” option look better.
Server vs Desktop: Processors
Desktop processors typically have cores with faster speeds and are also designed to be overclocked. This allows them to run at higher clock speeds than what they’re qualified for. Of course, this depends on the correct voltage, regular application of adequate cooling, and BIOS settings. A higher CPU clock speed implies that one hosting provider offers superior performance to one with a lower clock speed. However, this can be far from the truth.
While clock speed is important, listing it without the processor brand purposely omits several crucial factors. First, server processors offer support for ECC RAM, which is a must-have for sites that require 24/7 uptime. Second, server processors typically come with an L3 cache, making them significantly faster with high-demand tasks. Finally, overclocking can significantly shorten the lifespan of a processor. In due time, you’ll feel the effect of that added cost passed onto you.
Finally, enterprise-grade processors usually have far more cores, are built to be efficiently cooled, and can handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Naturally, this makes them ideal for ongoing processes. On the other hand, Desktop CPUs strive to balance power consumption and performance. In fact, while almost all desktop computers only contain one port (socket) for the CPU, servers typically have one, two, or even four CPU sockets, which combine and share the workload for maximum performance.
Server vs Desktop: Memory
ECC (Error Checking and Correction) RAM detects and automatically corrects most common data corruption before it occurs. This eliminates many system crashes and leads to a far more stable performance. This effect is multiplied several fold on an enterprise server that’s meant to run round-the-clock under heavy workloads. Server memory is also typically far larger physically and capacity-wise, making it easier to scale as you grow. It’s not possible for most desktop CPUs to use ECC memory – the circuits responsible for that are found within the CPU, which is not implemented on desktop CPUs to save on cost.
Server vs Desktop: Storage
The biggest factor when it comes to enterprise storage can boil down to a single word – Redundancy. Personal computers typically use one or at most a handful of hard drives. The primary drive runs the operating system; the remaining drives store files and software applications. Server storage, on the other hand, features hot-swappable drive trays. These can utilize RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Drives) configurations. In case of a drive failure, your server, sites, or email won’t go down as the data is written across multiple storage devices. The hot-swappable nature allows the failed drive to be quickly replaced so that you do not lose the redundancy.
Additionally, server storage uses totally unique form factors, which enable huge quantities of storage devices to be attached to the CPU simultaneously. While your desktop PC may have 2-3 NVMe slots, servers start with eight drive bays and usually have up to 24 NVMe drives, all accessible and managed by one server.
Form Factor and Cooling
Personal computers come in many form factors. A common feature is that they’re typically small enough to fit on a desk, hence the name desktop PC. Servers, on the other hand, are generally rack-mounted and stored by the dozens in highly efficient cooling pods. With hosting providers, many of these pods are then placed in gigantic server rooms housed in extremely secure storage locations called data centers. These locations are so safe that few people know of their locations, let alone have access. They’re also packed with redundancy features upon redundancy features in case emergencies happen, such as power outrages. Even support functions such as air conditioners that keep the pods cool, have several layers of redundancies built in.
All enterprise-grade servers have redundancy built in as a core feature. For example, it’s standard practice to have two power supplies in each server for redundancy, while desktop components don’t support that setup. Servers are also designed to be managed remotely. Desktop computers are designed with the user sitting next to them at all times, which could mean long downtime if a crash happens and someone needs to physically go on-site to reset the computer.
Conclusion
So what is the difference between server vs desktop components? Desktop hardware is designed to be economically feasible and balance performance with power consumption. Server hardware is designed to run 24/7 at peak capacity for many years without a hiccup. The comparison of server vs desktop therefore doesn’t necessarily come down to speed or performance, but rather reliability. The fastest equipment can seriously damage your business if that high performance isn’t always available. More importantly, the impact on your business will be catastrophic if you don’t have sufficient redundancy in place and something happens.
For this reason, we highly recommend you research and check the exact components used by hosting providers before making any decision on what hardware your business will run on.