Servers are computers that host services such as email, websites, and file transfer.

They are crucial components that support the World Wide Web and the world itself.

In fact, many server components use the same technology as your typical consumer-grade components.

two 1tb drives as a vector image with a laptop background

So, what exactly differentiates server components from desktop components?

And why are they so much more expensive when they use the same tech and have similar rated performance?

Here are X reasons why:

1.

Scattered Lego Bricks

Servers need to be modular systems because many companies have different requirements in terms of hardware.

Reliability

Servers are often tasked with storing important data for various services.

With servers dealing with mission-critical data, they need reliable hardware components with backup and error-checking capabilities.

Carabiner

Therefore, seamlessly changing parts during operation is an important functionality that servers must have.

Hot-swapping components is only possible if a system has some redundancies in its components.

Everything that a server needs to operate needs to have some redundancies.

Several Memory Drives

Even power is provided redundancies through anautomatic backup power systemwhich itself may even have a backup of its own.

Durability in components tightly relates to a servers reliability.

Server-grade components are often over-engineered to handle certain environmental factors that may cause damage to the hardware.

Eight-Kilogram-Lifting-Weights

Server motherboards are also specialized to handle bigger-sized CPUs such as Intels Xeon and AMDs Epyc processors.

Server components also have more robust warranties should their products fail and need repair, replacement, or troubleshooting.

Of course, the research and development for these designs add extra costs to the final released products.

Lady-Teaching-Student

Examples of proprietary server-grade components include motherboards, CPUs, memory, and storage controllers.

Although some desktop-grade manufacturers enforce proprietary parts, they are less common when compared to server components.

Server Parts Are Built Different

Server-grade components are some of the most robust pieces of computer hardware.

Research and Development

Typical servers can often go from 5,000-20,000and thats okay.