Can I use Windows server as normal computer as well?

[Ironarmygeneral]

Hello, I would like too get Windows server 2012, on an old PC, and would like to know two things:

1. Will it run on my old desktop I have running?

2. Can I still use it as a normal standard home PC once and a while?

My specs are:

AMD A1-1200 Dual-core APU
GT 730 2 GB DDR3 EVGA
4 GB DDR3 1330 RAM
500 GB HDD

Anyone? If not, that's okay. If so, I'm excited!

 

[Ironarmygeneral]

BTW, I don't plan on having it runing 24/7, and I also will not be using it with important fiiles that I can't get back, so HDD failure or APU/CPU failure is not a concerrn.

 

[CRamseyer]

You can use it as a normal PC but you will need to jump through some hoops first. Many if not all of the DirectX acceleration features are turned off by default. You will want to turn them on along with the sound. With so few normal desktop features on by default it will run faster than Windows 8 on your AMD system.

 

[Solandri]

Also, a lot of free software will detect you're running Windows Server, decide that you're running it on a business computer, and will refuse to run unless you buy the paid version.

 

[Ironarmygeneral]

Woah... who said I was downloading a free version? lol. And okay, that's perfectly fine, as long as I can still run it. All I plan on using it for is small storage and a tiny 1 GB website of mine for my story writing and books, and that's about it. And like I said, drive failure is not a concern because one, I make the html files on my gaming rig and then I'd transfer them here, so I'll always have a copy on another machine.

 

[Ironarmygeneral]

And I am also planning on upgrading soon to new hardware, so this is only temporary.

 

[Ironarmygeneral]

And I forgot to add that I also have a 300 MB/s PCIe x1 wireless card from ASUS.

 

[Ironarmygeneral]

BTW, I'm also running Windows 10 64 bit currently.

 

[Solandri]

Woah... who said I was downloading a free version?

Not free Windows. I mean free software, like Avast antivirus. A lot of free software is actually only free for non-commercial use. If it detects it's running on Windows Server, it'll automatically assume you're trying to use it on a commercial computer, and refuse to run unless you pay for it.

 

[Ironarmygeneral]

Woah... who said I was downloading a free version?

Not free Windows. I mean free software, like Avast antivirus. A lot of free software is actually only free for non-commercial use. If it detects it's running on Windows Server, it'll automatically assume you're trying to use it on a commercial computer, and refuse to run unless you pay for it.

Oh that really doesn't bother me.

 

[cdabc123]

i run 2008 r2 on 2 of my desktops it is a PAIN to get some software to work such as gpu drivers. and you will need to adjust alot of settings to get good performance out of it. you will also need to tweak it a bit so it doesn't bother you about every little thing.

 

[Ironarmygeneral]

i run 2008 r2 on 2 of my desktops it is a PAIN to get some software to work such as gpu drivers. and you will need to adjust alot of settings to get good performance out of it. you will also need to tweak it a bit so it doesn't bother you about every little thing.

That's really fine. I can do that. And like I said, I'm going to be upgrading it with server hardware in a few months, and the only reason I'm using it as a normal Pc for now is because I'm trying to build a budget for a few new parts in my gaming rig since it broke, which I should be able to afgord in less than a week. So it won't be that long. And all I do as a normal PC is browse the web on that thing, it doesn't do well in games or much else. But it would be perfect for a small cheap server that cost about $500.