What are the differences between user and server computer parts?

[The Enternational]

I am thinking about building a gaming server and would like to know what parts in a server differ from an average gaming computer and why.

More specifically, I do not know the benefits of having dedicated GPUs in a gaming server.

Any and all beginner information will be greatly appreciated.

 

[kanewolf]

Servers have multiple of everything -- If a power supply fails, the redundant one handles things and it keeps going. If a RAM cell fails the ECC takes over and no data is corrupted. If a fan fails the rest speed up to handle the load. Servers are intended to run with minimum hands on intervention. They have dedicated network paths for management that allow an admin to get to the BIOS from anywhere. Fault tolerance, redundancy and remote access are what differentiates a server from an end user machine in my opinion.