xserve viable?

[Purdue]

I have NEVER delved into xserve hardware at all.
But, I just happen/ed to see some eBay prices that seem very interesting.
What's the general consensus on someone getting xserve 2009 nehalem for general mac use?
Any big, large pitfalls?
Or would one be wiser to use an mac mini i7 or iMac i7?
I know, very very broad questions.
But, I have quad car i7 mac mini. I wonder if I'd like to use/tinker with an xserve, with some very large RAM number.
Just thinking out loud. Thanks.

 

[chrfr]

What's the general consensus on someone getting xserve 2009 nehalem for general mac use?

It's a terrible idea. They're huge, extremely loud, and extremely power hungry.

 

[jamall]

If you get a cabinet in which to mount it that also dampens the noise, or if you set it up in another part of your house and access it remotely using just about any computer, tablet or phone made in the last 5 years, a Nehalem Xserve is actually a very powerful and versatile machine.

 

[adam9c1]

Hardware comparable to Mac Pro.
VERY loud.
If you can have it in another part of your house like a utility area in the basement etc and connect to it via VNC by all means go for it. But if you want to have it on your desk I would advise not to.
Some machines have single and some have dual power supplies for redundancy.

 

[Purdue]

Wow, 3 years ago... It feels like I had JUST (recently) asked this question.

 

[Flint Ironstag]

Since we are in a thread necro... did you buy one, and what have you done with it?