Why do you need to buy more expensive hardware? The thing is, if you run a old Xeon server, and compare that performance vs modern consumer level hardware.

Unless you are bought a 50~64 core server (and the power bill to match), your often way cheaper with consumer level hardware. Older server hardware advantage is more on the amount of total memory you can install or the amount of pcie lanes.

The cheapest enterprise CPUs (AMD as example) are currently Zen2, the moment you want Zen3s, the prices go up a lot, for anything 32core or higher.

I have seen so many homelab that ran ancient hardware, only for them to realize that they are able to do the same or more, on modern mini-pcs or similar hardware. Often at the fraction of the power draw.

The reason why so many people loved to run enterprise hardware, was because in the US you had electricity prices in the low single digit or barely in the teens. When you get some 35 cent/kw prices, people tend to do a bit of research and find out its not the 2010's anymore.

I ran multiple enterprise servers, with 384GB memory, things idled at 120W+ (and that was with temp controlled fans because those drain a ton of power). Second PSU? There goes your idle to 150W+.

Ironically, just get a few minipcs and with the same memory capacity spread, your doing 50W (often less) or less. The advantage of using laptop cpus. I have had 8 core Zen3 systems, doing 4.5W in idle.

And yes, you can turn off enterprise hardware but you can also sleep minipcs. And they do not tend to sound like jet engines when waking up ;)

I have a minisforum itx board next to me, with 16c Zen4, cost 380 Euro. Idles at 17W. Beats any 32C Zen2 enterprise server. Even something like a AMD EPYC 7C13 (64C), will be ~40% faster and still costs 600 Euro from China. It will do better on actual multithread workloads where you can really have tons of processes but 400 bucks vs 600+400 motherboard.

Just saying, enterprise has its uses, like in enterprise environments but for most people, especially homelabbers, its often overkill.