Infrastructure education

Understand the hardware before you buy it.

Plain-language guides to server options, operating cost, setup effort, and the workloads each hardware class is meant to support.

01BeginnerSingle Board Computer (SBC)Small, affordable computers like Raspberry Pi - perfect for learning and small projectsCost · $5-20Setup · 1-2 hoursRead guide →02BeginnerMini-PCSmall desktop computers that are quiet, reliable, and more powerful than SBCsCost · $30-80Setup · 2-4 hoursRead guide →03IntermediateTower systemFull-size systems that are powerful, expandable, and built for 24/7 operationCost · $150-400Setup · 4-8 hoursRead guide →04AdvancedRack systemEnterprise-grade systems that stack in racks - for serious infrastructure needsCost · $500-2,000+Setup · 8-24 hoursRead guide →05AdvancedGPU/AI systemSpecialized systems with powerful graphics cards for AI, machine learning, and compute-intensive tasksCost · $800-5,000+Setup · 16-40 hoursRead guide →

Still unsure which class fits?

Use the Systems Planner to translate users, workloads, recovery expectations, and budget into a more defensible starting point.

Launch planner →

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