Right now I am looking at NZ’s second hand marketplace TradeMe. But there are not very many options. Are there any other places I could look to buy? Or is it better to use a couple of Orange Pi 5s? My budget is $800 NZD or around $500 USD.
Shipping any server here from overseas would prolly cost a small fortune, and TradeMe is garbage these days. Could be worth checking FB Marketplace and any local e-waste facilities or the rummage section at your local landfill.
Honestly though if you think that your needs would be met by a few Orange Pis then you probably don’t really need dedicated server hardware - that stuff is expensive, uses a ton of electricity, and is extremely hot/noisy.
Thanks. Would the noise and heat from a dedicated server be noticeable in neighboring rooms? Also how much of a power consumption increase would be expected?
Honestly that depends on the specific hardware and what your walls are made of! And the power consumption would also depend on your power plan, could be anywhere from a dollar to $5-10+ a day.