Mantabase

I would buy an old retired server and run a hypervisor. It'd enable you to create multiple virtual machines where each can serve the function you require.

Hi Mantabase,
 
I'm currently in the process of doing a custom water cooled server with 2 of these:
 
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Supermicro-X8DTT-F-MotherBoard-LGA1366-2-Heatsinks-2-INTEL-Xeon-2-26Ghz-CPUs/193077974716?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
 
These are SuperMicro blade nodes. Yes, I know that it is "older" technology, but you can drop in 2 Xeon 5600 series CPU with 6 cores each and another 6 cores each with hyperthreading. The CPU's run between $5 - $10 USD for lower end and around $70 USD for a Xeon W3690, 3.46ghz with turbo up to 3.73ghz. I've been using one of these boards for the last year for compiling and it totally rocks! With some hard scrounging on eBay, I managed to get 64 gb of DDR3 ECC registered. The SuperMicro 1200w PSU is only $20 USD. Based on what you say what you are planning to use the setup for, this would be more than enough. 
 
If you need a board with more expansion slot, the a full size SuperMicro board is around the same price. RAID cards for these boards are also dirt cheap, so you can use up any older hard drives that you have laying around.
 
A lot of people want newer hardware not because they need it, but because it's new and shiny. Going with older hardware when you can will save you a lot of money.
 
I hope this helps.
 
zog

Well - you could - but you would have to wire a charge controller up.  Something like this might work directly (on a sunny day) though:
 
https://smile.amazon.com/Sunnytech-100ma-Module-Polysilicon-Charger/dp/B008J9BZIA/ref=pd_bxgy_2/138-7205416-2778644?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B008J9BZIA&pd_rd_r=76a4d87c-ba9d-4353-8ede-4a0146a2ebd5&pd_rd_w=KpwtS&pd_rd_wg=25hmf&pf_rd_p=fd08095f-55ff-4a15-9b49-4a1a719225a9&pf_rd_r=2TM9CD5ZGXGDS663W33N&psc=1&refRID=2TM9CD5ZGXGDS663W33N
 
But iPhones are picky (thanks Apple).  Don't blame folks here if you fry one.  You might have better luck with Mangos.

Some updates may need other updated to be installed first - read description on Microsoft website about that updates.

-> Moved to Windows
***
 
My only comment to here is that amd64 refers to CPU/OS being 64bit as AMD was the first to either patent or do it. X86 is IBMs same thing.

I use HWMonitor, it's quite useful for looking at other things such as fan speed, voltage and of course, CPU and GPU temps
 
Edit: as for the error codes, it may sound like you could have been the update itself causing this, have you tried to revert windows back to the version before the problems occured?

I think 500W might just be the model number.  'Cuz.....I don't think you will get 500 watts from that PSU.

Hmm....must not have hit submit.
 
Agree mostly.  Consistency is key always, and using a PSU tester is important for QA/QC and can be very useful for assessing a PSU for a user as well. I just think some types of tests can be misleading - or failing them can.  If I were to do it again, I would change many things - including how I treated the tester and the PSU.  I've learned a lot about quantitative analysis since then.  I would be doing cali checks, drift testing and environmental monitoring during every test now. But I am not sure it would translate into anything more than splitting hairs. I think the 1ms test "fail" is about as telling as the old modular cable "fail"  - theoretical but not practical.  Though, if the price is the same....
 
Think about this - have you lost a MB to a PSU?  A CPU to one - or GPU?  With some debatable exceptions I have not.  Granted, I use quality PSU's, but I have no doubt a few of them would fail the 1ms or even 200ms test.  I've been under PC hoods since 1982 when I first installed an AST-6Pak - so I have been through my share of PSUs and I don't like replacing hardware until it is dead or useless (I have a Verge S3 card on my desk).  Maybe I have been lucky.  But when I looked at loads during modelling and gaming - they are not crazy like some of the test folks run.  You do not see dynamic loads change every tenth of a second.  I have only looked at the 12 and 5 - but you just don't see it (or I don't). Maybe my meter setup can't catch it - but it seems to me that numerous large and very fast changes in rail load are rare.
 
Anyways - it's been a good chat and I ramble I know.  Thanks for the interesting convo.  Happy Winter Season.