Reddit reviews HP ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 Ultra Micro Tower Server (783958S01)
We found 2 Reddit comments about HP ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 Ultra Micro Tower Server (783958S01). Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
2.3 GHz Intel Xeon E3-1220L4 GB DDR32000 GB 7200 rpm Hard DriveNA
If your goal is simply hosting your own websites and programs for testing purposes, something simple, inexpensive and not too power hungry would do the trick. As OP said, think along your needs. Are you planning on hosting a dozens of things on a single machine? (That's what I do.) And I'm not being hyperbolic by saying dozens, that is actual numbers.
If your learning plan is having a server to learn programming with, my suggestion would be one (or more, who knows?) HP ProLiant Micro Servers. They're small, quiet and not too power hungry, though they're not the most powerful beasts around (like some Dell R710s as mentionned by OP). But for an entry-level programming lab, I think it would do the trick. I would install Ubuntu Server and Docker to experiment with Linux and containers, which could be stepping stones to full blown virtualization, if that's what you're into.
I'm going to second going for an actual server here. I generally hate HP, but I like their servers. Personally, I have the HP Micro Gen8 server: https://www.amazon.com/HP-ProLiant-MicroServer-Server-783958S01/dp/B00LGJ9NHK and I love it.
The latest Freenas isn't compatible with it though (FreeBSD boot issue), so I'm stuck on one version lower than current. Hopefully next major version the issue will get fixed...