got a spare q9550 and 4gb ddr is it worth using as a home server (file/media/vpn)?
Overkill unless you're using it badly
Saving energy is my main concern so I use the htpc in my sig. It's primarily on demand sleeping most of time - no access to services for 10 minutes and it goes to sleep. 15mins timeout on the main drive / 5 mins on the archive
media (on demand main server)
Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
Dual celeron/SSD/4gigs/2x2TB drives
XBMC
Filestore / samba
sick/sab/couch/torrentflux
apache/xcache/php/drupal/nodejs old fashioned LAMP crap for development
git/cvs/svn
local email cache forwarding to c8 (smartcache)
Since it's now on demand.... munin/nagios/puppet/cacti are now redundant
Virtual xserver and vnc for when if I need to download something big off the web and don't want to run the expense of running on my main power hungry rig
c8 (24/7 cheap android tablet)
Flashed to Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
1.2ghz arm/350meg/8gig class 10 SDcard ~ 2-3Watts power consumption
sickbeard wakes media on demand to push new finds
backs up all the router configs and itself by waking media
nodejs/redis (primary) apache/xcache/php (legacy)
energy/temperature monitor and x10 home automation/heating lighting etc (self written)
sits on my bedside so I can flick through status reports or change the hot water/heating schedule
primary mail relay for the home network
e-sniper your auction friend
Virtual xserver and vnc ... a little redundant but is there if I need it
Network/home monitor
Remote commands can be sent via email as I wanted stateless control eg open router ports/turn on vpn etc
Both are administered through ssh or through x-forwarding