Back in high school, I helped my father assemble 8088's. My first computer for college was a 25lb luggable the size of a toaster oven, which I gradually upgraded until obsolesence forced me to upgrade to a new case.
Nowadays, I'm mostly a software geek using prebuilt systems because I haven't the time to tinker.
But I've been trying to put together a home server and seem to need the assistance of those with more up-to-date knowledge.