Windows Server 2008 or Windows 7 Professional

[ghanja]

I've searched and read through post titles that -may- have answered my question as far back as 2007, far enough I believe considering this is regarding Windows Server 2008.

That said. I have a server (HP DL360 G5 w/ 32MB RAM - Dual Xeon, etc.) that I'd like to use as an EQEMU server. Overkill perhaps, especially since I'm not certain it will ever go public. Though, in the chance that it does, it should be able to handle things just fine.

I'm curious though, is Windows Server 2008 necessary? With the exception of not finding an "official" HP drivers for the p400i raid controller for Windows 7, I cannot think of the benefit to run Server 2008. Both Windows 7 and Server 2008 will support the dual xeon server. Windows 7 had more 'junk' load during boot up, though killing the services (media player, etc.) should alleviate a good deal of it's memory hogging well enough. Virtualization, not interested in it, albeit there seem to be third party software to handle this just fine if it's something I wanted to do (the machine will run just EQEMU, period).

Thoughts? I mean, I know Server 2008 is focused on being just that, a server OS, but, necessary for something like EQEMU? Necessary period?