So you want basically want a dedicated computer to run as a game server rather than host games with your main computer. If you're hosting games you'll need to use windows XP as any server os is not designed for games in any way shape or form. In addition you will run into another problem. If you don't have this server in a remote location when you try to connect, what ever the game, you will be connecting via LAN where as anyone else would be connecting via internet. This causes a problem as most games have an option where you can create either an internet game or a LAN game, typically it can't handle both. I had a lot of trouble with this when i was trying to create a dedicated server for an MMO that my friends and I play (which will remain nameless for legal reasons). They could connect and play but i couldn't or i could connect and play and they couldn't. There may be a way to get around this by creating a virtual private network using a program like Hamachi. Good luck, post back with any questions.
