Stoney X,
Fair enough, I suppose - you're the one who has to live with it!
If you want to play with the software set you mention I would still suggest that you go for a smaller, newer 2 x processor box than a great big lump of old iron.
Unless you really need to work with high availability stuff I wouldn't touch a big old rack mount like that with a 10 foot barge pole!
But then you may enjoy driving down the road in a converted diesel electric locomotive!
I'm put in mind of the question:
"why does a dog lick his b*llox?" Because he can!
SD