Setting up a dev server

Hello

I am hoping to get a new computer soon and as I am only 16 I am always trying to save a bit of money!

I want to use my current PC as a DevServer for testing sites that I create on. Because I use PHP and MySQL, I currently have to upload the file via FTP to my hosting company's server every time I make a change.

I have set up PHP and MySQL on this computer but I found that they slowed my computer down.

My questions: how would I go about doing this? what software/hardware would I need? would I need a keyboard, screen, mouse, etc. on the dev server?

Hope you can help - thank in advance - Gareth

i dont know how old your coputer is, but i have p150 and it's fast & furious ;)

install some linux(i suggest SuSe) + apache + mysql + php and even an old computer runs your server perfectly. and linux server doesn't need keyboard, mouse, monitor, etc. to run.

and ofcourse you need network cards to connect 2 computers.

i use my old p150 as devserver and i'm very happy:) and uploading to local server is much faster that uploading to webhost.

Thanks linuxaator

Do you know of any good articles on the web on how to get linux, apache, mysql and php running?

Cheers - Gareth