I have a couple similar machines in my homelab, running in ASRock X300 boxes w/Ryzen APUs (cpu+gpu), in a similar role (k3s).
The reason I have two is I started with a 3400g (4c/8t) due to supply limitations, then upgraded to a 4750g (8c/16t) when it became feasible. Over time I upgraded memory and storage, so eventually I had everything but the case for a second “half-power” machine.
Having multiple medium-power machines can be useful for rolling upgrades (and for learning purposes), but otherwise it’s very uneconomical.
If your goal is to maximize cores/$ then a single beefy machine will do best.
The server of Theseus! Did you make a new hostname for the server made of the old parts or did you give it back it's old hostname and rename the new-parts one?
The reason I have two is I started with a 3400g (4c/8t) due to supply limitations, then upgraded to a 4750g (8c/16t) when it became feasible. Over time I upgraded memory and storage, so eventually I had everything but the case for a second “half-power” machine.
Having multiple medium-power machines can be useful for rolling upgrades (and for learning purposes), but otherwise it’s very uneconomical.
If your goal is to maximize cores/$ then a single beefy machine will do best.