Maybe a laptop with a similar intel chipset and a smashed screen would be a perfect candidate for experimenting ,
I think I read the OS is run from a usb memory plugged into the motherboard , it runs a live image with a ramdisk , Ive run up a few varieties of linux over the years and that OS might have enough drivers onboard to handle the multiple platforms used by SG.
Ok so lets assume we have the hardware side in the bag ,
let say we can get an image of a box fully loaded with plugs , and get it running ,
Now you need a second pc to run the daw end , that pc has SG software on it , that wants ,presumably
to authenticate or verify or phone home or check licenceing ,surely ?
I see a few of the behringer X32 Rack mixers going cheap now in the second hand market , would make a nice head end for a sound grid server with masses of balanced I/O ,totally stand alone ,
could also work great as superpowered stagebox/splitter/mic amps/monitor/main outs and processing everything controlled from a front of house X32 via a single CAt5 cable, life would never have been so simple for the sound engineer on the road .
The Waves SG card for X32 is 350 euros .