Noob server question

I have seen a lot of talk about servers and I was wondering what exactly a server would do for me if I built one. I can easily do it as I've built my PC and consider myself pretty tech savvy but I haven't done any research on servers.

If I build one in my house and set it up, it won't increase my internet speed will it? (I don't think so but just thought I'd ask)

Can it help me in gaming? Whether by making game quality better or letting me run my own games or something...

What practical use would it be for me? Home use, not an office and pretty much for gaming, media, perhaps a home network, etc.

Thanks.

Internet speed will not be increased. You have to talk to your Internet Service Provider to increase your speed.
It may hamper your gaming, depending on your network setup, if all your internet traffic is going thru the server then it will add ping time.

Most home use for a server is to have a central place for all your movies, music, documents and what not, that way you can access it from any computer or media player system(ps3/wii/xbox) on that network.

As far as gaming is concerned, a home server wont do much unless you build your own hosting server on the home server to run small networked games like 2/3 players or whatever computers are connected to the server.

Multiple computer trying to access the same media. You don't want your computer resource hogged by others trying to access the files. Therefore, you build a home server solely for the purpose of providing media content for everyone on the network. This also provide central backup. Usually it is a combined HTPC/home server and tend to be a cheaper build and low on electricity and heat generation. Heat generation and power consumption is important. You leave it on 24/7 so content can be accessed any time.

I gotcha so if I'm the only user then there really is no point, right?

Right on the money =D