Originally posted by: SystemAdmin

I am looking to purchase an alternative to the expensive IBM DDR2 RAM for our LAB / Development / QA systems.

I have been able to figure this much out:
276pin DDR2 533Mhz PC2 4300 SDRAM

Does anyone know where I can buy this? I have checked kingston, micron, hynix, samsung and crucial. I only ask this because IBM RAM costs more than the actual server. When we ask for a server, the price point kills it and they go with a Dell/SUN/Opteron linux server instead. Our entire LAB/Dev/QA environment is becoming a Dell/SUN/Opteron server farm, which is forcing the changout of production gear from IBM to the above.

Originally posted by: SystemAdmin

I'm not sure you can use any other RAM in these IBM servers. I am curious to hear the responses from other on this message board on this topic.

-Mike

Originally posted by: SystemAdmin

I've already talked with IBM and they say that the systems would still be supported, except for the RAM. Should the RAM fail or be diagnosed as the problem, then we are on our own. Also, should a performance issue be diagnosed to the RAM, then we would also be on our own.

Originally posted by: SystemAdmin

I've got to say, I am very surprised to hear that. I guess it's a good thing that the option is available, but somewhere in the back of my mind there is something that says your account would have a little red star next to it and everytime you you call for support IBM will say... must be your RAM! Maybe I'm wrong though...

Originally posted by: eJones

Yes, I've seen this as well.
Worst case, you have to swap-in some "real IBM RAM" and reproduce the problem.

I don't want to go posting weblinks to IBM competitors here,
but you may want to Google for Cambex or Viking Components to get some ideas.

I agree, vendor memory prices for large configurations are way out of line.
Especially with the move to 64-bit platforms and virtualization.
Eric

Originally posted by: SystemAdmin

I have no problems using K*ston RAM in our dev servers. The production servers are too critical to bother with it. However, going from 32K to 4K is a hige difference in development. I have call K*ston before, and no problems getting the right product. We always keep the original RAM in case of issues.

Originally posted by: SystemAdmin

Bad News on the RAM front with Power5+ servers.

I have finally managed to track down who is making the DDR2 RAM for IBM. I have been informed that this is a special "Customized" DIMM just for IBM and by contractional agreements with IBM, they are not allowed to sell it to anyone except IBM. This leaves us with the only choice of buying IBM RAM for our systems instead of 3rd party. To give an idea of the cost difference - a 4Gb FB-DIMM from IBM is 9x more expensive than the same FB-DIMM used in other computer systems.

This RAM is the new FB-DIMM - Fully Buffered DIMM that is going to start being available to the general public. Except for IBM's version of it.

Our Standards development team has now been given orders to start replacing all IBM servers with the cheaper 3rd Party servers. =(

Originally posted by: VirtualGreg

Sounds like a monumental waste of people time, which happens to be far more expensive than memory DIMMs. Hardware is cheap, software is expensive and people are priceless.

I think you'll find that there is a tight link between cost and price. Lowest price usually means lowest cost. Lowest cost usually means you get what you pay for. When something breaks, people have to fix it. Fewer breakages mean more productive people.

Can your management really afford to save all this money? 8-)

Talk to your IBM business partner or direct sales rep and see what they can do for you.