Should I Buy OEM RAM for HPE Gen11 Servers or Source Aftermarket Modules?

As an HPE reseller, I can tell you that RAM pricing is brutal right now. We're seeing quotes over $3200 for 64GB DDR5, plus a lengthy 130-day lead time for many configurations. If you're hunting for cost-effective options, it might help to look into refurbished authentic HPE RAM or used parts.

Just a heads up: HPE won’t cover non-HPE RAM under their warranty, which means you lose out on their fast service if something fails. Plus, it could complicate troubleshooting for CPU or power issues, since they might not assist with problems tied to non-warranted RAM.

Be careful with that. We tried using aftermarket RAM, and as soon as something went wrong, HPE was like, 'You're using third-party RAM? Try it with our RAM and let us know.' It made support a nightmare. After that experience, we've stuck to OEM RAM for our servers. It's just easier in the long run.

If you're okay with the risk, aftermarket brands like Kingston can save a fair amount, and I personally have had good experiences using them in VMware clusters. Just remember that HPE won't warranty these modules, so if there's an issue, they might make you switch to HPE RAM for support. The headache could be worth the savings if you're prepared.

Consider whether having the memory under the HPE warranty is important to you. If it is, then go with HPE. If not, you could save some cash by getting from a reliable third-party RAM provider that also offers a warranty. Just keep some HPE RAM on hand in case you need to swap it for troubleshooting; using non-HPE RAM doesn't void the server warranty as long as you can replicate issues with HPE RAM.