Exorbitant pricing of memory in HP Z6 configuration options page

[G-Windoze]

Hi all - I'm configuring a Z6 Tower G5 1125W workstation with a Xeon w5-3425. 16 GB DDR5 4800 RDIMM is included in the price, but to add another 16GB stick, HP wants $725.00!! I checked Corsair.com, and for a kit of FOUR WS DDR5 ECC RDIMM 16GB DDR5 DRAM 6400MT/s CL32 stick they ask only $469.99. How can this be? The specs would seem to be comparable (although the Corsair is even potentially faster(?), I'm considering getting the base 16GB, and then upgrading to 64GB with the Corsair kit. Are there any downsides to this plan? Thanks in advance!

[resistencia]

Hi @G-Windoze 

HP is not a memory manufacturer, the memory manufacturers with Crucial, Adata, Samsung, Hinyx, are the trusted suppliers of HP can use any other brand of memory.

[G-Windoze]

Thanks. I've been looking at both Samsung and Crucial. Do you think that there will be any difficulties (e.g., BIOS setup issues, etc.) in carrying out my proposed plan of starting with 16GB DDR5 and then upgrading with the 64GB 4-stick kit?

(FYI, my wife and I both have 12-year-old HP Z-820s, and it's been a while since I've done much internal memory or other swapping out).

[DGroves]

https://www.crucial.com/store/advisor

https://www.crucial.com/products/memory/memory-buying-guide

https://www.kingston.com/en/memory

=====================================

both crucial and kingston have websites with memory selection capabilities

allowing you to buy memory modules that are compatible with a selected model that you input

this ram is tested by the mfgrs who actually make the ram chips used on memory modules to

work correctly on the listed systems and will usually be cheaper than buying from HP

note however that this selection process may not take into account

what ram you currently have installed into a system so incompatibilities can exist

two common examples are

you have ECC ram installed and buy non ECC modules or have 

normal 16gb dimms installed and buy load reduced (LR) 64gb dimms

in both of these cases the installed ram and new ram

are most likely incompatible

which is why determining what ram is currently installed is important

[resistencia]

Hi @G-Windoze

You must take into account that the frequency of a memory cannot exceed the frequency supported by the processor, if it does, this frequency is lowered to the frequency supported by the processor.

Intel® Xeon® w5-3425 Processor

The Z 820 only support  DDR3 1600 

datasheet_z820.pdf

[DGroves]

as to memory speeds, the previous post is not entirely correct as the z820's memory controller

the z820 supports 1600MHz, 1333MHz and 1066MHz  dimms this is based on the installed cpu

as some of the lower end cpu's do not support the faster 1600/1333 speeds

for more details of the z820's memory abilities read the link below

https://h20331.www2.hp.com/Hpsub/downloads/Z820_memory_configuration_WP_091112.pdf

[resistencia]

Hi @DGroves 

when you put a 1600 frequency on a processor that supports 1333, the memory BUS decreases the frequency from 1600 to 1333, so the user can use that 1600 frequency.

for this reason the manual that I have put suggests to put DDR3-1600

[DGroves]

I am and have been well aware of JDEC memory speeds and XMP overclock speeds during my years doing "IT" support

your documentation from the vender which suggests that  spending more for the fastest part always even when it will not be used only serves to increase their profits and will not save you money or make your system any faster

current ddr5 dimms using faster memory (and current cpu's) are almost always more expensive than slower rated parts, and most people rarely change cpu's on current systems as such spending more money on something like faster or excessive ram that will not be used is not cost effective for most newer current systems i prefer to match parts to each other and use the savings for other things

however older systems that are considered obsolete are a bit different as they are usually sold at far lower prices and the parts for them such as ram/cpu's are also available as used surplus parts  and in this seranio the cost for a faster part may be the same as for a slower part or almost the same so there is no economic penalty is acquiring the faster part even if it's faster capability will go unused

[G-Windoze]

Sorry I muddied the waters by mentioning my (12-year-old) HP Z-820. I'm shelving that and configuring an HP Z6-G5 online. Their memory options for this model are all "xxGB DDR5-4800 DIMM ECC REGISTERED MEMORY (1 Processor)." I assume that Load Reduced memory would state that in the specs, and so these would NOT be LR memory?

My plan is to get the Z6 with only one 16GB memory module, and add 3 more myself. I will check Kingston and Crucial for compatible modules.

What I found the other day is an "HP 16GB DDR5 4800 DIMM ECC  Memory Module" at B&H Photo (I've trusted them for photo products for years), at https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/products/Computer-Memory/ci/13341?filters=fct_a_speed_994%3Addr5-4800... 

Yesterday it was listed at $239.00, but today it's $264.00. I'll check Kingston and Crucial. AMAZON shows a Samsung "16GB DDR5 4800 MHz PC5-38400 ECC RDIMM 1RX8 for an unbelievable $92.99. https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-4800MHz-PC5-38400-Registered-M321R2GA3BB6-CQK/dp/B0CFG8Z96C 

It seems that even with agreed upon standards and specs, it is difficult for the consumer (and I'm fairly tech savvy) to figure out exactly what is appropriate to purchase anymore!

[resistencia]

RDIMMs are REG Memory which are widely supported by your PC, you can use those Samsung if you wish.

HP Z6 G5 Workstation

Remember to use only ECC memory, do not buy memory with XMP profile, I don't think the Z6 G5 BIOS supports XMP.