Server Memory - Brand names or other magic cost components

pc3200 is DDR (one). PC5300 is DDR2 which is NOT compatable, it has a different connector and works on a different voltage. Before you decide if your supplier is charging too much you need to find someone still selling DDR which is going to be more than DDR2.

EDIT: Just checked on scan.co.uk, a 2GB stick of ECC registered DDR400 (aka PC3200) is £128. If your server requires non registered or non ECC then it will probably be cheaper.

EDIT after OP's comment: Trust the spec sheet then. In the consumer space there was no overlap between the clock speeds of DDR and DDR2, sadly this isn't the case for servers. Again, looking at Scan you can get a 2GB stick of DDR2 400Mhz for £82 (my previous price was wrong, woops).

I'm not a server admin, but I think your supplier is trying it on. You are correct that higher rated DDR2 will run happily at a slower speed. I would be cautious before buying generic RAM, but Crucial is a pretty big name. I wouldn't imagine you to have any issues with their RAM.

Sounds to me like the supplier is trying to earn too much. I remember the same thing with Dell Blades - the reason I stil dont have them.

They quoted 4 times the Kingston rate. They justified that with 4 hour on site replacements. I told them I could buy 2 sets of RAM (note: we talk og 64gb here) and would have on site in 5 minutes, as the on hands technicians in the hosting center could do it, too - and it would STILL be HALF as expensive. And that ssumes I keep a full 64gb replacement on site, which makes little sense.

Some vendors are just sometimes totally bonkers with their pricing.

Nowadays I bguy SuperMicro stuff barebone and get good components (well, CPU, discs, RAM) from regular shops. The saved money keeps some spares on site.

I'm something of a HP server geek and I can assure you that Crucial P/N: CT850337 is the correct part, they are £124.99 each before VAT and will work just fine.

Although some manufacturers memory is better made and less likely to kill your server, in the same way as a delicious sangwitch from one shop might be better than from another less tasty outlet, they both do the basic job perfectly well.