Stocking of "Server grade" parts

[Cooler running]

I've been thinking recently as I've been browsing the OCUK store for power supplies, that it's odd how there are a handful of server/workstation parts (some stray PSU's and Quadro cards) but not much of everything else.

I'm not really into the business side of procuring server parts, but was wondering why OCUK (and others) don't stock ECC ram or Server style motherboards (SuperMicro and such). It seems that at least for the home-lab people like myself that it might be a good idea.

Has OCUK ever done this before, and why not?

Genuinely interested in the economics and demand there is for this sort of thing. At least for workstation users it would make sense for OCUK to sell maybe a workstation board with ECC installed. I've personally been struggling to procure this sort of thing for my home-lab, sneaking around the back alleys of the internet for someone to sell me the QVL RAM I've been after.

 

[Avalon]

Because it’s a tiny percentage of a tiny percentage of users and most of them either already know where to get what they want cheaply, or can’t do as you describe anyway.

If you are genuinely at the point where you are tracking down QVL parts, it’s probably because your hardware is mission critical, the kind of thing where if it goes down, the lost revenue per hour adds up quickly. People doing that kind of work tend to be the people who buy certified products pre-built from top tier OEM’s either via VAR’s with support contracts or direct, they do that because they need SBD/NBD SLA’s and are prepared to pay for the privilege.

Using your RAM example, QVL is what was tested/available prior to launch, beyond that it’s rarely updated (except for CPU’s with microcode updates). Also plenty of reputable 3rd parties will sell you guaranteed compatible RAM, it’s not any different to other RAM types, speed/type/voltage and ECC buffered or unbuffered is about as exciting as it gets for the most part.