The top spec 32GB RAM on the qualified list for the specific board I linked earlier runs $40-$41 on ebay. The same speed and capacity for generic DDR4 runs in the mid $30s. The board has 4 RAM slots. So the premium for QVL RAM for that linked board is $20 over generic if you want to max out at 128GB.
Supermicro did have RAM issues in the early teens.
This sort of research is the non-dollar price of finding deals on server-class hardware.
If you want to get something pre-validated, and usually with a warranty, it can be worth it to look for resellers for the major OEMs that also offer refurbished hardware. It's more expensive than the typical options available on eBay, but still much cheaper than new hardware.
Supermicro did have RAM issues in the early teens.
This sort of research is the non-dollar price of finding deals on server-class hardware.
If you want to get something pre-validated, and usually with a warranty, it can be worth it to look for resellers for the major OEMs that also offer refurbished hardware. It's more expensive than the typical options available on eBay, but still much cheaper than new hardware.