>> In terms of RAM costs, we have decided to (as you say) try it and see want happens. But our costs are signifcantly higher than you quoted because IS uses only name brand machines with manufacturers RAM.
>>
>You're talking about implementing RAID5 arrays, Xeon processor(s), etc. If 512MB RAM pushes you 50% over hardware budget, that implies you're being quoted multiple thousands of dollars for that extra RAM. Could you do us a favour and let us know who's quoting you that price (and what it was), so we know who to avoid when we want hardware?

In all fairness to Dell, a lot if the increase in price was using the higher quality bus and Xeon procesor to handle the increased RAM. If we had gone for 512 meg of RAM, we would have used a cheaper processor, and a cheaper bus.