PC2100 vs PC2700 RAM, and my crappy story

[Meph]

Here's the short version of the story:
Last September, I wanted to upgrade my old P4 from 512MB (2 X 256) of RAM to 1GB (2 X 512). After doing the requisite research, I found that I had to use PC2100 (266 MHz) 184-pin memory. So I ordered 1GB (2 X 512)of K-Byte PC2100 from TigerDirect (~$55). It arrived and despite looking a bit odd (edited stuff out) the BIOS and OS both recognized the full 1GB, and I figured "no problems." But, because the desktop is primarily a back-up machine and I use my laptop for 95% of my computing, it wasn't until a couple weeks back when I noticed how battered my laptop is getting--and therefore resolved to use the desktop more. Pretty quickly after so resolving, I downloaded and installed XP SP3, and almost immediately started experiencing mysterious system crashes--no BSOD, just like a blip of hitting the power button and rebooting (with the requisite disk check).

Windows blamed driver conflicts (odd, because there weren't any new drivers). I blamed SP3. Then after FF3 came out and I updated it, I started experiencing a lot of weird FF crashes. I started to suspect my machine, and downloaded some dx utilities recommended here--thinking maybe my mobo was failing, the PSU was going, or I was overheating, etc.

Turns out the memory was riddled with errors. But oddly, Everest indicated that it was PC2700 memory! I figured this must be a by-product of the errors. Luckily, I had my old chips handy, so I swapped out... sure enough, that was the issue, and Everest was now indicating (correctly) that I had PC2100 installed.

So I took a closer look at the sticks I got from TigerDirect. Lo! and behold! Under the sticker that says: "KB512-DDR / VOID IF REMOVED / 512MB-DDR PC266", I can just barely make out text on a sticker underneath: "PC333"

So someone returned PC2700 memory to TigerDirect, who sold the stuff to me as if it was new PC2100 (apparently, they don't test returned memory, nor do they even LOOK closely at it). I told this story of woe to a guy at a local computer store--because I still want to get this machine up to 1GB, and PC2100 is hard to find--and he told me that I should be able to just use PC2700 with no problems, and I shouldn't even have to change any BIOS settings. Which is good, because my BIOS (AMI PT84510A.86A.0030.P08) doesn't give me the option to change any clock speeds... but I'm still unsure of whether my mobo (Intel Billings D845BG) will do this "automatically" for me.

In short, is the memory I bought just bad, or did it give me problems because I should've had PC2100 instead? Because it would be a lot easier/cheaper for me to find 2x512MB of PC2700 and let it downclock.

I've gotta call TigerDirect now and see if they're willing to do anything for a 10-month old order for a product (and manufacturer) they don't even carry anymore.


Edit:
I cut out some of the backstory and will simply say this: TigerDirect was completely unhelpful. They assumed I wanted nothing less than a full refund--hell, I just wanted them to know I had been sold someone else's garbage, and for them to acknowledge such. Instead, I had a guy repeatedly interrupt me to tell me that within 30 days, it's "no questions asked," but after 30 days I can't prove I was sent the wrong stuff (my point was that even within 30 days I can't prove anything!), and so they couldn't do anything for me. At the end, I calmed down enough to ask myself, "If they weren't going to do a damned thing, why waste oxygen talking to me?" I started the whole conversation amused, and would've been happy with simply an "I'm sorry" from them. By the end, I was pissed and vowed to never use TigerDirect again.

Then on a total lark I called K-Byte. The guy is sending me a RMA and they're going to replace what I paid TigerDirect for. No muss, no hassle, no fuss. All that mattered is that I bought K-Byte. They're standing behind it, even if it isn't theirs. Now that is customer service.

[ShyguyXPC]

Dang, not bad, And K-byte is some of the "generic" stuff Office Max & Best Buy & others sell too... I've bought a bunch of K-byte DDR over the years for various systems, & never had any problems with them.

Nice to hear the "generic" "little guy" stand behind their product & do the right thing. Tigerdirect does have some nice deals on products, but they are also well known for not being great with customer service, especially the rebates they offer on their site... have heard far too many complaints of people never getting their rebates ever, as well as still hear people talking about how tigerdirect sells peoples info to other "individuals" etc....

I'd still buy from them, if its a good deal, but depends on the deal...

but anyways, its nice to hear that K-byte stands behind their products.