Home > Consumer Reviews > PNY OPTIMA 512MB SDR 100/133 MHz PC100/PC133 Desktop DIMM Memory Module MD0512SSD-100/133

I received it within 24 hours of my purchase and appreciate for quick free shipment from amazon. However, when I installed it into the PC that stopped working right now, I did not see anything on the monitor. I had previous memory installation experience and it was easy. The memory was in the right place with the tabs/nothces were put together so it was placed correctly. I rebooted the PC but nothing happened. I tried 3 times without any success. At that time, I had noticed that that memory stick was very hot. Then I called to PNY tech support # provided on the package and that person told me that that memory I received from amazon was defective and return to amazon. It was OK to return the item but I could not reboot my PC. He told me to removed the battery from PC and unplugged it for 2+ hours to reset it. I waited 3 hours and put everything back and turn it on. Nothing happened. I called again to PNY tech support and waited 45min and they suddenly cut the line. I tried again and waited another 45 min and they cut the line again (I heard the ringing tone, then suddenly the line was cut off -- twice!!). I cannot wait another hour to be cut off again. It seemed like they are avoiding my call and they already knew that new PNY memory caused my other memory sticked burned. I saw little burned on (gold edges of the sticks) both my old memory stick and new PNY I purchased from amazon. My PC was not only unimproved with this new PNY memory, but I also lost my existing good memory stick (125MB). This meory stick is pretty expensive and I chose brand name expecting for better quality as well as improvement for my PC but now, I even lost my good one and cannot use my PC. You can't tell any difference for this PNY stick until you actually installed into your PC. Don't buy PNY for their quality uncontrolled and poor thech support. The automated voice will tell you check the problems in their website. How one can check when the PC was not working?? You have to wait hours to pass automated voices to get live support and wait more hours to get the live person if you're lucky. They don't hesitate to cut off your line anytime. Amazon should have negative stars and this PNY deserves neg stars.

Update: my PC is not working anymore and not repairable. PNY tech support supervisor told me he had to deal with a couple of similar problems per month (imagine how many people suffer the same problem with PNY's defective items) and nobody got compensation according to PNY policy. Never buy PNY products!!

4 March 2005 at CompUSA. I had the in-store tech look up my machine(Pavilion 6735)to see what the max ram is and how many of what size it can use. I asked if the PNY (then labeled) 256MB PC100/133(Compusa SKU280493)will work, he assured me yes, they will fallback to operate 100mhz. Since these were $54.99 each versus $99.99 each for the 256S100 simms, I bought two. Once home, I found one chip to be a Bravo brand and the other an Infineon. Installed the Bravo and started the machine, numerous beeps, couldnt even get to setup, installed it in the other memory slot, same thing. Reinstalled my 128MB's and searched for info, found a whitesheet for the Infineon but nothing for the Bravo (neither made in US).
Now its going on Saturday morning and after several hours on the **PNY and Google sites, I find a 24/7 toll free tech support number for PNY on the packaging!
After 3+ rides on the PNY automated phones' endless loop I gave up on reaching a human at PNY and returned the two chips for credit.
**NOTE** While attempting to get specs on those chips from the PNY site, virtually every screen now had a notice that PC133 chips are no longer (backwards) compatible with PC100 machines and looking up the SKU on CompUSA now displays the same warning as well as the packaging image showing a spec of 256MB PC133 and below that PC 133 ONLY !
Made in USA - NOT, 24/7 (live)tech support - NOT
Lifetime warranty - YES (Life of the product, read the teensy-
weensy print).
PNY has lost a(nother?) long time customer.

This is the standard memory stick from PNY Tech for older PCs. I needed to revive my old PIII and give it some new life (loaded Win XP, 1GB RAM = 2x512MB sticks, AGP card - 2x/4x I think). With this combination, it plays "all" the older games very well (from 2003 back). Going with PNY memory kinda eliminates a lot of the indecision out there on what type of memory to buy, as you don't have to worry about whether to get high or low density RAM, or how much a particular type of RAM should cost (given the high/low density issue).

PNY memory works, that's the bottom line. Knowing this, you can now search for that "best possible price" on the net.

I ordered 2 of these PC100 SDRAM cards and was sent 2 256 USB flash drives, which is not at all what I ordered. After several days of trying to contact I finally go through and they said they don't carry the SDRAM anymore. I don't know why they took my money and sent me somehting completely different, but they did. I also don't know why they still have this posting up, because according to the store they don't have any more in stock and won't be getting any more in.

Great memory, easily improved my old windows 2000 computer, pentium III.
Still can't do much more than email, but it does speed applications, and boots faster.