Co_conspirator

Yep, I've pulled the cord every time i've done anything...each new test was like a fresh assembly, with reset cmos.

Yes, the cpu fan spins up, as does the fan on the video card, and even the case fan, when it was connected when i initially set up the computer. The hard drive and dvd burner also seemed to work when it started up.

I tested both sticks of ram, one at a time, starting with slot 1 through slot 4, just to be sure it wasn't somehow a bad slot 1.

Like I've said, I'm not new to putting this stuff together. I've just not put one together in 4 or 5 years. I'm just hoping that i've forgotten some little thing, but it doesn't appear to be that way. I even wore a static strap, which is something I've rarely done in the past with no ill effects as long as i've grounded on the psu or something...never esd'd any parts before. I've had bad sticks of memory, but never two in the same box. and i've even heard/read good things about that gskill memory.