My E6750 Can't Run @ Normal Speed, Help!

Built new system, with a E6750 and Abit IP35-E motherboard. Also a Geforce 8800GT and 2GB ram. For some reason with this new setup the system refuse to boot when I run E6750 at standard speed which is suppose to be 2.66 GHz and the system seems to just lock up. In fact it only booted after I underclocked it to 2.60Ghz. I don't know what the problem is, if it's either a heat problem,crappy mobo, or power problem?

The abit mobo had problem already when I installed it. At first it wouldn't boot with my 2 GB PC6200 ram and I had to put in a slower ram in order to boot it (took a lot of time and help of a friend to figure it didn't boot because of the ram). Then I installed the driver, and only after that it accepted the PC6200 ram. I've read reviews of how this Abit P35-E mobo is actually good for overclocking though, and I didn't think Abit mobos were bad. Defective mobo?

Or perhaps CPU temperature is too high @ standard speed? The stock heatsink is probably not great, but at 2.60Ghz the temperature seems to be just fine. Using speedfan it tells me CPU = 24C, core 0 and 1 = 20C. It doesn't peak to unacceptable temperatures either when its under load. On the otherhand Core Temp program tells me its actually at 35 C on both core at idol, and I read speedfan's results are suppose to be interpreted a little differently... but I didn't spend the time to understand it. Either case even if its 35C it's fairly normal, and temp under load is normal as well (at 2.60GHz anyways).

Could power be a problem? I am using a Thermaltake pure power 500W. It's not a fancy PSU but it should be enough to handle my system. Has 29 on +12V.

Could defective CPU be in the equation as well?

Can someone please help diagnosis the problem or suggest a solution for me to try? I honestly am not that tech savy so I can't tell what is wrong so perhaps I can fix this problem. The system runs great at 2.60Ghz still and its only .06 from being stock but it bothers me a lot I can't run it at normal speed because it leads me to think something is really wrong. Plus I see that people can overclock to as far as 3.4Ghz, and for me overclocking isn't even an option right now. Please help!

Thanks in advance!

Sounds like you need to update the BIOS.
Go to ABIT's site and see if there is a BIOS revision.

Also make sure the part number on the board is the part number you ordered. I'd clear the BIOS too and start over.

CPU's are rarely bad. If you had problems with the Memory then the Proc, it is either the Board or the PS.