i just built a system and turned to fire it up for the first time and my 8800 GT wont let it happen.  
 
i get a constant beep and then right before it powers down, i get a couple more long beeps (beeps = high pitch tones)
 
the card is sitting in the slot just fine.  i tried 2 of the 3 slots on my 780i mobo and the same thing happens.
 
 
could the card be bad?  time to RMA?
 
 
any other thoughts or questions?

Do you have another card you can try? Another system to try the card in? EVGA has released bios updates for the 780i and 8800GT, try those if you can get either to work.

my friend is bringing a card over tonight to test out.    if his works, and i update the 780i bios and i still get alarms from my 8800 GT, would you suggest an RMA

You may not even be able to update if you get an alarm. If your friends card fails then it is the motherboard, if it does not fail then it is the video card. I would RMA which ever one it turns out to be.

Do you have the PCI-E power connector plugged into the graphics card?

like jtt283 said u prob forgat to plug the power connector on, i had that once aswell

 
 
ditto

i thought that was the issue but my friend kept saying you dont need to power it. only need extra power for SLI modes.  
 
im a dumbass, he's a dumbass.   thanks for the help

<--- dumbass
 
I did it too!

Just be glad it was that easy.