crashing beyond control

I just yesterday got in a whole load of parts to build a new machine. I assembled them with a friend who generally knows what he's doing.

Since we've gotten put together, it's been having countless crashing problems. The initial 15 or so launches it would die before getting anywhere. then, for reasons we cant figure out, it ran long enough to install vista and all the necessary drivers, including restarts. (that was odd)

now, its right back to where it was.

I can get maybe a minute from it after each time i remove/replace the Bios battery. after that it crashes, then dies within 10 seconds of reboot, until I remove/replace the Bios battery again. rinse/repeat.

sometimes it'll run just long enough to preform some automated status check and tell me my cpu is overheating, but thats BS. my cpu, as well as the rest of the computer, are certainly NOT overheating. everything is well very well cooled, and nothing in this machine has yet been even hot to the touch.

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asus rampage formula atx intel motherboad

intel quad core 9650

2 (currently 1 due to DOA) gtx 280

300 gig raptor drive

2x2 gig ddr2 corsair dominator ram

yeah, I just realized I forgot specs (derp) *proceeds to add specs*

yeah, your right about the pins, but 3 of 4 are in good, one just won't go. you think it would make that big a difference?

doh! off to correctly install cooler (frustrating because i'll be taking it off in a week when the liquid cooling gets here anyway!)

will do!

any clue as to why it ran long enough to get vista on it once?

(b.t.w. thank you very much for your help)