ASROCK G965M-S - new computer will not post

Just put together a new computer with the following specs:
ASROCK G965M-S
Intel E6300 (2.8GHz Pentium Dual Core)
2 gb OCZ gold ddr2-800 pc-6400
460W cooler master PSU
The rest doesn't really matter for the question.

When I had it all put together I tried to power the system up to no avail. Nothing would initiate at all and theres no LEDs on this mobo to tell if its getting power at all. So the first thing I did was test the PSU on my other working rig. Success. Next I tried ram from my working rig in the new system. Still no power up. Next I tried my working CPU in the new system. Still no power up. Of course I checked to make sure the switch was working by flipping the power btn / reset switches and shorting the power button jumper with a screw driver. I should also mention I tried the e6300 in my working rig with interesting results... It kept powering up then shutting down then powering up then shutting down over and over with no successful post. So RMA time. Figured both the motherboard and CPU must be DOA.

2nd round:
Received my replacements. Identical processor and an ASROCK G31M-S (identical mobo except with better onboard sound). This time it was doing the same thing as when I put the e6300 in my working rig. Powered up then shut down over and over with no post. Thats when I noticed one of the screws holding the mobo to the case was dangerously close to some sort of resistor or diode. Removed screw and this time the entire system powered up. BUT NO POST! No beeps, no display. The only thing that seems to be going on is that it is accessing the hard drive. Figured speaker might be dead and its not displaying for whatever reason. So I tried with onboard video and a radeon x1950xt in the pci-e slot. Ive used this radeon in a different rig before and when the system posted it would go from full throttle fan to medium then low sequentially (it was blaring loud). This time it was stuck at the full throttle point so it must mean it didnt reach its normal initialization.

This is the 6th PC I've built so I like to think I know what I'm doing. I've never had this much trouble with one before. If anybody has any ideas I would welcome them. Thanks in advance!

The E6300 Pentium Dual Core is a pretty new CPU. You may need a BIOS update in order for the CPU to work. Have you tried the CPU from your working computer since you got the replacement motherboard. The P965 chipset is older than the G31 chipset. The P965 chipset doesn't even officially support 45nm chips, but the G31 does.

Have you been through every step in this checklist, including the breadboarding step to rule out a short?

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] t-problems